The Jersey City news., 1904-10-04

it is the custom while the patrons drink
and smoke that a geisha girl shall pos
ture and dance before them. An Amer
lean Hibbard Fox was his name
passing through Japan visited the tea
house where Satsima was employed
and, being much pleased with her, re
maincd a long while at the capital, Of
ten going to the tea house and always
calling for Satsiina to posture and
dance for him.
One day Fox went to the tea house
and called for SatsinaA. but she was at
the time entertaining another. Fox
waited till that other left the tea house
and saw him 60 away. He was man
with very fair complexion and faxen
hair and beard. Fox called for Satsima
and, after she had danced for him,
asked her to drink tea with him.
who Is the stranger for whom you
have been dancing?.' he asked her.
"TIe says be is one Of your country
men"
What Is he doing IN JapanW
"fIe is studying our customs. Then
he is going home to America to write
a book about us. My lister is in the
service Of the wife Of the official who
builds our ships"
.You mean the chief of the bureau
of construction
ut may be so. Your countryman
wishes me to do something for him
but / must not tell anyone"
Except me-"
"You have been very kind to me-
and, since he is your countryman.
win tell you. He wishes me to induce
my sister to show him some papers
that her master keeps at home. She is
to only let him look at them and put
them right back. He wants to use
what is in them In his book. II she
will do this, he will give US so much
money that we may live without work
ing
sIndeedp remarked For senten-
tiously.
Fox was much interested in this,
energetic American author who took
such pains to secure material for his
literary work.
did he tell you," he asked the girl,
''what part OF America he halls from?"
"Yes; New York.
well, the next time he comes here
ask him in what part Of New York he
lives, in what state New York is, how
far New York Is from Albany, how one
goes from New York to Pittsburg and
where Chicago is."
Fox wrote out the questions that she
might commit them to memory, and
when the author came again the girl.
pretending to seek information Of his
country on account of having relatives
who had gone there to live. asked the
questions
When she gave Fox the replies he
burst out laughing The man had said
that he hved on Broadway, that New
York was In Maine, that it is a thou
sand miles from Albany, that one goes
up the Hudson river to Pittsburg, and
Chicago Is an Atlantic seaport.
"Satsima,' said Fox, "the man Is a
spy, probably d Russian and he is in
Japan for information concerning your
warships.'
The little girl was horror stricken
Had it not been for Fox she would
have been duped by the man to be-
tray her country What should she
do? Go and inform the chief of the
bureau of navigation? She shrank
from becoming involved in matter Of
life and death.
Fox was himself somewhat puzzled.
The man had shown gross ignorance
Of America, especially for ,litterateur.
But Fox was certain of nothing con-
cerning him and did not wish to make
d mistake. He was much attached to
Satsima and wished to advise her for
her best interest He persuaded her to
permit him to speak to the man, and
the next time he visited the tea house
Fox watched till be saw him leave it.
followed him into a park and accosted
him.
"Hello, my friend" be said. II hear
you are a fellow countryman Of mine."
The stranger In broken English
asked, what country r.
1t did not take Fox long to come to
an understanding with the man, who
was plainly a Russian spy.
II have no interest in your affair.""
said the real American. except 50 far
as it concerns the little girl whom you
are endeavoring to put in jeopardy.
The United States is neutral in this.
fight between Japan and Russia, and