The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-01-11
THE GEISHA GIRL
(orig.nal.i

lcan-HlDDard FOX was his name
passing through Japan visited the tea
house where Satsima was employed
and, being much pleased with Lel, re-
NAMED a long While at the capital Of
ten going to the tea house and~always
calling for Satsima to posture and
dance for him.
One day Fox went to the tea house
and called for Satsima. but she was at
the time entertaining another. Fox
waited till that other left the tea house
and saw him go away. Ie was q man
with very fair complexion and aaxen
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.
"He says he is one of your country
men"
what is he doing in Japan?"
"He is studying our customs. Then
he is going home to America to write
a book about us. My sister is in the
service of the wife of the official who
builds our ships"
you mean the chief of the bureau
of construction"
cit 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, l
will 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. If she
will do this, he will give us so much
money that we may live without work
| ing
Indeed remarked Fox senten-
tiously.
| Fox was much interested in this
energetic American author who took
| 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
I country on account of having relatives
who had gone there to live, asked the
!, questions.
j When she gave Fox the replies he
burst out laughing. The man had said
that he lived on Broadway, that New
j York was in Maine, that it is a thou
sand miles from Albany, that one goes
!, up the Hudson river to Pittsburg, and
I Chicago is an Atlantic seaport.
"Satsima," said Fox, 1.-The man is a
spy, probably a 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 size
do? Go and inform the Chief o. The
/ bureau of navigation: she shranb
, from becoming involved in a matter OF
life and death.
Fox was himself somewhat puzzled
/ The man had shown gross ignorance
!, Of America. especially for litterateuy
But Fox was certain Of nothing con
/ corning him and did not wish to make
mistake. He was much attached tt
Satsima and wished to advise her fol
} her best interest. He persuaded her tt
permit him to speak to the man, ant
the next time he visited the tea house
Fox watched till he saw him leave it
, followed him into park and accosteC
, him.
"Hello, my friend,' he said. 81 heal
you are fellow countryman of mine.
The stranger in broken English
asked, what country?'
1t did not take Fox long to come t.
an understanding with the man, wht
was plainly Russian spy.
II have no interest in your affair,
said the real American, except so fa
as it concerns the little girl whom 70,
+ are endeavoring to put in jeopardy
: The United States is neutral in thi
, fight between Japan and Russia, ant
, so am /. Now, I'll give you chance
to save your neck. Shell out a coupl
of thousand dollars for the geisha ant
git by the FIRST steamer. If you de
, cline ! shall advise her to put the gov
ernment on to you at once
The man was glad to escape so easil.
and, having provided himself wit
United States money, counted out ez
! actly $1,000. gave 1t to Fox and hui
ried away. Whether he kept the latte
part of his bargain to leave the cour
try at once Fox did not know, nor di
.e care Certain 1t is that the sly wa
not seen &gain by him in Tokyo
Ia, lf,t