The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-10
CHAPTER TX.

D at the Tokyo club and paid the |l coolie.
 The door was opened by a servile bellboy in buttons. Phil toss ed his hat on to the hall rack and en- tered. It was cool and pleasant inside, and a great bowl of China asters sat on the table beside the membership book. On the wall was a wire frame full of visitors cards. He strode through the office and entered a large, glass inclosed piazza where a num- Der of Japanese, some in foreign, some in native costume, were watching a game of Go. Two younger legation at taches were shaking dice at another table. Browning, Phil passed into the next room. Here his eye frightened. Sitting in a corner of one of the huge sofas which sank under his enormous weight was pr. Bersonin. A little round table was before him on which i sat a tall glass frosted with cracked ice.
 "Sit down. said the expert. "How do you come to be in Tokyo? The re- view, I presume.' He struck call l bell on the table and gave an order to l the waiter.
 | Phil lighted cigarette. "No," he said, "I've come to stay for awhile" | 'You haven't given up your bunga- low on the bluff? ?" asked Bersonin quickly. There was an odd eagerness | in his colorless face-a look of almost dread, which Phil, lighting his cigar | cite, did not see. It changed to relief as the other answered.:
 'eNo. Probably shan't be here more than a few days"
 The expert settled back in his seat. "Youll not find the hotel everything 1t should be, I'm afraid" he observed 1 more casually.
 sI'm not there," Phil answered. 'T- l I've got little Japanese house."
 s'So! A menage de garcon, ehg" The big man held up his clinking glass to the light, and under cover of it his deep set yellowish eyes darted keen detective look at Phil's averted face. "Well," he went on, "how are your af- | fairs? Has the stern brother appeared -et?'
 Phil shifted uneasily. 'No." he re- l piled. CT expect him pretty soon, though" He drained the glass the boy had filled. You've been tremendously kind, doctor" he went on hurriedly, s4to lend me so much without the least bit of security
 "Pshawr said Bersonin. "Why shouldn't I?' He put his hand to the sther's shoulder with a friendly ges ture. "I only wish money could give me as much pleasure as iS does you my boy"
 l Two men had seated themselves ir the next room. Through the open dool came fragments of conversation, the gurgle of poured liquid and the bub bling hiss of Hirano mineral water Bersonin lowered his voice. "Youth | What great thing it is! Red blood and imagination and zest to enjoy. Al it needs is the wherewithal to gild its | pleasures. After a time age catches us, and what are luxuries then? Only things to make tiresomeness little less irksomer
 Phil moved his glass on the table top in sullen circles. "But suppose one hasn't the 'wherewithaP you talI 1 of? Whats the fun without money even when you're young? I've never been able to discover it" ''Find the money" said Bersonin.
 'T wish some one would tell mt how"
 | Bersonin's head turned toward the door. He sat suddenly rigid. It came to Phil that he was listening intently the next room.
 q needn't point out''-it was a meas ured voice, cold and incisive and de Hberate-''that when the American fleet came two years ago conditions were quite different. The cruise wal national tour de force; the visit tt Japan was incidental. Besides, there was really no feeling then between the two nations. That was all crea ton of the yellow press. But the com ing of this European squadron today is different thing It is a season o general sensitiveness and distrust, ana when the ships belong to a nstiol between which and Japan there is req and serious diplomatic tension-wen in my opinion the time is at best inop perfume"
 "Perhaps'-a younger voice wal speaking now. less certain, less poised and little hesitant-"perhaps thu very danger makes for caution. Peo
 pie are particularly careful witt matches when there's lot of powde
 about"
 True so far as intention goes. Blu
 there is the possibility of some contre
 temps. You remember the case of tn
 Ajax in the eighties. It was blowl
 up in friendly harbor-clearly enougl
 by accident. at least so far as the othe
 nation was concerned. But it wa
 during time of strain and hot blood
 and you know how narrowly a grea
 clash was averted. If war had fol
 lowed regiments would have marched
 across the frontier shouting. .Remem
 Der the Ajaxr As it was there was
 panic in three bourses.. Solid securi
 ties fell to the lowest point in thei
 history. The yellow press pounde,
 down the market, and few specula
 tors on the short side made giganti | fortunes