THINGS AS THEY ARE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10598, 29 October 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

THINGS AS THEY ARE.

(By John Fleming Wilson.)

It was amusing to see tho solemnity with which he approached what ho called "adventure." He perspired after tragedy, with his notebook ready, like a gun, to pot the game, and finaiiy becoming the object of his own fire, so to speak, bagged himself. His amazement was ludicrous when he discovered his plight, perceived himself suddenly snatched out of his orchestra seat and thrust upon tho stage. So it goes. We pay to see the circus and then find ourselves in a hot battle with a canvasman.

His name .was John Selden Winthrop. He was twenty-six years old, five feet ten inches tall, fair-haired, blue-eyed, cold in manner, sparing of speech, natty, burdened-with a college degree and a sense of his own philosophy. I believe he had some money, too, though that doesn't matter. He laid emphasis on his philosophy: that observation of life —adventure —was the foundation of wisdom. That is one of tho ways he put it. "Human nature," said Winthrop, "is changeless in its essence. In New England we have polished tho original type so beautifully that we sometimes miss the real form of it. We are slightly artificial. We are getting away from first principles. I have been given to understand that down here in the South Seas one can observe primitive man — •see behind the scene, as Mr Cook says. It is very interesting." As ammunition, ho carried about with him a green volume of the Sunday, or Monday, lectures of a fellow named Cook, Joseph Cook. He also had a book of poetry by Emerson, and somebody else's treatise on "Experimental Psychology." Thus equipped, he came to Honolulu and lay in wait of itaw Humanity. For six months ho frequented tho hotels, made decorous trips to the Pali, interviewed the doctors at tho leper station, walked dignifiedly up Hotel Street, watched the mixed . races at play and battle at Iwilci, poked his Lliin aristocratic nose past the jalousies of Palama, and regarded his notebook with an expectant air, much as if lie hoped at any moment to see its fair pages writ over with Real Life. At times he camo up the steps to tlio Advertiser office and discoursed on the Sense for Life, -which, I take it, is some college phrase for the three passions—women. work, and wisdom. "I shall enjoy seeing a genuine adventure," he would conclude. "I have several experiments to make. I have been told that men will act contrary to their inherited convictions under the stress of extraordinary situations. For example, men used to kill their rivals in, love. A man would fight to win his ■ wife. I contend that love is a far dif- j ferent matter, and that a man would as soon think of committing murder to , win a wife as he would of killing in i order to gain hia soul's salvation. By observation down here of the influence i of primitive passion, I hope to gain a i good foundation for a treatise on the fact that our civilization depends for its | degree entirely on tho value which it j sets on the life of the individual. I ! shall witness at first hand some of the effects of an (inartificial environment en men of varying stages of mental and moral cultivation."

"If you wish to sec murder and sudden death, you may havo to run some risk," I told him. "I shall merely keep my eyes open," he informed me. "I sha'n't mix in. with any of your quarrels. Consider me merely » scientific observer." Of course, he gradually filled his notebook. A white man in Palama chased his kanaka wife into the street with an oil can which he tried to empty over her flowing holoku, swearing horribly because no one offered him a match wherewith to kindle the holocaust. A Puerto Paean, sullenlly chewing his nails, was picked up by the police for knifing a man who had jostled him in the street. A Korean was pulled out of the green cane and thrust snarling over the body of a luna (overseer), who stared into the faultless sky over the wired hilt of a machete, becauso of | some notion (in tho minds of the authorities) that tho dead might awaken and identify his killer. It all went down in John Seidell Winthrop's book, in his rather florid script, with the day of the month and the. hour on the margin. ■' It didn't satisfy him. Ho pulled Emerson on me like a pistol, and demanded the gods, not the half-gods. In those days; as the Bible says, a schooner came swinging up from tho deep South with an old man and a, young, woman seated on the after rail, hauled into Honolulu, and slipped up to a berth off Fort Street. It was Michael Tunbridge and his daughter Flora, come up from Godfrey Island with a talc about Pierre Jourjon and the looting of their little,, square treasure box of pearls. It appeared that Pierre had also seized Godfrey and was holding it on the-plea that it was French territory. Michael stormed the citadel of th" prime minister, and found little hops of aid. Capital looked askance at his request for ten thousand dollars wherewith to buy amis aud ammunition to .slay the looter and his crew. Michael got indignant, rolled his sleeves back over his withered arms, and swore by the angry gods that he would return single-handed and kill Jourjon, and send the remains to tho cannibal island.", as kunishaw. Flora'sat on the lanai of the Royal Hawaiian and listened to tho band. She was a fine, large, hazi l-eyed-girl, with a queer fashion of suddenly turning her head as if to surprise you whilo you stood behind her. - In time. Michael found that nobodv appreciated his troubles on Godfrey: and, becauso of his talk, no one would honor his draft at'three hundred and sixty days, though Michael's credit had always been first chopA So he came to mo and said, "I'm back to Godfrey to-morrow. These islands up hero are spoiled. • There isn't a man left on 'p*m. But I'll show that Frenchman who's alive and who's dead. Conic along and write it up." I was young then. I went. That night I saw AVinthrop and told him * a , little of the story. "When, I get back I'll give you something to put in your notebook," I said. Ho studied this awhile, and then -said verv calmlv, "If I'm not intruding, I shall go, too. D'ye suppose " _ "T do," I returned, "Corao on. 111 fix it up with Michael." So it happened that, on a finfe monir ing, the schooner Mariana put out d>evonrl the mother-of-p'earl - waters ' of. Oalui and took the trades in' her . big >'.. * ■ i

brown sails and blew down to tho south i with Michael, Flora, John Selden Winthrop, and myself on her soaring quar-ter-deck. Once or, twice Michael, holding his thin beard in one hand, sounded him on his opinion of <what .should be done to Jourjon, looter, robber, and pirate. .To these appeala Winthrop . intimated strongly.,that .ho was come on this, voyage merely •because it gavo promise "of affording material, for scicntilio investigation. . To Flora he behaved with great.discretion, occasionally noticing her attempts at conversation arid, apparently, marking them for comparison with something ,that Joseph Cook or.Einersbh or the Experimental Psychologist had said. At meals he would sit quite straight in his revolving chair and pointedly address his calm remarks to me, giying.'tlie impression that Michael and his girl were exhibits iu a cage, apparatus with which ho intended to conduct experiment. • .

v Flora was no schoolgirl. Sho had 0 been educated nbroad, and many men f had paid homage to her beauty and wit. r For three weeks v she glanced quietly at ' Winthrop, wth a little smilo about hor : 1 lipn and an odd, calculating expression £ in her splendid eyes. Then she said li> e him, "How old aro you?" % . A simple question. But it wan th<- ' first query sho had put to him in all c these three weeks, and it took Win- . throp aback, Just as if, after all, his q aloofness easily was resolved into a sim--3 plo sum if one knew how young he was. f Ho stammered, and answered with the plain number: "Twenty-six." c Ho expected further questions, I ~ fancy, a ehanco to impress this girl with i his knowledge and his philosophy. But , she accepted his reply as final, made him , understand that lie* wa;i no longer mys- [ tcrions to her, that his bosom was 1 emptied of ita profoundest secret, and paid him no more attention. \ It mightily disgusted my friend. Ho p came out one night with tho assertion , that women arc ruled by tho purely ob- " vioua "They take their ideas from books/' the disciplo of Joseph Cook informed mo "They generalize pitifully.

There arc no exceptions to their rules. They never recognise the individual. Ho threw « scornful look at tho very stars as though to put them, too, into tho category of tho feminine and illogical. It was dark when wo reached tho low shadow or Godfrey Island.. Tho Mariana broastod a heavy current that swirled noisily under her forefoot. Tho captain stared' into tho darknes:; with an intent ga7,c.» Flora leaned hack in her chair with an 'abstracted look of meditation, as if sho did not hear tho hoarse menaces of old Mchacl, who paced tho planks handling a shining revolver and cursed tho small light that twinkled on shore to show him where. Jourjon was enjoying tho enforced hospitality of tho Tunbridgo homo. Even. Winthrop seemed slightly nervous and asked mo constantly what 1 thought would bu done. 1 did not know. I suggested that cither Jourjon or Michael would ho killed. Winthrop demanded again and again, "What for? What aro they lighting over? Why kill each other?" as if ho blamed mo horribly for bringing him into a compromising position. "Of course 1 shan't allow myself to bo mixed up in it," ho announced. The Mariana made tho pass and entered the long, curved lagoon at whoso farther end shone tho light. Tho head sails were braild in, the vessel slipped along tho undulating shoro more and moro slowly, tho mainsail camo. down, the anchor splashed overboard in a fountain of fiery phosphpresceneo and old Michael trembled at tho rail, calling for a boat to bo lowered away.. When tho ladder was over and tho small boat nosed its lower round, tho old man snarled, "Now let's go and lix that Frenchman. We'll show him who's who on Godfrey." His eyes, as ho cast them over us gleamed wickedly. Winthrop flatly refused to go. Flora smiled at me, and suggested, "Supposo wo leavo Mr Winthrop a pistol. Ho may get afraid." That gentleman fell into tho snare, saying solemnly, "Thanks very much. f

I'm armed." ; "Then don't shoot any of us," she ' laughed lightly, and swung hersolt down into tho boat. Winthrop grabbed mo by tho arm as I wan about to follow, and demanded that she como back. "It's no place for a woman," ho urged. - "Nor for a philosopher," sho called up from tho boat. Wo pulled to the shore, and as \y,e ilea red tho shelving sand, Michael fingered hia revolver. "I've a notion to kill him on sight," ho said bitterly. •'Give him a chance," Flora said. "But ho can pot us open-handed," Michael insisted. . Flora laughed. "I'll talk to him," she said. "1 know Jourjon and he's very polite. Ho won't shoot so long aa a woman is in tho crowd. He's not ; like an American, papa. He's very re-. i spectful." Tho old man shut up, and we scraped I up on tho beach, getting out stiffly. A j voico greeted us from tho shadow of tho I palms. "You aro welcome!" ' "You pirate, como out of that and I I'll kill you!" yelled Michael. "You aro very impolito and" excited,' I said the unseen one in excellent Engj lish. "You forget that a lady is prosent." "Mr Jourjon," said Flora quietly, "wo have como back to get our property. I'vo persuaded my father not to kill you—just yet. May wo como up?" Tho invisible man laughed and answered, "Come on. I'm glad to see you." Wo walked up through the intense- • darkness, and almost immediately a slim figure came out and met us, "I saw your schooner coming into tho pass," ho said, in a smooth tone. "So I hurried the boys with supper. May I have the honor of your presence at—at •my house?" Old Michael stuck hia revolver into his jacket pocket and cursed violentlly under his breath. "You may fool away to-night with all that fine small talk." he snarled aloud. "But to-morrow we'll have a settlement. If you think for a moment that I'm going to- let a blasted Frenchman como and steal my island, you'ro mistaken." "Till to-morrow," camo tho reply. 'But supper is waiting. Is Miss Flora very hungry?" We had reached tho shore with our eyes straining for tho first sight of tho enemy. Wo had crept up the crinkling sand with our hands on our hips, like prowling burglars l . And tho whole.. tragedy had turned farce. Wo were going to' supper. But Flora emphasised the situation: "I'd better warn you not to approach tho schooner till daylight,' she laughed. "There's a man out 'there who intends to shoot anybody ! that tricn to board tho vessel." i "Why does he refuse my hospitality? I Jourjon demanded. ! "Papa said he was coming ashore.to (kill you," she replied. "Ariel that api pea red* to him an embarrassing situa- ■ tion. You see, he had never been inI troduccd to you." "I must reassure him," Jourjon said

I promptly. "You know• tho way, do ! you not? Please go and make yourselves at home. I must greet tins polite gentleman." He stood aside, and wo passed on.in tho darkness.. . But we did not go far. With one accord, we stopped, watching the dim shadow of .Tourjon travel down to tho shore and tho boat. Once tliero, he leaped in and shoved off, leaving . the kanakas sitting up by tho margin of tho ! lagoon We heard the powerful sweep I of tho o.u that he used as a scull, saw tho flash of the sea fire, and heard a hail from tho schooner's deck. "I am Mr Jourjon, the proprietor of tho island," the infernal scoundrel answered m a high voice. "I havo como to invite you to dinner with me, mv dear sir " Wo heard a muffled confab on the rcliooncv and Winthrop'n voice cut tho darknrsc "I'm'armed," ho said. "But I invito you to dinner," Jourjon replied, thrusting tho boat boldlv up to tho Manana'r side. Other words followed, and Ihcn a silence. Wo scemrd to discern the small boat returning. Later \io saw that two men were m it. Jouijon helped Wmthrop out on tho sand with exaggerated courtes>. j "Now," said our host, "let un go and 6"0 what supper tho nativer havo provided for us " Ho turned to Wmthron with a polito sweep of the hand. "I can't tell you how difficult it ib to lm. pros* on these kanakas the .nicer rulos of cuisine. In fact" —his tone became vibrant with annoyance—"l had to kill one this afternoon." FJora'took ,a quick step -aside and faced' him in the darkness, a glimmer of fire'in her eyes. "How dared you I" she breathed. "Who was it?" ' < \ '< **

Jourjpn's depreciating shrug was almosi'audiblb. "I am sorry!" ho said. "But discipline must bo maintained. It I was John li." As tho name passed his lips, wo stepped upon the lanai of tho Tunbridge house and the light streamed out on lis, showing Winthrop's perplexed, thin face, Michael's moody visage, and the exchange of defiance between Flora and tho'Frenchman. Really, it was amazing to see tho sudden stillness that seemed to have absorbed her out of her hot anger. Defiant she was; but it was a strange, obscure kind of defiance, as though she had confronted an unexpected strength in her opponent. Across Jourjon's features flitted an expression of solicitude.. Winthrop dragged mo back, as Flora passed on ahead of her bowing host, great anxiety plainly written in his manner. "This is very absurd," he ~ said. "I presume these people arc joking. Such jokes are in bad- taste, don't you think? We are in an awkward position. "What shall we do?" "Go in and get some supper," I an-

swored. "With tlie.se —these monsters!" -he brought tin list wold out emphatically. "I —I i c fuse ' Hi' \oici tomi shirph that Jourjon heird uid Tin nod hack "Is there nn\tiling ] cm do for >ou, Mr Winthrop' lit lskcd 'I iegict tho poor .iccommodititins, but I didn't expect Vjii, Jon see ' AVmtlirop ghnctd at me, and then s.ud to hi sclf-ippointed host, "But joit killed somebodj '" Jouijon's ajr was one of jieifect desolation "And I didn't "know you were arriving or I should have —what jou cdjl it J —postponed it I would not willingly distmh a guest, even at the risk of letting a servant go unpunished. But it is past Will not Mr Wmthrop forgive ? " Winthrop stood s iast It appeared that he would not eat with Jourjon, nor with anybody He didn't' wish to be mixed up in such doings. He murmured -the words "respectability," and nnfirder" "and "desire to he quite apart." I debated the propriety of dining with a man who had just .killed'his servant, waxing acai demic under the starred sky, with the iToise oF'the tremendous Pacific an our ears.' " ( "',l tools the side that, in a waj, wo liad/thrust ourselves upoil Jouijon and were'not responsible for his faults of manner. Jpurjon. urged- vehemently ihat'"he was delighted, that his repu ..i----tion as a host'was dear to "him, that he apologised, for his lack of foresight He ended," laqghing in his sleeve, of gdurse, by affirming that as entertainer lie-must ref use_ t'6 take offence at Winthrbp's ex&raorjdmaiy demeanoi 1 -,' 4 1 suggest," he said, "that Mr- Win.throp"" is the escort, the "cavalier 'of* the lovely Miss Mora. Is not Mr Winthiop DQund'fo obey, Tier wishes 9 She desues slipper. 7 ' you wouldn't imagine that so audafious a remark would capture that cold collegian, would you ? It did. He accepted the intimation of his rudeness, Bowed, and we passed in, Jourjon leading tho way among the flowers with unctuous hospitality. , '<Sut' Jourjon's momentary tnnnlpii ended. The'table was spread in 1 the shadowy length of the lanai, acsplendent "with napery/silvei and glass At.-fclie head of it sat Flora, opposite Michael. A kanaka girl murmured hysterically behind hei mistress' chair, and the old man glowered at j *- brown man who gibbeied m tear, clatfeirng plates in his shaking hands As

v'we**camejn, FJoia glanced up carelessly, -V:wfed,,me to a. scat at her left and told Wmthrop to take the chair to her i ight ''Jourjon' dropped hesitatingly into the pother seat hastily shoved under him by tile" terror-stricken servant. know hut one master. The - ,two serving, and the other shuffling oji- the s outskirts, recognised that their old master and mistress w ere come back their enforced allegiance to -Jourjon was swept aw a}. He knew it,' and his thin brows contracted 'wickedly. "The,meal was one of constant inteiplay % of chat, laughter, and veiled innuendo. Wmthrop, naturallj , lost the meaning or it all. To him it mciely presented an inexplicable and revolting association of a murderer and. two adventurers. He gaicd dumbly at his hostess and her radiance, gave mono- , syllables in return for Jourjon's cold, ' polite remarks. So the conversation ' lay" "between us three" mostly: Flora, Jou'rjoii, and myself. Old Michael ''.hadn't, much to say. * ' T lemembcr one interchange between * Mora and Jourjon. Ho said. "t "I am very glad that you are here at this time. I was at a loss to know how to amuse my friends who are coming up-fiom Papeete. You relieve me < of a responsibility, mademoiselle." " "And I shall be glad to welcome an> of >our friends, just as "I shall make you welcome," she said simply. "And the good Mi Winthiop, will he assist" you p " he went on, cutting his pear with a deft knife. '"Mr Wmthrop, I fear, is disappointed in the entertainment we provide," she returned. Jourjon sljly eyed hei. ".Eh 0 He expected the tragedy 0 "And he finds — supper? Sometimes it is supper, mademoiselle, when we aw ait s tragedy—or death." •' She smiled at him. "Everjthing * comes to"'him who waits." "And he, ho is waiting o " Here Michael looked up, and said in a "harsh voice, "We are all waiting."

Recalling that evening and the setting of jthesc remarks, I admire the coolness of 'the Frenchman. He was quite alone.' * ~Xs I found out afterwards, he had 3eirb his schooner back for reinforcements, not yet arrived. The kanakas,"' 'who at first might have foughfT for'htni, were gone wholly back to£this "enemies. faced three white men across the ."tablecloth. The girl afon,e was a" trifle distracted from the object' of 'our visit which 'was, as he knew, ~ to kill him, to put an end to* his domination of Godfrey; Jsland." Yet > ' Lb I'SaUi'ed "with his pear, drawing his thin I eyebrows' up' occasionally with an air\of amusement, amusement which politeness (his manner gave us to understand) ,'forbade' him to express otherwise. ' , -When"-the meal was finished, Flora called the maid and said m the native tongue, J'ls my room ready?" The girl's terrified face drew the attention of us all. Even Winthrop inquired, ''What is the matter?" ■, "Mr Jpurjon has seen fit to, install himself in .my room," Flpra ' ansuered j with a blush. _. j ,',' An intrusion! 1 ' Jourjou declared hastily. "But justified, I hope. It was „ eloquent of beauty and I always re- ' , jo'ice in t -loveliness, 'even in its absence." r 'Queer, what things will stir up the otherwise unstirrable. AVinthrop got into'his head that "the Frenchman had £ trespassed. upoii Miss Tunbridge's a privacy. His face flushed and his lips £ opened. But he found nothing to say, I suppose, for he closed his, mouth again Vi with, a determined and resolute air. We rose; from the table. , % t ( Keeping -things in her own hands, t Flora dismissed us all, saying that she n w.ojild retire. Michael sat grimly back f ( against the rail of the lanai and inter- n rpgated a. native who answered him in .Koarsc barkings of fear. Winthrop and B I out upon the little lawn to- R ward the. beach of the lagoon. And cf Jourjon, seemingly crestfallen, follow- ni ed "iis at a short distance, afterwards <j ( disappearing into the shadows. f c Qtt .the bead), Winthrop demanded ],. an "accounting. He said he had been ,- ( grossly misinfoi met]; that he had under- ra 6to'o"d.from me, from Michael, and from Flora, that tins w.is merely a voyage of n j discovery. pc-sihh of occupation, of an ]j C island already discovered but never 0 j taken under the flag. He admitted \ YI that, he had come along in hopes-of j^' seeing new things; lie denied .that he- j,i had, intended to eat with'a: murderer,'. re or with a man so lost to all-sense-of ca propriety as to seize a young woman's room in her absence. " tel I was provoked. Winthrop had had ne plenty of opportunity to acquaint him- Ju self with the expedition and its purpose.' w; He had wilfully withdrawn himself. I of had told Michael that the young man ha might "como in handy." and on that' ov< understanding Tunbridge had wcl- c f«< comed him. I foresaw that this calm, Th ignorant. young philosopher might us easily make a mess of the whole busi- old ness, I did my host. I referred him wii to Flora. 1

"But slip has rniirrd." hp remonstrated. "I must know to-night." Jourjon strolled nut of the shadows at this moment, smoking a cigarette;

He smiled ■ at us through the moonlit dusk and took up the ronversation ?>-, though h-r had had a share, in.--it aS \long. "If Mr Winthrop will accoiri-

pany me for :i little, while," he sait gently, "1 shall exlpaih to hinj." 'Die shrewdness of his play checket me. 1 knew very well how he migh bend tin's honest', philosophic youth ti his own ends, but I knew of no v:;p of staving him off. Before I eonh formulate ;i!iy objection they were walk ing away, W'inihrop haughtily kpepin; ii yard's distance from the i'reiich. followed." "I appreciate extremely the chanci to make this clear to a gentleman,'' the rascal began smoothly. "This mat ter lias been too much mixed up lr people who have nothing to do witli it ;\.s a matter of fact, Mr "vwr.threp, ; am here as .the representative of tin French Republic I am trying to di my painful duty with as little a "on 1 as possible to the excellent yonnj woman and her father. But you under stand, I am bound to do mv '" Winthrop warmed to the villain in stantly. I heard him remark on th< age-long friendship of the two nations I groaned. For half an hour I lis tfiied to this accomplished robbei speaking of the necessitj that France had foreseen of protecting hex Jiava. bases against Germany; of the care th< Republic took that', she should at jnc time bieak through- any conventions 01 tieaties ' He didn't"refrain from hint ing that ' the United States seeiefch favoied the exclusion of the Tunbridge! and the occupation of Gbdfrej by Joui jon'foi fhe_l«'iciich "You possibly" witnessed what lecep tio-i Tunbudge got fiom the Govern mci>t-authorities in Honolulu," he le r Miked at a vcntuie I sought Floia ,She had not gone to bed, but sat u the shadow, just outside the lattice o hci dooi, aiid listened to my tale When it was ended she astonished mt by a Job I caught-my breath ant bagged hei to tell what the matter was She thrust out her slim, \\ hite hand ii a pitiful gesture of soirow "John I v. as such a dear boj '" she whispeied "He was devoted tome I taught bin to say his prajers every night witl Ins forehead on the top "of the lanai Everv night when the clock's bel itiuck nine, he would slip out of th( darkness and say, Missie Florie, leady to pra> lor jou.' , . Ant I left him, poor slim little lad, to b< butcheied by i£at " , She stopped. I sat still, listening i heaul her subdued sobbing. The unspeakable rascahtj of tha Frenchman' Foi mcie loot hc_ha< 3ome to this peaceful and yuospcrou 'slot and driven out its master ant tiibtiess, ho had laid unclean, hands, 01 ier most familiar possessions", .he hat idled hei devoted sepi ant, now he w-a .educing the one man hy whose helj -be might again come into hei -own tf Winthrop opposed us, -we shouh 3»ve a hard task to legain the islaffd is Jbii'jon's icinfol cements weie al nost due. Suddenly we heard a.shnt,i shaip o\ lamation, instantlj followed b\ a lout uise from Jomjon. 'I told the \retches to bur\ the bed,," he was mailing lose shnilj, ws> Come heie'" ' Then we heaid Winthrop say in, a hep bantonc, "Is this the boy -\ou .•lied'--'

"Thiice- accuisod devils'" stoimod Join ion "Am I not mastci hcie 0 I sh-dl kill othcis if they don't come and buiy tins caicass " "" - Join ion's lagc scorned to pass ovei Wmthiop, foi i\e caught Ins, next woids, announced m a clear, heavy i >i( e "Whj'ctid \ou kill a more boy 9" Something in the tone earned valuing to the Frenchman, for he quicklv =aid, forcing his calm, "He disobe>ed n-» in an important mattei He had been disobedient befoie The example was needed. I was compelled to kill him " He -veiled agam foi seivants. T<loia stepued back into hei room, jjiekcd up a iiagne old lamp, and came out into the lanai She* ciossed it rapidh and came to a halt ?t the edge of it The steady mj ot light penetiatod just fa. enough into the shadow to snow, figuies ct tvo men vYivthrop'" she called Tca one moment I ieaied that that call wouldn't be ai'swpi"c! But Wmthiop, who was bout o\or stiaightcned up and tinned to a aid hoi "He'O T tiii Miss Tunbudge " ' T wis'ied to si l ," she went on o iielh, "that %ov follow =■ must n't kill nn\ nee of m\ inends" You s°c ch" point-' Wmthiop stood o\ "i i c'eid bod-v, in deep darkness, n'thoiit i witness (so fai as he knew) to piove that he hadn't done the muilei l'inj"?"lf lho gnl, gning up Lojjc ot him, had boldly tin att him into the compnn. of the gunning lootc "W mthicp »tai"d a long time at hei Then be bent his gp/e on the .mi' .loniion Latei be walked jnai witnoiii i woid Yfton oids He c»mr n.to m\ loom, looked me o\ei caiefifh , arcl walked o'it again. In five minutes, I leUowcd tnu> and 'oii"d ? i"n>b «A in Ks hind 3-fe vas jjoitaiboti bcc-id ai,-\ I'Mig \ou ca i m.igme T cr'ddn't io"*isL J" tciirrl "tion "Why don't j ou have a glance at Emerson J ' 1 demanded j._c inin'i ha\e something to <ai J ' It stmtd h'i'i -p tien end inch Ue cuisecl '.»' He called r~c name; And as be vent on, g"ttn j into .a soit of cold, v hifo heal 1 detected tne inn mat' ip him UMn_ xo tlie "-'iiface ITndei ne.ith all L s -voiil'i and polish and philosoph\, human iiatme seethed as violently as it does in von oi m me, ind be liadnt learned to contiol it In tact I baieh oocape alue Ho vouid ha\e killed me with his hands, if I hadn't fenced him off and disappeaied the next morning, old Michael stole out of -I, is icrin into mi no with a sliinv ic\olvc in Ins lecble hand ' Thcic's no need of fussing about this an> longei," he announced, "I'm going to shoot Jouijon " 'But others of his kind ate coming," I uiged ' 'lliis is i soit ct m- I teinational affair.. Think what "V\in-| tin op may do ' "1 shall kill him, tco," said the amazingly \ital old chap 'then his voice b'okej and he died out vciy londh, "I'll kill them'" The tones must coined far, for almost rmmediateh, t''e upend and Floia appealed, diesscd, leady foi b'epkfast ' Whom aic ,\ou going to kill, papa o " she demanded cr.li.'h, "Jounon hist, then iliat b>ss\ we biought down on the Manana ' At tins point, Wmthiop thinst his w!>-, in among us blue e\ts »]»,i]iig He didn't seem to have heaid what the old man had said, ioi he turned directly to Flora. "Did he take joiii_ioom '•"' he demanded. She glanced at him merely, 'and answered, "What difference does that make to jou J Go back to your part ner "

I suppose Wmthrop had" never been m a tight place before, his wits re 7 fused to work propeily He flushed—and it wasn't a ooyish flush either—and then lie swung on old Michael. "I've been pretty blind to ]ust what was going on here," he said "But I begin to see the truth You're willing to sacrifice vbur dauehtei to jour avance. You'v-j got her r.'to a lovely mes, I must say. What for? What foi B All for the sake of a little money."

Michael ncaily had a, fit "And whose monej am to save 9 " he roared. "You blackguard' Don't jou come trjing jour airs on mc. This is 1 mj islan,d It's been my island for a. dozen jears and I'm going to keep it for my daughter after me, oven if I have to kill both jou scoundrels! ]j)on't trj auj of join smooth schemes on met" ' v • -•■"

To emiJhasise his lcrnarks, he stuck his revolver undei TVinihyop's eiimV We both—the gifl and* I —locksd on. Fpr one mstmt the .young fellow's e>es waveied, and then-he jumped the.old man and jerked tiie weapon aw ay v from him. Flora "cried oilt,- j and I mSSe" ready to interfere "But hefoie I could catch his arm, sWmtlifop A; as gone' , '-., I ran after him,, and therefoie I tell jou 3ust in the x next five" mmutes on Gpdfrej Island. Just outside -the -door' Jourjon „■« as waiting, a short carbine m.tlic crook of "As Wmthrop emerged/ hohaded him curtly., "You'dihetter cdmo over to" my Bide," he toldJium/V'IVo tooled long enough with, these" people > Tins island is worth' a cold"million for" us both im dear fellow of "the old chap and,. I guess the girl will staj' with " > ■ - - .

I suppose "Wmthrop'b sudden dash disi (imposed him, for hi ojjp fho caibuic up qiuckh enougltJDd tlio *hot I ne,pt wild. Then the philosophei landed I onvhim. I -thought, of cQjir6°, "Winihrpj would use the revolver which he had'snatched: , j from Michael' hut-it-'wasn't "i h's muSd to do %^ia.yhe'it'didn't occur "to ;A^;'^ : „ '*. ;;

him. Instead ho got Jourjon I)s' '-the throat, shook him horribly till a knife j slinkod out of his hniid, and then »

Flora saved Jourjon's life —what was left in his body. She stepped out and called into "Wmthrop's deaf ears till lie heard. When ho looked up, she said, "You've avenged me. Li:t him

Winthrop's eyes were blurred, fcis face chalk pale. He got up, shaking; but In i I) '„ (lion be fii'i ixl hiinscli .'nd -lipned ■•■"!( nluic I bent to see how u]ticn of Joi.ijon there i\a<- left A'ter a time old Michael ard I maiuged to „ci hirn h df-con=cious His first choked uoifk in Tien-h to the'erreet 'I 11 ,£<> aw.n ' Let mo go" 1 Later he stared up at us, lwng on his back, and cursed "Winthrop b\ all the god? of the Lowei Seas, his purple hps quivering with feat. Michael turned,his 'disgusted e\es away and tohL me, that there vas no more danger, frdin^'Jaurjon. "Vou might shoot him full ofholes, out him into or tie him into a knot from poison, and he'd stick to his nerve and his work; but -lie's met with a niaii.wiio uses his hands: and his ,fists, and nobody in the whole woild will eyer again liave to be alraid of tliis man any more." An bouc-daier "Winthrop came up to the 1 house andr confronted Flojia. His face was calm once more, butihis expression was n,ew\ /.'ls there, 'silii thing more,l can.do.for you?" he dsjm'and-ed. Flora dropped her and picked an hibiscus blossom to pieces.. ''Did yon I do that for me?" she inquired, present-1 ly- / ' "Winthrop smiled, a faint, constrained smile,,without mirth in it "I suppose I. did," he answered slow It. "I am ashamed. I lost my temper, of course. But I couldn't beai to see you insulted and so " > ',' So jou tried to kill hun," she whispered. She looked at him with\wet e;,es, glanced suddenh over her shoulder as it to surprise some eavesdropper, and ,fled into her room, leaving "Winthrop to stand m a biown study under the palms _ "You seem to have a taste for adventure, after'all," I said. 'JI —I might have killed him," he muttered, shaking with horror. I * I-have seen men before in his plight. ■ I tested him further. "You did kill him,"-1 lemarked. Most of us, it is likeh, haye at one time, or another come near to killing a j man. If we haven't finished the act,

let us thank God, for Lie as different after murder, whethei justified oi not. John Selden Wmthrop. aware that he had tjied to kill, shook with neivousncss, was less-than a man. But when I told him that he had indeed put Jouijon clean out of his life, wfien lip knew that in a few minutes, with his hands and his fists, he had sent a man whose name he knew to his last accounting, he faced me. *> • This time his limbs didn't tiemble. and his face was composed In his ej es la} an expression of understanding, of 1 comprehension or a difficulty in our existence, a look that semed to say, "I have solved one problem U 1 don't want vou to make a mistake and misunderstand the fellow when I tell you what he said. ; His words were uttered in all sei 10tisness, without a trace of lightness or disrespect for the laws of God._ But, after all, his remark is not without its moral bearing • "This is the real thing!" That was his sole saying, the only comment he made upon the denouement of his search for adventure.

A few days later the Maiiana was hauling out "into the pass with myself and old Michael on her deck. Michael was waving his hand to Flora, who walked along the littlo shore of the lagoon abreast of us. "Tell Wmthrop to hurry up l " he cried to her. . The philosopher scrambled out of the bushes and leaped into a small boat. A few, strokes of an oar and he was alongside the, schooner. •>

"I'm not going," he said curtly. "Tell them to send my mail down here by the Mariana. Buy me some tobacco too. I'm not going back." "Why not?" I demanded, in amazement. "Haven't you had adyenture enough?" "Some more of Jourjon's friends might'turn up while Mr Tunbridge is away and Flora is alone," he said briefly. "But your friends —what will they sm —in. Boston?" I demanded

AVinthiop turned and looked back to the slender beach where Flora stood waiting for him. His face betrayed an mwaid amazement, n profound astonishment at himself at his pi edicament, at the outcome of his voa age oi sight-see-mg and note-taking The\ tell us that the dMiig man <=ees his whole life m letiospect, with its vista of circumstance, struggle, failure, success. ' I'll swear th.it Wmthnp, standing in that small boat, holding to the rail, of the gently moving schooner, 'saw behind him all tile sharp-.'details of his humdrum and impeccable existence, saw Ins me j i)io.ich.ib]° t.nnib his dece.it homo, his libi.u\ his cncle of culLuied acquaintances —the whole suddenly ending (like a ufle shot) in a pieposteious advsn- , ture, suddenly 'narrowing down into r point which l.iv in the hear! ot a wilful and lo\eh woman standing lighth on the coral of an unknown isle. He tui ned and gazed at mew ith a glance of plcadms, renunciation and pude, took his hand from the schooner's rail and - turned back to Flora- Tunbridge, w : hile old Michael altered the Mariana's course to take the- pass for the open sea. '