The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-11-03

of his mouth so that he could talk past it
without getting the smoke in his eyes,
dropped his clasped hands between his
knees and spoke.
"My names Charrington, he COM
menced "Tm in the employ of the Hawai-
ian government. l guess there's no name
for my office-or If there is it's gone out cf
use because / don't know it. I'm just
Charrington. I've been sent over here on
business. don't know anything about
this country; what's the situation here2"
"There isn't enough spine to this country
TO hold up a situation, explained Bacon.
Charrington grinned.
ooh, know it doesn't stack very high"
he answered, "but just how much edge have
these Russians got on the rest of you"
"A good bit, Bacon admitted. "Their
feet have been in the mud here longer"
Thought So" Charrington went on.
"Now these Russians are the people I've
got to buck. You know before the war the
Russians shipped peasants in here by the
carload2 Bacon nodded-"and the war
knocked everything from under 'em. Well,
those peasants are here yet, aren't they2"
"Tll show you plenty in the morning."
Bacon promised.
"And they're about as poverty stricken
a lot as there is anywhere, from what |
gather" continued Charrington. 81 want
'em. We're in a pickle in the islands.
Labor is scarce and we have to hunt for our
laborers. We imported Japanese; now
we've got enough of them. Too many of
those brown chaps is heap. We tried
Spaniards and Portuguese; same result
only worse. Now we're up against it. We
heard Of these Russians up around Hardin,
and | came over. At Harbin they told me
the bunch had drifted down here. I've
stepped on the toes of Russian officials be-
fore, and | know what they are. | think
when | start things tomorrow, there will be
ructions wanted to mark down the con-
sulate in case had to dodge bullets"
Bacon laughed mirthlessly. >
"You don't know this place." he said.
81 believe you could carry away the town
brick by brick and nobodyd even be inter-
ested enough to watch you do it."
Charrington shook his head.
"Such things happen where you don't
look for EN-" he said wisely. "You
haven't been here long, have your"
"No," answered Bacon in surprise
Charrington did not push his inquiries,
but went into the details OF his plans He
had chartered a steamer at Shanghai; it was
not much OF steamer but it would do, un-
less a typhoon developed.
Being poor" Charrington explained,
"you have to take chances"
The ship would come provisioned. 1t
would hold four hundred passengers besides
the crew. Bacon thought that four hun
dred Russians could be found-and prom
ised help on the following day He thought
that the whole matter could be adjusted
without trouble.
II don't know anything about the theory
of international law" confessed Charring-
ton, but"-and he jingled the coins in his
pocket significantly, "Im long on its prac-
tice."
81 learned the theory at Michigan" said
Bacon.
Charrington sat bolt upright, his eyes
round
"Michiganl" he exclaimed. care you a
Michigan MANI"
Naughty sevenl" said Bacon.
"Ninety-eightl" echoed Charrington.
They got to their feet and shook hands
once, then did it again with increasing ex-
hibitions of enthusiasm
This is great, announced Charrington.
"We've lot to talk about. The Russian
peasants and the Hawaiian government
can wait!"
"On the other side of the square," said
Bacon solemnly, "is cafe with an Italian
front. 1t is run by Swiss, and he has a
very pretty French maid. Let's go therel"
Over the second bottle, during pause in
the discussion of gridiron victories and GER
tain classroom celebrities, Bacon said
"After all, Billy, Valny is a great place
and the consular service is a great thing. /
hope the Russian johnny kicks up shindy.
Between us wen annihilate him m"-He
turned and beckoned to the French girl.
"Yvette," he explained, "Mr Charrington
and | are going to sing for you, after which
we three will plot against the Russian gov
ernmentW
"BieH, mOAsieWl" agreed Yvette.