Arthur B. Reeve

“ Kennedy gave up for the moment the attempt to lead the conversation lest he might arouse suspicion. Evidently he considered that Nichi’s welcome was too good to spoil by forcing it.
We turned again to the Japanese objects, as perhaps less risky for the present. As we wandered toward the other corner of the back of the shop, Kennedy noticed, behind some bronzes of the Japanese Hercules destroying the demons and representations of other mythical heroes of the race, a large alcove or tokonoma. ”

“ Those peculiar actions attracted my attention to him, and I saw that Kennedy, although carrying on a conversation with Nichi, now and then stole a glance in that direction.
⁠OTAKA was a peculiar man, of middle height, with a shock of dark, tough, woolly hair, well-formed and not at all bad looking. He had a rather more robust general physique and I could not help comparing him to Nichi and thinking perhaps he was a meat-eater and not wholly confined to the regular Japanese diet. ”

“ I followed his gaze and found that, sure enough, set apart from the other things, was indeed a very passable collection of Mexican objects of art.
There were objects there that told of both the ancient and modern in the wonder land to the south of us. ”

“ Nichi seemed to have unbent a little, an effect which was due perhaps to the sociability of the saki. Still, he was not to be caught off his guard and Kennedy did not try to press the questioning.
“Yes,” he assented, “I read the American papers and have read of it. It is not a wonder that they are excited. Who would not be in their places?” ”