The Southern herald., 1911-04-28

tel you What KS an shout. Fa1H iusi
nave b take nay Word Tor lL
Have J asked gou 90 iel meF
NO. you marvel uf womanhood
Yea are dying of curiosity. don2
doubt but your restraint il super
hunan.R
Again she looked at HIN keenly.
Bob. you are dying Of curiosity your
self Don't you suppose ] can seer
~lrs something harder than curl
osity. said Orme simply.
How eager are you!- she laughed.
Now. there is plenty Of time. The
trip won't take rs more than half an
hour; so come along and meet some
friends Of mine
"Bessie-if you could hurry
1--WE can't start until the car comes.
I'm expecting II any moment So be
good. and come along There's such
an interesting man-and very distin-
guished. We don't try to pronOunce
his name. Just think. he was en-
gagged for dinner here, also. and came
too late. And ever since he arrived
he's been called to the telephone at
five-minute intervals So exciting!
Nobody can guess what he's 50 busy
about
She threaded her way through the
lively groups on the veranda. and re-
luetantly he followed. The voice
which he had so nearly recognized
sounded closer, then stopped with
curious little laugh that was loudly
echoed by others.
Bessie broke in upon the lull that
followed. "Excelleney. may I present
another man who missed his dinner!''
she said saueily. Mr.. Orme."
The man addressed was sitting com
fOrtably in a wicker chair that was
several sizes too large for him. At
the mention of Orme's name he got to
his feet with startling alacrity.
"Mr.-Orme?" His surprise was un-
mistakable.
''Mr. Robert Orme," said Bessie.
Some one struck a match to light
a cigar, and in the sudden light orme
found himself looking into the face
OF the Japanese minister.
II think l have never met you be-
FORE" said the minister slowly.
Il think not" replied Orme.
He was much disquIeted by the en-
counter. Now he understood that Ari-
ma had been bound for this very
place
If only he had refused to let Bessie
drag him into her circlel The min
lister would not have known his face,
but the mention Of his name gave full
enlightment.
The minister resumed his seat, ana
a chair was brought for orme. There
were other introductions.
woman's voice renewed the con.
versation. 'Excellency, won't you tell
US another Of your very interesting
stories?"
The minister turned to her. Il will
tell you one," he said, that you will
not find in the literature of my coun'
try. It is a story Of the secret
service, and It came to me through my
personal acquaintance with some Of
the participants"
"Oh, that will be splendid" ex
claimed the woman.
The minister waited for a moment
He turned his face toward Orme, and
asked politely: you will not mind
listening to what l have to say, Mr.
Orme?"
Why. to be sure not" replied orme
wondering
my stories are not always short,
continued the minister. "as the others
already know. But they sometimes
hold meanings which, in my country
at least, would be perfectly plain"
After this odd bit of by-play, he be
gan his narrative:
"There was a man who lived In the
city Of Takamatsu, on the island ol
Shikoku. His name was Kimaga, anC
he was much respected by all who
knew him, for he was painstakingly
devoted to his aged and mos honor
able parents. By trade he was a ma
ker of vases-a-what you call him
a potter.
"One day while Kimaga was walk
ing upon the road, he saw before hin
on the ground a letter. He picked 4
up. 1t was sealed, but he discovered
upon the outside a curious writing
which he could not make out. In fact
Kimaga could not read at all. H,
was very poorly educate.
But Kimaga was charm by tn,
grace and beauty of the writing
Though he could not read It, It fas
cinated his eyes. He decided to keel
1t, making no attempt to find the right
full owner. You must know that Il
Nippon beauty is worship by tn
humblest workman.
1T happened that the letter ha
been written by Chinese spy, an
, 1t contained report concerning ou
Notifications. Now there is In NiI
pom a very secret service. 1t is nc
responsible to the government. 1t
compose of mobiles who for many an
many a generation have bound then
selves by strong oatn to do patriot
service which the government itsel