Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-03-18

They drifted on in small talk, and
Gafford, listening, frowned. Four
nights before he had looked for an
instant into the swarthy face OF
Yamata in the house Of Oku Kobe.
He had smiled then as now, be-
cause Oshitu had slashed sleeping
mans foot. He recalled what he
could of the conversation he had
overheard between this man and the
officer of engineers. He had recog-
nized him as soon as he had come
into the tea-house, and it was that
which had ma e him change his
sea.
1t had seemed to his fancy that
Yamata turned, too, directly to the
table where Miss McRae sat. He
wondered if the man might have
followed the girl from the street.
Yet, if so, what was his object?
The conversation which filtered to
him through. the screen was inno-
cert enough, in all conscience.
The attendant came back with the
girls tea on a .ray, with a little in
verted, bowl-like cup and plate of
sweetmeats and cakes. Yamata gave
al, order for a second service, and
urged Miss Mc2ae to allow her own
to grow cold while waiting for him.
Presently he was served III turn.
Gafford signalled for another cup Of
sake, and consumed it without hav-
ing perceived any real reason why
he should have constituted himself
a sort of invisible guardian for the
woman in the boot' at his back. He
set down his empty cup, half de-
termined to remove himself else
where, when Yamata began speak
ms again:
"The traveller in Nippon sees but
a part of the things which are, Mees
McRae. They see only the surfac,.
Take thees tea-hous' which is call
the House of Moon Faces. The
traveller like yo comes in an buys
the little cup of e an he thinks
he has seen. Does he see the moon
faces? No.
"He fancies the name is but a
Pretty appellation. He does not
know that the moon faces are here
in reality. He does not know that
he has seen ut l.alf, an the poorer
half-the half which is no index to
know tha' beyond the door where the
an far more e:utiful room, where
gei5ha-who play on the samisen an
sing.
"That beautiful room is the real
House of Moo Faces. 1t IS only
those who know who go there, where
the moon faces slime and they are
Of men. Our women are not as
yours are, an they go not to the
cafe. But our men-yes, an some
of your men-who know, go into the
econ' room, where the moon faces
are. No white woman, so far as |
know, has ever been there. 1t would
be wat you cal, dangerous. an
would not be allow. But if you
should weesk. l uld show you
Just once. 1t would be an adven-
ture; yet safe-with me-for / know
and am known
"You mean you could really show
me this room, Mr. Yamata There
was thrill of excitement in Miss
McRae's voice now.
Precisely, Mees McRae. I, va.
mata, can so do--if you weesh, an
would not be afraid"
"Afraid ?" questioned the girl,
and Gafford felt himself stiffen to
attention. afraid of what, if
went under your escort?"
Yamata laughed softly. "Ah, yes"
he made answer. "Of what should
you be afraid"
There was a sound Of dishes be-
ing showed aside. 81 am ready, if
you really mean it," the girl chal-
lenged.
A stool scrapof it's legs on the
floor. "Come, then," Yamata re-
piled.
Instantly Ga.ord vas on his feet.
Edging along the partition, he
peered around it in time to see va
mata lift the heavy curtains at the
end of the outer room and permit
the girl in white to pass.
The next moment he had followed
her into the room of the geishas.
In his soft sandals Gafford slipped
out of his booth and followed at
thei.. heels.
He had no difficulty in going
whittier he pleased. He was too well
known in that place. He slipped
into the inner room and found him
self a partly secluded seat, waited
until Yamata and the girl were
seated and the swarthy host had
called a geisha with a samisen and
bidden her play; then slipped to
little table not too Ear off and sat
dow with his back to the pair. He
mumbled an order for sake to a girl
who approached and sank his face
in his hands. The observer would
have said that he needed the sake
not at ALL.
But, despite his seeming intoxica-
ton, he was straining his ears to
hear through the samisen's strum-
ming what Yamata might say.
Conversant with the ways of the
inscrutablc men of the east, he knew
that the girls companion spoke the
truth when he said no white woman
tourist had ever penetrated to the
inner rooms Of the tea-houscs. If
perhaps they had done so, certainly
they had not departed to tell the
tale. They would constitute another
instance Of mysterious disappear
ance.
What, hen, was Yamata's object
in leading this daughter of an Am
arican dinlon,at hahind tha forhiddan