The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-10-30

w.
nam, SIR"
"Mr. Pelham is very busy. Tell the
gentleman to send up his name and
business.
whats 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; it 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 he seems a bit
dotty," came to Pelham in a hoarse
whisper. "He says I'm to tell you a
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 Lord" broke
off Pelham suddenly, dropping the re-
ceiver in his excitement.
"What's up?" asked Meadows,
turning round.
II think l once told you about an
incident that happened soon after the
passage of the Yalu-the one in
which japanese celebrity saved the
life of an English war correspondent,
and the same day located a concealed
Russian position by watching the pas
sage of their bullets through a clump
of foliage. He called it the wind in
the trees'?"
Meadows nodded.
"Well, I think I also told you the
correspondent said some things that
day, that wild horses wouldn't have
dragged from him at a saner mo-
ment. Among them he told his Jap
anese excellency that if ever the
chance came to return the favor in
any way it would be done. 1t seemed
extremely improbable, and a bit
highflown when it was out; but, curl
ously enough, his excellency took it
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 trees."
"By Jove! You?-"
IL mean to say there's some one
from the East downstairs who wants
10 know if / 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 it couldn't possibly be, :"
argued Meadows, as he recovered
from his astonishment. "The latest
FABLES 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 very wonder
iul people, smiled Pelham enigmati-
cally, and, crossing to the telephone,
he sent down an urgent message.
Meadows took down his hat, and a
moment later opened the door, as an
elderly, clean shaven man, with Ori-
entail eyes, stepped out of the lift.
He bowed courteously to the for
mer as he passed. then turned to
Pelham with smile.
IL beg your excellency's par
don,' stammered Pelham, as he re-
covered himself. But the loss of
your beard and mustacho makes a
tremendous difference; and besides,
the news agencies"
"Ah, 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 am in their very holy of holies
itself-the immortal Fleet street.
Ah, WE'LL" he went on, as he took the
chair Pelham brought forward, "life
Is o daily miracle, only we are SO
used to 1t we forget to wonder. But
you, my friend" turning kindly eyes
on Pelham, "how 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.
fation," smiled Pelham, land a great
deal of it | owe to your excellencv