The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-03-08
Ne Ningdcm Of
Slender 3words
Copyright, Bobbs-Merrill Company
CHAPTER XLVI.
The Alarm.


The Alarm.
AS the three men listened to the
swift, broken story, there was no
sound save the rustic of the wind out
side, the clack of night Waterman,
and the ticking of the clock on the
marble mantel. The crouching form,
the sodden garments, the passionate
intensity of the slim, clutched hands,
the fire in the dark eyes-all lent ef-
feet to narrative instinct with ter
rible truth. The ambassadors knowl-
edge of the colloquial was limited, but
he knew enough to grasp the story's
main features. 1t capped the edifice
of suspicion and furnished direful
solution of what had been mysterious.
Once the admirals eyes met his, and
each knew that the other believed.
Terrible as it's meaning was-pointing
to what black depths of abysmal
wickedness- it was true!
The admiral listened with counte-
nance that might have been carved of
metal, but the faces OF the others were
gray white. Later was to come to
both the pathos and meaning OF the
sacrifice this frail girl. had laid on the
knees of her country's gods, but for
the hour, all else was swallowed up in
the horrifying knowledge, struck
through with the sharp fact that one
of the partners in this devilish enter
prise, however expatriate, was OF their
own nation. To Daunt this was in
tensified by his own acquaintance with
Phil. Memories swept him of that
worthless, ribald career-the evil in
timacy with Bersonin-the gradual
dominance of the bottle, which in the
end had betrayed him!
With singular separateness OF Wis
ion, he seemed, in lightning like fash
es, to see that betrayal; the blind in
fatuation, the slow enticements, the
reckless, intoxicated triumph, the
final surrender. He seemed to see
Haru, her secret won, running painting
through the wind. He saw Phil wax
ing at last from his drunken slumber
to what shame and penalty! He
shuddered.
When the secretary entered at the
crisp sound of the admiral's bell, he
stared at the pallid colntenances in
the room. The Japanese girl stood
trembling, half-supported by the adj
miral's arm. The latter spoken
voice that held no sign of feeling. 1t
was to present the young man to the
girl in the most formal and elaborate
courtesy.
'.The Ojo-San deigns to be for but
an hour the guest of my mean abode"
he said. Instruct my karei that in
that unworthy interval he may offer
her august refreshment and afterward
prepare; her proper escort and con-
veyance. Meanwhile, send my aide to
me-"
The secretary's CLEAN of astonish-
ment yelled itself under oriental lash
es, and tinge of color warmed the
whiteness of Haru's cheek. He bowed
to her profoundly. AS he deferential-
ly opened the door, she turned back,
swayed and sank suddenly prone in
a deep, sweeping obeisance.
An instant the admiral stood look
ing after her. "The petal of plum
blossom" he said, under the hoof of
the swine!"
His manner changed abruptly as the
aide entered. He spoke in quick,
curt Japanese, in tone sharp and ex-
act as steel shears shipping through
zinc:
Something has transpired of great
moment. There is no time to deal with
it by the ordinary channels. 1t is of
the first importance-the first i'm
poftance-that ! reach Yokohama
within the hour. You will call up
Shimbashi and order special train
with right of way. This admits of no
delay! Send for my carriage at once.
You will accompany me. We leave in
ten minutes" The aide went out
quickly while he seated himself at his
desk and began to write rapidly.
1.-TWO battleships!" he said sudden
ly. wheeling in his seat. with the
human lives on them! Perhaps even
war between two or more nations!
Gods of my ancestors! All this to
hang on the loyalty Of mere girl"
The ambassador, pacing the floor,
snapped the lid of his watch. 1T