The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-05-25
Continued from last Issue.)
CHAPTER v.
In Secret Paths.

Modelled on those lines which had
made the intelligence bureau Of Rus
STA one OF the most effective in the
entire world, and profiting by the pub
| licity given to nearly every movement
of importance in the United States.
she was infinitely informed Of all that
| had been and was taking place in the
country she hoped TO overcome. She
| had depended upon this knowledge as
valued factor for the subjugation OF
| the American colossus. not foreseeing
that a country capable Of closing Its
doors TO the world would also find
| means to circumvent foreign agents.
| To the last minute she relied upon her
emissaries In nearly all the larger
cities Of America under the direction
| Of Count Seigo
Away back in the time Of the Toku-
gawa Shogunate. when the almost In
vincible leader Seigo was an idol to
the youth of Satsuma to be toppled
over only IN the civil war Of 1871 his
son was being educated in a leading
American university. The downfall
in the United States until family and
political influence had time TO reas-
sert itself, when by progressive steps
he gained the good graces OF his gov
eminent and was given responsible
positions In affairs OF state. His
knowledge Of the American political
situation was complete and accurate.
and no man was better informed on
the strength and weakness Of the re-
public.
Ii had been largely through his ad-
vice that the dispute between the two
nations, trivial in itself but porten-
tous In possibilities. had been used az
q pretext for war. Thoroughly con-
versant with congressional methods
in the United States, he had watched
year by year the quibblings Of legis-
lators over naval bills which usually
enled in inadequate appropriations.
OF broader mind that they, he had
had come into distant colonial posses
sions must of necessity enlarge Its
navy and augment its efficiency, ex-
pend money in unremitting streams
for maintenance, and stimulate its
men TO seek individual excellence In
gunnery and drill. He had observed
the growth OF conceit, which. like rust
be leath a coat of paint, led men to
be ieve so devoutly in American SUI
periority that they neglected to ana
ly7e the actual power which could
positively be developed. BY process
of elimination he estimated the fight
ing value OF the American navy, dis
oa-ding vessels still in service but
obsolete, and others still on paper but
looked upon by the unsophisticated as
a part OF the nations strength. Ma
tio1al prowess he regarded as a small
factor when granting equality.
Seigo's observations had been so
careful and his conclusions so logical.
that reports sent to and passed upon
by the elder statesmen Of Japan had
led them TO feel certain of victory
long before war was declared. Nor
had his predictions in the opening
events been unfulfilled. True he had
Philippines but he had confidently
foretold the period Of torpidity. Of con
fusion and lack of cohesion, which had
followed II was with satisfaction,
therefore. that he observed the trend OF
events when hostilitles we're finally
declared. and from the quietude OF his
study saw the whole country waiting
for the government to act while APP
parently 1t remained somnolent.
The surrender of the islands came
as the first perplexing problem for
which he could neither account nor
that event were nothing when COM
pared with those subsequent. He was
too adrOlt ever TO have appeared as a
laborer In the llmelight, and was
therefore eminently fitted to drop from
sight at the outbreak, when his fell
low countrymen were leaving by hun
dreds seeking places of refuge across
the border lines north and south or
embarking on the. high seas for for.
eign ports. Singularly enough, race
prejudice in the eastern states had
never reached the point of acute dis
elimination which made the denizens
Of that section classify the Japanese
and Chinese in one broad category as
orientals; II was therefore easy for
Seigo to don the garb Of a Laundry
man in the city of. Washington, i'm
provise a pigtail, and without inter
ruption assume to pursue this voca-
| ton.
Fertile OF resource. he readily dis.
covered that In situation where an.
archy might thrive the followers OF
the red flag would be his most val.
liable spies. Without difficulty he
allied himself with this element and
gained a friendly footing with them by
ostensibly favoring the advancement
OF their cause In Russian domains.
Their confidence in him was strength.
ened by the fact that he was accom-
rAished In their language, which he
spoke iuently. and was liberal con-