The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-06-06
His Flag
How II Saved His
Life
By CLARISSA MACKIE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dick Terry waved his hand careless
ly toward the stars and stripes futter-
ing from a neighboring f1agpole.
ooh, Of course. I've got plenty Of re-
spect for the grand old, rag, but one
can't throw fit every time 1t breaks
to the breezev'
dash 1t all, Dick" exclaimed Mon
roe irritably, you're almost insuffera-
BILE since you took that trip abroad! OF
course one doesn't want the eagle to
scream all the time, but no American
has got red blood in his veins If he
doesn't feel thrill Of patriotic love
every time he salutes his country's
flag. Wait until you've knocked around
the world as much as have and you'll
find that flag the sweetest sight you
ever witnessed. It's the thing In your
college set to make light Of these
things-but watt"
Five years afterward Dick Terry
found himself stranded in remote
Chinese village. whose inhabitants
were excited over the reports Of the
impending revolution. Ignorant and
superstitious and hating all foreigners
Of whatever nationality, they fell upon
the luckless American and clapped
him into filthy lookup, to await what
ever punishment the local magistrate
should infiict.
1t was quite useless for Dick to as
sert that he was harmless American
citizen, who had attempted to shoot
the rapids Of the upper Yangtze river
II motorboat without guides or COM
panions and had met with disaster in
the attempt 1t was vain for him to
protest that he meant no harm to the
villagers and that he did not possess
the evil eye, nor did lie wish to steal
their children for the dissecting room
Of Shanghai hospital.
They merely listened politely, shook
their round heads and locked him up.
The prison cell was a small stone
room in the magistrates yamen. and.
after Dick had made Mortified exami-
nation of the dirty walls and floor and
the moldy built in bed he sat down on
the edge of the latter and admitted it
was worse than he had expected.
II don't believe those fellows under
stood a word l said," he muttered dis
consolately. IF they really knew that
l was an American and the son of q
banker in Shanghai they would let me
go. For all they know l may be Ger
man
Just then he thought Of his countrys
flag What would it not mean if he
had carried, as many Americans did
when travelling abroad. a small silk
flag to toss in their yellow faces! But
Dick had never felt the real need of
his country's protection before, and so
he was unprepared to call upon her.
He looked disconsolately at his cloth
ing. If he had possessed the necessary
materials of the right colors he would
have hastily manufactured flag. His
tweed suit was gray, his shirt a white
drill and his necktie brilliant red.
IF only had some of the right kind
Of blue, 1 believe I'd try it," he NUT
tered. But, of course, there wasn't
scrap, so he stared modify at the rap
idly disappearing patch Of sunlight on
the dirty floor.
Just as 1t vanished, leaving the cell
cold and gray, key grated in the lock
and the door was pushed timidly in
ward.
Dick looked up and saw Chinese
maiden fitting toward him with
small tray on which were set bowl of
steaming rice and pot Of tea.
He smiled as he got up and took 1t
from her hands. He bowed courteous
ly and said "tbank you" several times
until she understood what he meant
and giggled delightedly. She was
pretty girl according to Asiatic stand
ards, and Dick was impressed by the
rich quality Of her garments She
wore q handsome coat of some rich
blue satin embroidered in dull silver
butterflies.
The satin was the color Of the blue
field in the flag Of the United States of
America.
Dick Terry had a daring thought.
With a charming smile he pointed to
her robe and lifted his eyebrows ques-
tioningly. He pointed to himself. and
then drawing of diamond ring that
he wore he offered 1t to her in ex-
change for her beautiful gown.
He had to repeat this pantomime
several times before the girl under
stood his meaning. and, although she
looked longingly at the Jewel, she
shooA her shining black hair and edged
tinndly toward the door.
Then Dick became mutely eloquent.
He gesticulated and smiled and nod
ded and pointed to his red necktie and
extended his hands in appeal for
piece of cloth Of that color and repeat
cd the performance with n plea for
some blue material Of the tint Of her
robe, with sewing implements.
At last she appeared to understand
and closed the door after her vanisn-
Ing form.
, For long. dark hours after that Dick
was alone. He was waiting for the
OF the Chinese girl.
whom he suspected to be member or
the magistrates household. II she
brought the required materials he