“Bill and I’ll follow you into the forbidden palace of the Mikado, miss, if you say the word.” O’Neil drew himself up proudly, while a broad Irish smile illumined his honest face. “What’s the trouble, may I ask, miss?”
“I hardly know,” the young girl replied tearfully. “Mr. Perry and Lieutenant Takishima were such good friends, and now his sister O Hama-san has come to tell me they are to fight a duel this evening. Don’t you see,” she exclaimed, in an agony of fear, “that we must not let this terrible thing happen?”
“Fight a duel!” O’Neil gasped, while Marley twirled his hat in silent excitement. “When I seen them last they were as good friends as two fleas on a dog’s tail; excuse the expression, miss.”
“Yes, but since then something came between them,” Helen explained breathlessly. “It was over some secret letter. It wasn’t Mr. Perry’s fault. He told me about it this morning. He found this letter and would have given it to the right owners, but it was taken from him, and now Lieutenant Takishima believes that his former friend has acted dishonestly.”
“Bless your heart, miss,” O’Neil exclaimed, eagerly, “Bill and I can explain that. We found the paper. Mr. Perry lost it before he could give it to the lieutenant. We’ve turned it over to the Japanese naval officers in Yokohama.”
With a glad cry, Helen Tillotson embraced her Japanese friend.
“You see, Hama,” she said tearfully, “I knew that we should find a way. Now your brother will listen to reason.”
“Where’s this duel coming off?” O’Neil asked, becoming restive during what he considered was useless sentimentality.
“In Shibu Park,” the Japanese girl replied quietly. “I wouldn’t dare interfere without a strong reason. My brother is bound to vindicate his honor. If he has misjudged Mr. Perry’s acts then the situation is changed. Come!” she commanded.
Helen Tillotson was too greatly relieved in her distressed mind to think on the words of her girl friend, and it was only a few minutes before sunset when the party arrived at the meeting place in Shibu Park. Leaving the carriage they followed Hama along the winding path, past many shaded temples to a low level stretch of grassy soil before a large Buddhist shrine. Before they had emerged from the wooded path the sound of strife came faintly to their ears, and Helen’s pale face blanched still whiter at the terrifying clash of steel upon steel.