Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-23
DAILY SHORT STORY
AN EPISODE OF THE LATE WAR.


l obtained it for the purpose of visiting
the Japanese army in iManchuria just
before the,battle OF Mukdeu. l was re-
ceived by Il member 'Of the staff. who
examined the paSSsC't. comparing me
with il very carefully. NotwithStand-
ing that the Japanese are a secretive
people. ! noticed that the officer had
something on his mind, and that some
thing pertaiIsed to me. However. when
he had done with the passport he hand
ed it back To- me. apparently satisfied.
and asked me what Ge could do for me-
l replied that l had. come all the way
from America to ste some of the war
from the Japanese side. He promised
10 report my arrival 10 Marshal Oya-
ma He did 50. and when he returned
bore an invitation from the marshal
for me TO ride with him ION u tour Of
the outpoStS.
During tie ride i was under the es-
pecial care of the man who had re-
ceived me. Major Seshimo, who point
ed out the differeIn objects of interest.
l was introduced 10 the marshal. who
expressed himself sensible of the sym
lldlLN lilf -l'Ai'tiAAtSC NsAAiHC AlAu it'NANVb
in iInerica When we returned to
headquarters | was about TO take my
leave when Major SeShimo told Inc
that Ell tent had Leen provided for me
withsthe staff. / much preferred to re-
main independent and declined, but
the major informed me that a refusal
of nlhonOr that was intended for me
as an american and not as an individ-
ual would he dispieasing TO the mar
shall and / at once accepted the hospi-
tal1y.
The next morning Major Seshimo
asked me to come To his tent for a
smoke. and while / was there Il Rus
sian prisoner was brought up. The
major asked me if ! spoke any Rus
sian. and l replied that / did not. He
then began TO question the man him
self in that language and seemed to
get on fairly well. | listened to what
did not understand. Suddenly the ma
jOI- turned to me and asked:
What DO You think of that!"
You forget. major, that | do not
speak Russian" L replied.
True" he said, Il forgot"
Somehow | got the idea that he was
trying To betray me into admitting a
knowledge of the Russian language
The next morning ! told Major Seshi-
mo that | had seen all | desired to see
of an army ut the front and was about
to take my leave, thanking him or the
marshal through him for his hoSpi-
| tally. He said that | must by all
! means wait over another day-tnat a
party among whom were several ladies
were expected TO visit headquarters
and the marshal wished me to meet
them. Since he would take no refusal
l consented.
The party were English with the ex-
ception OF one very pretty woman. Il
| Bulgarian. We all dined with the mar
shall. the Bulgarian lady being assigned
TO me as dinner companion. g-Ir-
| ing the meal she whispered TO me: Il
| know who You are. You are thus far
safe. When you leave take with you
the paper / have slipped into your
! pocket. IT contains information for
which / am to receive a hundred thou
sand rublcs. / will give YOU two-thirds
of il. If get away l will meet you at
NladivOStOk. But | am suspected and
have little hope. If | am lost all will
belong TO Won"
What could | doi Betray ii woman 10
death who had placed her life in my
hands, ! sat, cold chillS alternating
with fever till the dinner had ended
The next day the party were taken
about To see what was interesting To
them, and l saw clearly that | was ex-
pected to accompany them. | did so.
but before leaving destroyed the paper
the woman had slipped into my pocket
She did not attempt 10 communicate
with me during the ride except as any
one else would do so. When We re
| turned To headquarters / noticed that
something had happened during our alb
sence. BY the interest which seemed
| 10 attach To me / could not but suspect
| that this something pertained to me-
y certain constraint that / had noticed
/ in every one | met seemed to have dis
appeared. Indeed, all seemed DESTROYS
10 atone for something. | announced
my intention To leave during the day.
| but all Joined in a sincere request that
| would remain for one more dinner. |
| consented, and we made a gay party
| that night at table
| woman again and dreaded a repetition
of the events of the previous night
| While the dinner was in progress the
marshal addressed me:
What did You DO with the informa-
ton for General KuroISstkin:'
l looked at the woman who had
given II 10 me, then at the marshal.
| My heart was beating the long roll
Burned it," / replied.
Wisely done. | owe you an explana-
tion and an apology. The day of your
arrival among Us We got wind of Il
Russian spy answering your descrip-
ton We did not like to offend an in
uocent person, especially an American.
so We have kept you under surveil-
lance. You must not blame the lady
who slipped the paper in your pocket.