Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-09-17
BY p. Y. BLACK
Copyright. 1901. BY P. Y. Black

Cannon and Powers rose and howled
with Joy when their striker brought IN
the card. most Official eard--"Mr.
KIDD Mahuchi. the Japanese Legation.
Washington. ID. c. In the big school
in Massachusetts, where Mabuchi as a
boy had studied the mysteries OF Amer
lean civilization. with Cannon and
Powers as his chief Instructors. be
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 monstersl You dragons of
Amerlcai" he cried. falling backward
into the only armchair the youngsters
bare quarters possessed. HAS West
Point. then, not reformed your"
shut up. you lovely little brute. and
come TO my bosom againl Amt he
sweet. Powers? Observe his little tan
tootsicums The dude has been built
In London and Paris. KIDD. oh. KIDD.
Is this a 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
well. tell me, then" said Mabuehi.
smiling.
Tell your 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. W. got
through West Point somehow and are
existing among cowboys and Indians
on these broad. unlovely plains. 1t
was good Of you to come to see us, as
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"
1T is not much 10 tell. When my
country went TO war with China.
was ordered home. you know. Then
served with the army. and the honor
able general spoke well Of me in
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 should have liked TO do Paris
with youl There's a French count, an
ex-otficer. here stopping with the COLO
mel suppose you met heaps Of them
in Paris? He's studying America too.
Count - Count - what's his name -
Count
Count Diceaudbassr' cried the strik-
er, opening the door OF the young
officers sitting room to usher In an
elderly. wax mustaehed Frenchman.
Powers and Cannon advanced to greet
the new visitor. KIDD Mabuchl rose
slowly. his yellow brown face turning
gray.
Count d'Eisenbas," Powers said.
1--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 q rush of effusiye
greeting at the japanese, who eooily
took his hand.
Mon Dieu. centlemen! You afford TO
ne surprises the most welcome"
"You know each other. thenF' said
Powers.
Know cried D'Eisenbas. I'VE are
comrades since long timer
Yes" said KIDD, and the laugh was
gone from the eyes which had sparkled
on his old friends. I'VE met in Paris"
and are rayished 10 meet in Amer
icas' 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.
"Ou this hot afternoon. when | had
nothing to do. ! remembered our last
game at pokair. gentlemen. and said:
Hal shall go and have my r-revanehe
from the youthful giants, Messrs. Can
non and Powair' May 1? For Mabuehi
at baccarat. ecarte and the games Of
Paris. know. but pokair'-
Il pray-excuse me-" said Mabuchi
gravely. 81 no longer play cards
"Ah! Since Parlsr' cried d'Eisen-
has, with a shooting glance
"Slnce 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 yet"
Il don't touch anything" said Ma
buchi gravely.
"since PARISH" again the Frenchman
asked and Knocked.
"Since Paris" said MabuchL
"Ah. see. you want not to play po-
kalr. You have much to talk. Au
revolr, my American giants. We shall
meet at the colouers. Mabuchi. shall
we meety'
1--WE shah meet" said KIDD, rising