Earl Derr Biggers

“ Soon we find our hero amid the weary-eyed soldiers of the social set, and bravely does he fight all night in the front ranks of the cotillion.
“Of course,” said Mr. Trotter. He watched with rather scornful eye, while Mr. Van Reypan answered the old, old call of his country. ”

“ Van Reypan, “it would be just as well to let the world know, dear.” He turned to the red-faced youth. “Miss Blake has promised to become my wife, you know.”
“Oh,” said the young man from the shipping department. Only that. And he moved away. Mr. Van Reypan hurried to the side of the girl, who sat blushing at her desk.
And now let us be quite fair to Mr. Van Reypan. He stood for an instant looking down at the blushing girl, and the thing in his eyes was not altogether patriotism. ”

“ The romance stuff was a bluff. We doped her out wrong. You never can tell about a woman.”
“Oblige me,” broke in Mr. Van Reypan, “by not making a song about it.” He gazed for a time out over the city, while the squeak of the phonograph filled their ears. “Sandy, you were right,” he said, presently. “I'm not getting anywhere out here. I ought to go back to the States with you.”
“Right-o,” cried Mr. Trotter. He tore the letter to the man in New York into bits, and tossed them gleefully into a waste basket. “Right you are. When do we start?” ”

“ Trotter, promptly. His honest face was grave and troubled. “Better come back with me to the States. These pink teas have gone to your brain. Let some other handsome youth waltz your Uncle Sam into a world power. You could get a job—”
“Sandy,” said Mr. Van Reypan, “what you suggest is madness. While little old Japan holds her, it is the land for me. You know whom I mean. The Jamieson girl—the one with the big brown eyes. One look into them—”
“Yes,” said Mr. Trotter, meaningly—“the maiden with two million in her own name. I know.” ”

“ They think out here that we're all social barbarians—I'm teaching them different. I can out-stare any Englishman in Japan, and while I can't bow so gracefully as What's-his-name, at the French consulate, I'm watching him closely; and some day I'll bow him off the map. Seriously, it's a—er—a privilege to teach these scornful aliens that Americans can two-step, as well as sell agricultural implements. Sorry I couldn't play tennis with you to-day.”
“What was it,” inquired Mr. Trotter, “another afternoon with a very important and equally homely dowager?”
“A tea,” said Mr. Van Reypan. ”

“ Trotter, once Mr. Van Reypan's classmate at Yale, on the occasion of his only visit to Japan:
“I find you here in this comic opera country, dancing your heart out for the Stars and Stripes, and I'm touched, Van, touched. They'll all be proud of you when the news travels back home. Really, you're a hero. George Cohan ought to write a very flaggy musical comedy around you.” ”

“ He was but one of an army of pleasant young men scattered over the globe in like service for the flag—young men who dream, as they change their pajamas for evening clothes, of some day being transferred to Paris. ”

“ He's on the verge of marrying a girl with money—and good-by to him, if he ever does that. I'd stop it if I could; but, well, it isn't any of my business, you know. And say, the funny part of it all is, he thinks he's doing something for his native heath when he trips the light fantastic on a foreign strand. Poor old Van. That will show you how far gone he is.
Mr. Trotter finished his letter to the man in New York, and went over and gazed out at the tile roofs of the city, ht in the moonlight. ”

“ Van Reypan. “It would have spoiled her entire evening. She is romantic. And that's good—it's my one precious ray of hope. Money doesn't mean everything to her. You should see the way she treats that rich little cad, Norris, who came all the way out from the States to see her. I tell you, she's the right sort. By Gad—say—” He leaped from the window seat and ran to his desk. ”