The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-12-07

others shoulder with friendly ges
ture. II only wish money could give
me as much pleasure as it does you
my boy"
Phil moved his glass on the table
top in sullen circles. But suppose
one hasn't the 'wherewithal you talk
Of? What's the fun without money
even when you're young? I've never
been able to discover it,"
Find the money" said Bersonin
81 wish some one would tell me
howl"
Bersonin's head turned toward the
door. He sat suddenly rigid. 1t
came to Phil that he was listening in
tently to the talk between the two men
in the next room.
81 needn't point QUIT was a
measured voice, cold and incisive and
deliberate-"that when the American
fleet came, two years ago, conditions
were quite different. The cruise was
a national tour de force; the visit to
Japan was incidental. Besides, there
was really no feeling then between the
two nations-that was all creation Of
the yellow press. But the coming of
this European squadron today is a diff
ferent thing. 1t is a season of gen
eral sensitiveness and distrust, and
when the ships belong to nation
between which and Japan there is
real and serious diplomatic tension
we'll, in my opinion the time u.s. at best,
inopportune."
"Perhaps-a younger voice was
speaking now, less certain, less poised
and little hesitant-"perhaps the
very danger makes for caution. Peo-
pie are particularly careful with
matches when there's lot of powder
about"
True, so far as intention goes. But
there is the possibility of some con-
tretemps. You remember the case of
the Ajax in the eighties. 1t was blown
up in friendly harbor-clearly
enough by accident, at least so far as
the other nation was concerned. But
it was during time of strain and
hot blood, and you know how narrow
ly great clash was averted. If war
had followed, regiments would have
marched across the frontier, shouting:
Remember the Ajax!' AS it was,
there was panic in three bourses.
Solid securities fell to the lowest point
in their history. The yellow press
pounded down the market, and few
spectators on the shore side made
gigantic fortunes"
A moments pause ensued. Berso-
Minis fingers were rigid. There seemed
suddenly to Phil to be some signifi- |
canoe between his silence and the con-
versation-as if he wished it to sink
into his, Pills, mind. The voice con-
tinued:
what has happened once may hap
pen again. What if one of those dread
naughts by whatever action should 20
down in this friendly harbor? It does
not take a vivid Imagination to pic
ture the headlines ,next morning in |
the newspapers at home!"
The ice in the tumblers clinked;
there was sound of pushed-bac
chairs.
AS their departing footsteps died in
the hall Bersonin's gaze lifted slowly
to Phil's face. 1t had in it now the
look it had held when he gazed from
the roof of the bungalow on the bluff
across the anchorage beneath. Phil
did not start or shrink. Instead, the
evil that ruled him met half /
way the holder evil in that glance,
from whose sinister suggestion the
veil was for moment lifted, recog-
nizing tacit kinship. Neither spoke,
but as the hard young eyes looked in
to the cavernous, topaz eyes of Doctor
Bersonin, Phil knew that the thought Il
that lay coiled there was a thing I'M
holy and unafraid. His heart beat
faster, but it warmed. He felt no
longer awed by the others greater
age, standing and accomplishments.
He was conscious of new, half-in-
5olent sense of easy comradeship.
Confined Next Week.