The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1954-03-20
A Short Story.
Q BY ROGER SPLINTER

going to travel to Japan she wasn't
too happy because she's small town
girl who has never outgrown quiet
streets and shady paths and the
night chirpings of insects coming
from nearby open fields. I insisted
because, frankly, I was tired of the
smell of the city the boiler factory
roar of traffic that never lessons.
and brazen clang of fire-gongs
Mostly the firegongs
Mamie finally consented after l
innocently remarked that the Far
East had exotic flowers and special
lied in such things as miniature
gardens and flower arrangement
Mamie has been interested in flow
er arrangement for some years. Yep
the flowers did it, So eX-Fire Chief
Ratigan and his Missus were cabin
passengers on an economical liner
docking in Yokohama, not too long
ago.
On the way over I luXuriated ii
the sharp salty smell of the ocear
and vowed I wouldn't attend ever
one Fireman's Convention, even al
the personal invitation of Japan:
Supreme Fire Chief, if there vert
such a person The sea air did
good job of washing my lungs fret
OF the smoke from tenements anC
factories, stores and houses tina
had scared my lungs; smoke from
the countless blazeS I'd gone *
through the years. Yes. I wa
getting away from it all. or so
thought.
The Missus and l went to Toky'
first We thought we'd take in tn
sights do little shopping and thel
meander on. no hurry, no pres
sure, no fires
The first real nice day that cam
along we dressed in our next to bes
and started out for the Gina.
guess we looked like average Anne
rican tourists Mamie is Stoutish
little short and has a nice prett
wholesome face. Me. well, l had o.
my gray executive suit and thin
it makes me look more like retir
ed banker than a retired fire-eate
unless you look real close an
then you might notice that I've &C
a bull neck broader shoulders tina
any banker and hands like grar
pling hooks,
I'm telling you all this . abol
how I look, mean, for a purpos
If wasn't so identifiable, this who
thing wouldn't have happened. Any
how, back to the Gina and this mic
day I was speaking of.
Mamie and I we're just comm
out of a camera store where l ha
been amazed to find my Germa
camera under another name WheI
out of the corner of my eye. l sa'
somebody look at me, hide his fac
and duck into the next store.
Nov what l said, taking Ma
mics arm and slowing her down
What is it," she asked, one ey
on fancy window
Il just saw a man look at me an
duck into this store
oh Patrick that is ridiculou!
No one knows you here and 70
certainly don't frighten the Japa
nese
Maybe not I still clutched he
arm and she slowed and stopped
Just the same, I'm going to have
look" walked into the store
was a woman's shop-and the on
man there was al the end OF tn
counter, his head bent down, shut
fling sweaters agitatedly. It locke
phony even from where I stood. Tn
clerk looked puzzled
I walked up behind the man. H
was older than I and was foreign
er. I mean he wasn't japanese.
and was dressed in a good lookin
brown suit that didn't fit too we
because he was a scraWny little gu!
I stood there. a pace behind hir
and waited for him to turn arounC
Meanwhile. he still sorted throug
sweaters aimlessly and stole glance
towards the door He evidently wa
expecting someone and not ikin
the idea
I studied the back of his head
was a sparse haired gray head wit
protruding ears that looked vaguel