“I want to know the whole thing, so you might just as well begin,” she exclaimed impatiently. “Go on.” She stamped her foot. “Miss Helen, there isn’t anything to tell.” Phil had exchanged a look with his chum and received a nod to act as spokesman. “We’ve come to see the ambassador and ask his advice; believe me, there is nothing to tell.” “Have Mr. Impey and Captain Inaba likewise come to ask father’s advice? How extraordinary that all should come just at the same time!” Her tone was sarcastic. Sydney suddenly offered a weak excuse and hastily left the two young people together. Phil’s face showed almost a panic, but Helen deftly placed herself between him and the only avenue of escape. The stern lines in Phil’s face had already begun to relax. “Will you not trust me with your secret? For I see you have one,” she coaxed. Phil shook from him his sombre humor and a smile played about his firm mouth. “I suppose I shall have to in the end,” he said resignedly. How clear the sky seemed now when only a short time ago it was all clouds. “You have read the paper?” He indicated the “Shimbunshi” among other papers on the library table. Helen nodded shortly. “That’s all pure fabrication,” he exclaimed angrily. “There were no people hurt on either side, and it is not likely to create a diplomatic difficulty. The officers did not lead the sailors against the Japanese, and the American flag was not intentionally insulted by the Japanese.” Phil eagerly told the excited girl the true story of the trouble in the theatre and its happy outcome. “We had as much as we could do in getting away alive,” he exclaimed enthusiastically. “Taki’s speech spread among the crowd like a prairie fire, and the whole town wanted to carry us around on their shoulders. I saw O’Neil this morning and he said the populace manned the shafts of their rikishas and insisted upon hauling them about town crying ‘banzai America.’ Our sailors were loaded with presents, and were not allowed to even show that they had money.” “I am so glad.” Helen’s face was dimpled in smiles. “I’ve never seen father so worried as when he read that account in the paper; he tried to allay my fear by telling me that he thought it was simply a local irritation, but I knew he thought otherwise.” Suddenly her face clouded again. “But why then these solemn faces when you arrived?” she asked abruptly. “There must be something else!” Phil’s boyish smile had also disappeared. “Yes, there is something else,” he confessed, “and that’s what we came to see your father about. I fear we have been placed in a very false position, and all through my blunder.” Helen’s womanly sympathies were aroused. “Go on,” she commanded earnestly. “I don’t know just how to tell you,” he began helplessly; “it’s all so involved.” She nodded encouragingly. He was bending forward, his chin resting in his hand.