Evening star., 1925-08-25


TT is her profession" Itash sneered.
You think so? That is the Ori-
entail kink in you" Blum declared.
"A man like Grant Slattery doesn't
amuse himself with the cast-off mis-
sFeSseS of such as you. Now listen.
OF your wisdom answer me this: w ny,
on the morning after her visit, dld
Grant Slattery himself interview the
managers of the three great steel
companies with whom Japan has dealt
, in this country"
Itash's face expressed only bewil-
derment. He seemed utterly unable
to read the riddle of Blunn's words.
II am foolish" he confessed. Il
cannot see what distresses you. can
not understand what Cleo"
Blum pulled him UP. He was con-
vinced that the young man was at
least harmless agent of his own
undoing. t't..,.
Listen" he interrupted. You. are
one of the few persons in a position
to call the attention of people whom
it might concern TO the fact that
Japan, during the last three years,
has purchased more steel in the
United States than would build her
six battleshipS allowed her by the
Limitation of armaments twice over
and relay every line of railway she
=
comes to see Grant Slattery, and
Grant Slatery interviews representa-
ttveS of these three steel companies
the very next morning.
Never have / opened my lips to
Cleo upon any such subject in my
life" the young man asserted fer
Vently. "She knows nothing. She
can know nothing"
''Humph"' Blum Srunted.r The
10 inc. hnTa lrrN I Il Dnf
understand it. L am uneasy--it is
one of the most unfortunate things
which could have happened that this
annual meeting of the limitation of
armaments should be fixed for q date
just before the question of joining
the pact comes up in the Senate. We
keep our secrets well-we who under
stand these things--but there are
other matters besides the secrets of
your country's warships which are
there to be discovered, If the fortune
went against US. A scare at the con-
ference might undo all our great
work"
There will be no scare" Itash de-
clared. "Our extra battleships are
hidden. No one knows. that each one
has a sister ship"
There remains that visit" Blum
muttered. II shall brood over it I'M
LII nave SOille tApletIldtlOIl. AM
not happy about you and your hob
bies, Itash. Women are best left
out of the game. l had rather you
collected butterflies
81 should be as likely to tell the
butterflies my secrets" the young
man Scoffed. You should know that
we do not treat our womankind as
you do. They are the marionetteS
who dance for our pleasure. To treat
them seriously would spoil our joy of
them"
Cornelius Blum seemed to be slow
ly coming back to himself again. His
tone was almost good-humored.
Listen" he said. You sup every
night with Your little lady from the
Cafe de Paris at the Folies Bergeres,
is 1t not So?''
1tash was little startled
Il am usually there he admitted.
Tonight" Blum announced 'I
am your host. 1 remember the young
lady. ! have danced with her my
self. | will dance with her tonight
whilst you look on and are Sulky
You need not be afraid" he went on
Il have no designs on your belong
fngS. 1t pleases me to spend an hour
or so with YOU both. At midnight, at
the Fohes Bergeres. You have always
the corner table on the. right, have
YOU not?"
81 have never seen you there -
1tash remarked suspiciously, as, in
obedience to the others gesture of
dismissal, he rose to his feet.
Il have never been there" Blum
acknowledged. But 1 know most
things that go on in New York