Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-31
Continued Prom Last Issue.
CHAPTER XVI.
A SILENT UNDERSTANDING.

A
Phil descended from his rick'sha at the
Tokyo club and paid the coolie.
The building faced an open square be-
tween the Imperial hotel and the parlia-
ment buildings, along one of the smaller
picturesque moats, which the fever for
modernization was now filing in to make
a conventional boulevard. A motor shed
stood at the side of the plaza and an au-
tomobile or two was generally In evil
dence. The structure was small but COM
Portable enough with reading and card
rooms and billiard room of many tables
The door was opened by a servile bell
boy in buttons Phil tossed his hat on to
the hall rack and entered. He strobe
through the Office and entered a large
glass-inclosed piazza where number OF
Japanese, some in foreign some in ma
tive costume were watching game OF
Go. Frowning, he passed into the next
room.
Here his eye lightened Sitting in q
corner of one of the huge sofas which
sank under his enormous weight, was
Doctor Bersonin. A little round table was
before him on which sat tall glass
frosted with cracked ice.
"Sit down" said the expert. How dc
you come to be In Tokyo? The Review,
presume" He struck call bell on the
table and gave an order to the waiter.
Phil lighted a cigarette. NO" he said
i've come to stay for a WHILE"
You haven't given up your bungalow
on the Bluff?" asked Bersonin quickly
There was an odd eagerness in his color
less face--a look of almost dread. which
Phil. lighting his cigarette, did not see
1t changed to relief as the other answer
ed:
ssNJo r,robabI,, 7 chants ba hare mora
than few days"
The expert settled back in his seat.
you'll not find the hotel everything II
should be. I'm afraid he observed more
casually
I'm not there" Phil answered. II
I'VE got a little Japanese house"
''Sol A menage de garcon, eh?" The
big man held up his clinking glass to the
light, and under cover of It, his deep-set
yellowish eyes darted a keen. detective
look at Phirs averted face. We'll" he
went on, How are your affairs? Has the
stern brother appeared YETI"
Phil shifted uneasily. No" he replied.
IT expect him pretty soon. though" He
drained the glass the boy had filled.
you've been tremendously kind. doctor,
he went on hurriedly, ito lend me so
much, without the least bit OF security
Pshawr' said Bersonin. why shouldn'
II" He put his hand ON the other
shoulder with friendly gesture. II only
wish money could give me as much pleas
ure as 1t does you, my boy"
Phil moved his glass on the table top
in sullen circles. But suppose one hash I
the 'wherewithal' you talk Of? What's
the fun without money, even when you're
young7 I've never been able to discover
It'll"
Find the money" said Bersonin.
II wish some one would tell me how!'
Bersonins head turned toward the door.
He sat suddenly rigid. 1t came to Phil
that he was listening intently to the talk
between the two men in the next room.
II needn't point QUIT was a meas
ured voice, cold and incisive and deliber-
ate-'that when the American fleet came,
two years ago, conditions were quite diff
ferent. The cruise was a national tour
de force; the visit to Japan was incident
al. Besides, mere was really no feeling
then between the two nations-that was
all a creation Of the yellow press. But
the coming of this European squadron to-
day is a different thing. 1t is a
season of general sensitiveness and
distrust, and when the ships belong
to a nation between which and ia
pan there Is real and serious diplo-
matte tension-wen, in my opinion the
time is. at best inopportune."
"Perhaps"-a younger voice was
speaking now, less certain. less poised
and a little neutrality-suspicious. the very
danger makes for caution. People are
particularly careful with matches when
there's a lot of powder about"
True, so far as intention goes. But
there is the possibility of some contre-
temps. You remember the case of the
Ajax in the eighties. 1t was blown up
in a friendly harbor-clearly enough by
accident, at least so far as the other ma
ton was concerned. But it was during
time of strain and hot blood, and you
know how narrowly a great clash was
averted. If war had followed, regi-
ments would have marched across the
frontier, shouting Remember the
Ajax! AS it was, there was a panic in
three bourses. Solid securities fell to
the lowest point in their history. The
yellow press pounded down the market,
and a few spectators on the short side
made gigantic fortunes"
A moments pause ensued. Berso-
Minis fingers were rigid. There seemed
suddenly to Phil to be some significance
between his silence and the converse
tomas If he wished it to sink into his,
Pills, mind. The voice continued:
What has happened once may hap
pen again What If one Of those dread