The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-01-28
A GE|SHA GIRL,
BY SADIE oLcoTT.

The words were spoken by young
Japanese who rushed into tea house
where stood a startled geisha girl. Ii
was more than forty years ago. when
the followers of the mikado and the
shotgun were struggling for the su-
premacy in Japan.
what is it, Herobumi?' asked the
girl quickly.
"The shoganites, They are after me.
II they catch me they will kill me.
Quick. Nikama"
The girl darted glances in every d.
rection, and finally her eyes lighted on
what she at once recognized as the
best place for concealment In every
japanese house is dust hole. The
ground floor is raised about two feet
| above the earth. and a square hole is
cut in the floor. into which the dust
and litter OF the rooms are swept.
"Get in there. quick" cried the girl.
pointing TO the hole.
Herobumi sprang into the hole, dou-
bling himself up to occupy the space.
Nikama put board over it. and on
the board she placed brazier, thus
concealing the hole and making 1t ap-
pear that the brazier rested on the
| floor. Then she sat down before the
brazier, in which was fire, and APP
peared to he laZily warming herself,
In another moment band of armed
men rushed in. The girl looked up at
them in feicned surprise.
"a man is here said their leader.
whom we seek. We saw him enter
Where is he:"
"You are welcome TO look for him.
I'VE will see for ourselves" replied
| the man. and, with his followers, he
began search of the premises. They
moved furniture; they opened closets:
| they pulled out drawers. Into every
Granny in the house they peered, but
none Of them thought Of the dust
hole Thinking him they sought had
| simply passed through and had gone
on. they rushed out as hurriedly as
! they had come in. When they were
well away the girl called to the hider;
There is nothing now to fear, Hero
| bumi. but you had better remain
where you are for awhile in case they
come back"
THANK you, Nikama. You have
/ saved my life. l knew when | came,
having been here at times for tea. that
| would not be betrayed, but did not
know that | would find one who by
her presence Of mind would keep my
head on my shoulders"
The girl went out and looked about
and. finding all pursuit Of the fugitive
in that vicinity had been abandoned,
returned to the house. removed the
brazier. and Herobumi came out OF the
hole. He did not think of the dust
with which he was covered, but Nj
kama did. and getting wisp broom,
she brushed his clothes. Then he took
both her hands in his and said to her
"You are but poor geisha girl, while
l am of a far different rank. but
promise that you shall never regret
the act Of this day"
When it was dark he slipped out OF
the tea house and found more per
manent place of safety.
One day-it was after the Shotgun
had been permanently defeated and
the mikado securely placed upon the
throne Of Japan-a jinrikisha stopped
before the tea house. Nikama was
standing at the door. and who should
She see alight from the jinrikisha bu
the young man whose life she hac
saved. He came up and led her on
on to 4 veranda.
Il have not seen you for Il Ions
while" she said. Il feared that thu
shogunites had caught you at last"
no: | was too slippery for them
But all my inventive powers-anl
there are these who esteem them con
siderable-are as nothing compared
with yours. Had it not been for you
quick acting brain l should not nov
be here
The girl, naturally pleased at his ap
probation Of her act, smiled ant
! FLUSHED.
Il told you that you would not re
gret your act Of that terrible day.
continued the visitor. nor shall you
Ivish to make you present l vii
first offer yea that which l value mos
highly and which will include within
! itself all | can give you. Then if yol
prefer a part rather than the who'll
you may ask for what you like and
; will give it.
} you speak in riddles, Herobum
or, rather. you speak like the mikad
when you say you will give what
ask. Are you, a young man not We
thirty years old, so powerful that 20
can give me anything | ask
II can at least give you that which
prize most"
= "And that IS
n Myself"
The girl stood looking at him in al
constituent. No high caste young ma
{ in Japan was likely to marry geish
I girl.
4, Il am the whole" resumed tn
young man. IF you don't find me
D your taste you may take part"
4 "Rut | know YOU only as one VII