The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1902-10-31
THE ~ @ (
ATTACHE {
By p. r. BLACK \
Copyright, 1901, by r. Y. Black
BY p. Y. BLACK
Copyright, 1901, by r. Y. Black

cannon and Powers rose and howled
with JOY when their striker brought I'm
the card, a most official card-"Mr
KIDD Mabuchi, the japanese Legation,
washington, ID. c." In the big school
In Massachusetts where Mabuchi as n
boy had studied the mysteries Of Amer.
lean civilization, with Cannon and
Powers as his chief instructors, he
had struggled through a course Of foot
ball. He now required all the power
of muscular resistance thus gained to
Withstand the onslaught Of these
friends Of his school days.
You monsters! You dragons of
America" he cried, falling backward
Into the only armchair the youngsters
bare quarters possessed. HAS West
Point, then, not reformed you?"
Shut up, you lovely little brute, and
come 10 my bosom again! Amt he
sweet, Powers? Observe his little tan
toots!cums. The dude has been built
In London and Paris. KIDD, oh, KIDD,
Is this grateful return for all the re-
publican simplicity you imbibed at
Halton?'
They sat down, one on either side of
Mabuchi. Their tall, bony, wire woven
frames far overtopped that Of the
graceful oriental.
sWall foil mo thap caid Na
smiling
Tell you? It's you who've got to do
the telling, Kido!' they cried together.
"We've nothing to tell" Cannon added.
"When you left for the war, we got
through West Point somehow and are
existing among cowboys and Indians
on these broad, unlovely plains. 1t
we could not come to Washington, but
you always were a decent little speci-
men of foreign bric-a-brac. Now tell
us about yourself"
ut is not much to tell. When my
country went to war with China, l
was ordered home, you know. Then l
served with the army, and the honor
dispatches and | was promoted. The
war ended. and my government sent
me to travel / was everywhere-Lon
don, st. Petersburg, Berlin, Vienna
and Paris"
"How l should have liked to do Paris
with you! There's a French count, an
ex-officer, here stopping with the colo
mel. l suppose you met heaps Of them
in Paris? He's studying America too.
Count - Count - what's his name -
Count
l Count Diceandbassr' cried the strik-
er, opening the door of the young
officers sitting room to usher in an
elderly, wax mustached Frenchman.
Powers and Cannon advanced to greet
the new visitor. KIDD Mabuchi rose
slowly, his yellow brown face turning
gray.
"Count d'Eisenbas," Powers said,
"we are honored. Let me introduce
to you Mr.. Kibo Mabuchi of the Jap
anese legation and an old school friend
of ours. We were just telling him
it was curious that you and he, both
studying us savages for the benefit of
your governments, should meet at such
an out of the way hole as Fort Drake"
The count made a rush of effusive
greeting at the japanese, who coolly
took his hand.
"Mon Dieu, gentlemen! You afford to
me surprises the most welcome"
: "You know each other, then" said
Powers.
"Knowv' cried D'Eisenbas. "We are
comrades since long time"
"Yes," said KIDD, and the laugh was
gone from the eyes which had sparkled
on his old friends, 1--WE met in Paris"
"And are ravished to meet in Amer
lear cried the count with hand on
either of Mabuchfs shoulders.
) Cannon and Powers looked at each
other in amazement. 1t was impossible
not to note the dearth Of delight in
Kido's face.
"On this hot afternoon, when l had
nothing to do, l remembered our last
game at pokair, gentlemen, and / said:
'Ha! l shall go and have my r-revanche
from the youthful giants, Messrs. Can
non and Powair' May l? For Mabuchi
at baccarat, ecarte and the games or
Paris. l know, but pokair'-
81 pray-eXcuse me-" said Mabuchi
gravely 81 no longer play cards"
"Ah! Since Paris?" cried dEisen-
bas, with a shooting glance.
"Since Paris" KIDD assented calmly.
"Pshaw, Kido," cried Cannon, you'll
simply have to play poker in Washing
ton. Count, let me offer you some
thing cooling. Kido-why your glass
is full yeti"
II don't touch anything" said Ma
buchi gravely.
"Since Paris?" again the Frenchman
asked and mocked.
"Since Paris" said Mabuchi
"Ah, see, you want not to play po-
kair. You have much to talk. Au
revoir my American giants. We shall
meet at the colonel's. Mabuchi, shall
we meet"
"We shall meet" said KIDD, rising