The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-12-27
AN EPISODE OF
n THE LATE WAR
[origInal.l

tAy RAsSpVtt RtotA41t0 AnC ao DlAk
six feet high, light hair and blue eyes.
] obtained it for the purpose Of visiting
the Japanese army in Manchuria just
before the battle of Mukden. / was re-
eeived by a member of the staff, who
examined the passport, comparing me
with it very carefully. Notwithstand-
ing that the japanese are a secretive
people, noticed that the officer had
something on his mind, and that some
thing pertained to me. However, when
he had done with the passport he hand
ed It back to me, apparently satisfied,
and asked me what he could do for me.
I replied TINT had come all the way
from America to see some of the war
from the Japanese side. He promised
to report my arrival to Marshal Oyn-
ma He did so, and when he returned
bore an invitation from the marshal
for me to ride with him on tour of
the outpogts.
During the ride / was under the es-
pecisl care of the man who had re-
ceiyed me, Major seshimo, who point
ed out the different objects of interest
was introduced to the marshal, who
expressed himself sensible Of the sym
patty the Japanese cause had received
in America When we returned to
headquarters / was about to take my
leave when Major Seshino told me
that tent had been provided for me
with the stan. / much preferred to re-
main Independent and declined, but
The major informed me that a refusal
Of an honor that was intended for me
as an American and not as an indiyid-
ual would be displeasing to the mar
shall. aud at once accepted the hospi-
tality.
The next morning Major Seshimo
asked me to come to his tent for a
smoke, and while was there Rus
sian prisoner was brought up. The
major asked me if / spoke any Rus
sian. aud replied that / did not. He
then began TO question the man him
self in that language and seemed to
get on fairly we'll ! listened to what
did not understand. Suddenly the ma
Ior turned 10 me and asked:
what DO you think Of thatf7
You forget. major, that do not
speak Russian" replied
True he said, u forgot
Somehow | got the idea that he was
trying 10 betray RE into admitting a
knowledge Of the Russian language
The next morning told Major seshl
mo that had seen all desired TO sec
Of an army at the front ana was about
to take nay leave. thanking him or the
marshal through him for his hospi-
tality He said that / must By ali
means wait over another day-that
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
1 consented
The party were English with the ex
.ception Of one very pretty woman,
Bulgarian We all dIned with the mar.
sllal, the Bulgarian lady being assigned
to me as dinner companion. Dur
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 rubIes, viii give you two-thirds
Of It. II get away I will meet you at
vladivostok. But / am suspected and
have little hope II I am lost all will
belong to yon"
What could do? Betray woman to
death who had placed her life in my
handsl | 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 | 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 I noticed that
something had happened during our alb
sence. By the interest which seemed
to attach to me / could not but suspect
that this something partainea to me
a certain eonstraint that had noticed
ID every one | met seemed to have dis
appeared. Indeed. all seemed DESTROYS
to atone for something / announced
my Intention 10 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
j was placed beside the Bulgarian
woman again and dreaded a repetition
Of the events Of the previous night.
While the dinner was ia progress the !
marshal addressed me-
What did you do with the informa-
ton for General Kuropatkin?
looked at the woman who had |
given 1t to me, then at the marshal.
Ny heart was beating the long roll.
Burned It." replied.
Wisely done. / owe you an explana-
ton and an apology. The day Of your
arrival among US we got wind Of a
Russian SPY answering your descrip-
ton. We did not like to offend an in
nocent 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.
for she only did 1t at my request and /
to give you an opportunity to prove /