The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-10-30
third and last day came. without
either eveut having happenad

Rapier far outpaced the output OF
the printing presses, and still the
| Government made no sign.
Coming as such a violent counter
blast to prevalent newspaper opinion,
the articles eclipsed even the royal
visit round which they centered, and
became the sensation of the hour.
Their point, their brilliancy, their
marvellous grasp of international
politics, were qualities before which
even the bitterness they evoked was
forced to subside, and at the end o.
the third and last day of their ap-
pearance, the question, "Who wrote
them?" had not only practically OBJ
scured the part The Rapier had
played in the whole affair, but left
Pelham thoroughly satisfied in his
own mind that no very permanent
injury would follow "the wind in the
trees"
"Truly the gods do take care of the
principles, he thought, with mingled
relief and gratitude, as he threw open
the Office window and looked out into
the calm serenity of the night.
Everywhere men were making
misty old Fleet street gay with deco
rations in honor of the Japanese
Princes visit to the city on the NOR
row, and the flags of the two nations
at the window opposite hung tran
GULLY in the still air.
AS he looked at them, Pelham won
dered if their 1epose really symbol
lied a bigger item in the worlds his
tory than even the advent of Japa-
nese Prince, and he had begun to
abandon himself to a long train of
political speculation, when a cab
drew up outside the offices of The
Rapier.
For the moment he thought it was
Meadows who had arrived, but the
man who descended from the cab
gave Pelham a thrill of excitement
his friend and brother editor had
never done.
81 have come to thank you, and to
explain" said his excellency, when
Jney met moment later.
He looked very tired and old, not
withstanding the indomitable light
in his eyes, and something of Pei
hams thought reached him before ne
spoke again.
"Ah, yes! 1t has been trying time
for you and for me-" he said, "but
1t is over now, and we can congratu-
late ourselves on having sealed new
friendship between England and
Japan for long time to come. Years
ago." he went on in response to Pei
hams puzzled expression, "two ma
tions Of the East and the West made
an alliance. 1t was an alliance of
esteem as we'll as of interest, and
the gods smiled, because it made for
the peace and progress of the world.
But time flies fast, and all too soon
the term of years covered by the con-
tract began to draw to a close. This
term had been source of deep re-
gret to certain statesmen Of both
countries-they had always consid-
cred it far too brief-and now as the
friendship of the two nations Off
cially neared it's end, these men
sought to safeguard the future by
absorbing the remnant of the old
treaty in a new one"
He paused for a moment as If
waiting for Pelham, but the latter
was too spellbound by what he had
heard to speak.
"For this purpose, continued his
eXcellency, "a son of our Emperor
came to England. Ostensibly the
visit had little political significance,
but in reality it's object was to dis
cuss and, If possible, settle certain
aspects Of the agreement. And in
the wake Of the prince came, secretly
and alone, an old watch dog of the
Empire"
"This old watch dog" resumed his
excellency moment later, "had
spent his youth in England, and it
was to his knowledge of the English
character that the Emperor now con-
fided the final decision of Japan. This
decision, in the last issue, centered
round a question of English public
opinion, and thanks to your aid in
the matter, Mr.. Pelham, my course
has been made an easy and an obvi-
Gus one. At any rate he con-
cluded witt a smile, 81 had sufficient
faith in our experiment to tign a new
treaty this afternoon between Eng
land and Japan"
But, your excellency, no one
dreams?-"
"No one!" The secret has been
marvellously well kept, and outside
ourselves and the statesmen immedi-
ately concerned, few in England or
japan have any idea of the moment
Gus document signed this afternoon.
For your part in the affair, my
friend" he went on, "the japanese
Government-indeed, may say the
two governments-are deeply CRATE
full; and although they cannot OF
course take official cognizance of the
matter, they have deputed me to
make the following proposal, in the
hope that it may redeem any injury
your newspaper may have suffered
Here" and he drew a document from
fr vA4 t. n. "a.