The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-01-13

oh, all right groWled NeVllei
but he could not help adding: Most
fellows feel as you do when they first
come to this bally country"
They all started up the steps to-
gether, but Neville was detained. He
had refused hotly to take OF his
shoes.
But, sir, 1t is the custom Of the
country" explained Masatsura, defer
entially.
Better take 'em off, old man." pro-
tested Hardy, who was trying to be
civil, but had begun to weary OF his
companion. "They may think it posi-
lively indecent to go into a dining
room with shoes on"
After some opposition, on the
ground that it made him feel like a
fool to go about in his stocking feet,
Neville removed his shoes and started
up the stairs with them in his hand.
Better bring your shoes, too" he
explained to Hardy. They'll prob
ably steal them If you leave them
down there"
They all squatted about low
table, whose legs we're not over foot
high, and waited for dinner. Their
room, which had been enlarged to suit
the size Of the party by simply sliding
together a partition, looked out on
court. Diners in other rooms on the
opposite side of the court could be
seen, also squatting about tables. In
less than five minutes Hardy had be-
come most uncomfortable, but Aisome
and her father sat there on their toes
as easily as if they were reclining on
couches. They ordered of the pretty
girl who came to serve them, and
waited perhaps Is minutes, when Ne
Vile exclaimed: where are my
shoes?" in such a tone that Aisome
looked up inquiringly, and her father
evidently asked Masatsura what the
trouble was.
"The waiter took them out to have
them BACKED" explained the guide.
"She will either bring them back or
else leave them down there with the
others"
1t was necessary to hurry through
dinner somewhat, for the Teijo Maru
sailed at three.
Neville spoke about his shoes two
or three times, insistently, and they
were brought back to him in few
moments.
When the two foreigners left for
the boat, Hardy made pretty parting
speech to Aisome, which Masatsura
translated.
At the wharf he was arrested again.
He was thoroughly disgusted and
threatened to make trouble, but, to
tell the truth, his rage was somewhat
mollified by the fact that he might
see Aisome again, and that he would
not be compelled to pass a week or so
longer in the Englishman's company.
Nevertheless, he said to him on part
ing: IF this thing keeps on, shall
begin to share your opinion of the
Japanese"
Hardy was clapped into a room
overlooking the sea, from the window
of which he could see the Teijo Maru
steaming out into the purple distance.
An elaborate and dainty dinner was
brought to him in the evening, and
about ten that night he was escorted
to the wharf again. A tiny figure,
mufIled in cloak, was waiting there,
and the others stepped aside as this
person approached.
81 hope you are not vexed with me-"
said familiar voice in the well-modu-
lated accents of an educated woman.
"Aisome!" cried Hardy.
"Yes, Aisome."
"But-but-you speak English"
Eyes, l am a graduate of Vassar
college and now in the service of my
country. Listen-I have only mo-
ment and l feel that I would like to
make you an explanation. Your COM
panion was a Russian spy. The plans
of the forts, on oiled paper, were
found between the soles of his right
shoe. 1t was he, no doubt, who put
the copy of them in your pocket, hav-
ing learned that he was under sus-
picion and would soon be arrested. 1t
was he, l am sure, who entrapped you
into taking a photograph of the forts
You are under suspicion and would
have been in terrible danger, had you
gone with him. You will sail, now, on
another ship and will be safe"
"He will be in danger!" said Hardy,
mystifed. What sort of danger?"
Did say that he would be in dan
ger?' asked Aisoms, sweetly. "No,
I said that you would have been in
danger. We have taken the plans of
the forts away from him, but he still
has them in his head-and-and-
perhaps you have, but I do not think
so--a man who could speak so beauti-
fully Of woman"
"But why are you doing all this for
me?" asked Hardy.
why? Because I am a woman, !
suppose. Because you have said there
is moonlight in my cheeks, that my
lips are ripe cherries, that am made
of gold dust, that I am queen of
fairy-land. l am known as the Fox,
but have woman's silly heart and
cannot resist f1attery." There was
something elfn-like in her beauty as
she stood there with her face raised
to his in the moonlight. "Old Sano
says my head is turned" she sighed,
"but it is easy to wheedle him"
"Sano? He is not your father,
then?" rs
"No, he is my superior in the secret
service. And now good-by; you may
kiss me once, if you really meant
what you said. 1t will be the only
kiss of my life, as it is not the Gus
tom of my country"
She raised her lips to him and he
stopped and kissed her. The lips
were dewy and very sweet, and he
was consciou; of some subtle perfume
as If she herself were some exquisite