The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-10-10


the room to the telephone.
"Yes?"
Gentleman wants to see Mr.. Pei
ham, sir
"Mr Pelham is very busy. Tell the
gentleman to send up his name and |
business
What's the row." broke in Pei
ham, looking up from his desk.
Some one wants to see you. Dare |
say it's another confounded anecdote |
about the Japanese Prince or the
King" And Meadows, whom the
royal affairs OF England and Japan |
had somewhat wearied that day, !
walked across to the window and |
stood for a moment looking down |
into the misty shadows Of the street |
The traffic Of the day had thinned |
out now; 1t was 10 o'clock, and save |
for the fitting lights of an occasional
cab carrying night editor to his
office, and the tapping of the English |
and Japanese flags at the window
opposite, Fleet street was silent and |
deserted.
The bell rang again.
"Never mind, old man, I'll see to it |
this time myself" said Pelham as he
rose and crossed the room.
"The gentleman says he mus. see
you, sir. It's most particular" an
swered the hallboy in response to his
imperative demand And he amt
got no name. He's a little foreign
lookin' gent, sir, and " GEMS bit
dotty," came to Pelha Ia hoarse
whisper. "He says I'm to tell you
friend from the East has called, and
wants to know IL you remember
something or other about the wind
In the trees?"
"A friend from the East The
wind in the--Good Lordl" broke
off Pelham suddenly, dropping the re-
ceiver in his excitement.
whats up?" asked Meadows,
turning round.
II think ! once told you about an
incident that happened soon after the
passage of the Yalu--the one in
which a Japanese celebrity saved the
life of an English war correspondent,
and the same day located a concealed
Russian position by watching the pas
of foliage. He called it the wind in
the trees'?"
Meadows nodded.
"Well, / think also told you the
correspondent said some things that
day, that wild horses wouldn't have
dragged from him at saner mo-
ment. Among them he told his Jap
anese excellency that IL ever the
chance came to return the favor in
any way 1t would be done. 1t seemed
extremely improbable, and a bit
highhown when it was out; but, curl
ously enough. his excellency took 1t
quite seriously. He SAID the big
things of life were never done OF our
selves-only the little things, and
this promise he felt belonged to the
big things. When the day came to
claim it, he said he would ask me %
remember the wind in the srees.'"
by Jove! Your"
Il mean to say there's some one
from the East downstairs who wants
to know II I remember the wind in
the trees" answered Pelham tersely.
The room seemed very quiet for a
moment, as he finished speaking, and
in the silence the tapping of the Eng
lish and Japanese flags at window
opposite sounded curiously loud and
insistent
But 1t couldn't possibly be,
argued Meadows, as he recovered
from his astonishment. "The latest
cables from Japan confirm the state
ment, made some time ago, that he
had temporarily abandoned public
life and retired for the summer to a
remote country estate"
"The Japanese are a very wonder
full people, smiled Pelham enigmati-
cally, and, crossing to the telephone,
he sent down an urgent message.
Meadows took down his hat, and
moment later opened the door, as an
elderly, clean shaven man, with ORR
entail eyes, stepped out of the lift.
He bowed courteously to the for
mer as he passed, then turned to
Pelham with smile.
II beg your excellency's par
don,' stammered Pelham, as he re-
covered himself. But the loss of
your beard and mustacho makes a
demehuous ulHerence, ana besides.
the news agencies
All, yes! The news agencies,
poor things, are sadly deceived"
laughed his excellency, as he came in
and closed the door. "They think
] am nicely docketed and put away
for the summer months, when 10!
here l am in their very holy of holies
itself--the immortal Fleet street.
All, well he went on. as he took the
chair Pelham brought forward, "life
Is a daily miracle, only we are SO
used to 1t we forget 10 wonder. But
you, my friend, turning kindly eyes
on Pelham, show goes 1t with you
since we said goodby among the Rus
sian guns? You are a great news
paper proprietor nowadays, are you
not? They tell me you own the most
powerful journal in all England?p
at certainly has the largest circu-
lation," smiled Pelham, "and great
deal of 1t / owe to your excellency.
Those articles you allowed me to
send home frem the front built up
reputation"
"And brains did the rest. Good.
Brains are wonderful things. Better