Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-11

to Rriscoes jaded SENSE Of enjoyment
He had never visited the orient, and
it was only a few months after his
Wallets departure that Ned Briscoe
found himself crossing the Pacific to
Nippon's fairy islands.
He had been in Tokyo three weeks
and had quite exhausted all the gave
ties In the foreign quarter before he
thought Of Tado Hashojuri. Then 1t
happened that he came across the neat
card among the folds of his wallet.
I've missed the services of man."
unused Briscoe, turning the paper over
in his hands. Suppose look him up.
Very likely he will be glad OF q job
with me. No one could shave me like
Tado."
After a leisurely breakfast Briscoe
called q ricksha man and gave him
Tado's card.
take me to that place." he said.
getting into the vehicle.
The man stared at the easy going
American, and an added respect came
into his voice and manner as he lifted
the shafts and started down the long
street that lifted into a hill in the dis
lance.
1t was an hours ride at swift trot,
and the man between the shafts SEEM
ed tireless. Ned\ Briscoe felt rather
bored at first, but presently the beau
! ty of the suburban landscape and the
manifestations OF tireless industry as
exhibited by the tiny farms scattered
| everywhere and yielding produce from
every inch of soil set him to thinking.
He could see that each of the peas
ants bent above his daily toll was do
ing some share in the work of the uni
verse. Soldiers drilling barracks show
ed him where one might serve his
country. All about him were tense,
purposeful faces. He thought of the
bored reflection that had met his own
face in the mirror that morning.
Now they were passing beautiful
country estates, and over high hedges
he caught glimpses of gardens laid out
in miniature reproductions of natures
widest fancies.
Now the thought of Tado occurred
to him.
by love, he must be working out
in one of these placesr he thought
uneasily.
Nevertheless he said nothing, and
when his ricksha finally turned into
gateway fanked by great stone Ian
terms he would not have been sur
prised if he had been whisked around
to the kitchen entrance.
Instead Of that, the vehicle drew up
under the formal portico of a hand
some dwelling, and an obsequious
maidservant pushed back the paper
door and invited him to enter the re-
ception room.
Briscoe removed his shoes and thrust
his feet into the straw slippers waiting
in the veranda and followed the serv-
ant into the reception room. Here he
waited while his card was carried to
his late cook. He had hesitated about
Hashojuri, and the maid had nodded
and smiled and disappeared.
I Presently she appeared and beckon-
5 ed him to an inner guest room. Here
1 the light was DINNER, but there was
little Tado Hashojuri standing attired
in rich robes with u queer smile on
{ his lips and an added dignity In his
3 manner. He was talking to the Amer
: lean minister, whom Briscoe knew
very well.
'Ah, my old friend, Mr. Briscoe,"
S murmured Tado in his halting English
e and with flash Of white teeth at the
: newcomer. welcome to Nipponp'
e 'Thank you-much obliged. I'm
, sure" stammered Briscoe. quite taken
: aback by the evident prosperity of his
: late servant.
l IF may fhave one word with the
baron-yOu will excuse us, Mr.. Bris-
{ coef' asked the American minister,
4 and as Tado accompanied the diplomat
n to the door Ned Brlscoe had time to do
little more thinking before his host
e returned.
) well, Baron Tado," said Ned when
Hashojuri returned to the room, ut
: seems I've been putting my foot in it
all along. Please explain"
y Tado did. He said he had gone to
u America to study the country and its
people. Suddenly his father had died.
and he had to return to Japan as the
o head of his house.
> II was much anger" he said polite
e ~, "at some plate episodes in our ex-
| BtlIelCe, anu luluh Dt "utu yOu
u come to Nippon / might revenge my
honor, for | am the son OF "A samurai.
5 1Ir. Briscoe and pass not Insults. But
when l returned to my own country
Il what l left behind, insults and all,
seemed small and mean beside the
> great questions OF war and ones coun-
try and life and death. So | forget
! and am your very good friendr' lie
, held out his hand. and Briscoe was
glad to clasp it.
e Strange to relate, 1t was through the
L man who had one time been his valet
y and cook that Ned Briscoe reached a
u realization that he, too. had a country
VI to serve in some capacity and that his
wealth had been given him to use
y widely. In the case OF Ned Briscoc
~ 1t was an occasion when the east
taught another lesson to the west
II RGo II