A Friendless Millionaire

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18691, 18 July 1932, Page 6

A Friendless Millionaire

(By H. Lawrence Phillips.) (Author of " Cap’n Benny," etc., etc.)

FASCINATING STORY OF ADVENTURE.

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Rupert Norrlsli, a struggling bank clerk, friendless and alone In the world, describes how lie learns from the solicitors, Messrs Harrow and Kedge, that ho has been left one million pounds by George Haytor, a Friend or his father. Should lie die before the age or thirty, however, the money goes to an unknown man named Mark Judwood,

with him to Fatu-hiva, but Mr Norrish said that as the man belonged to Moa Tao, you had better deal' with him."

I thought that this version did not err on the side of scrupulous aocruacy.

Rupert berrlends a man named William Ranger, whom he finds on his doorstep in a state of collapse, and takes him into his service as valet.

Holmes considered for a moment. "The only hting I can do is to hand him over to his chief, with a demand that he should punish him. Yes, that will be tbe best way, and I expect the scoundrel will bo sorry for himself. You had better handcuff him and put him in the boat.”

Rupert makes the acquaintance or William Holmes, a trader on a South Sea island. He Invites Rupert to visit him at .Moa Tao In four months’ time. Rupert accepts. The only means or getting up to Moa Tao Is by the trading schooner “ Motane," which Rupert joins at San Francisco. Captain Martel is a drunken bully; Benton, the male, a curious man, a mixture of good and evil. The crew Is composed or natives from the Islands. Rupert has dinner In San Francisco with a chance acquaintance before joining the “ Motaue.”

“Aye, aye," said the skipper, and calling the mate went forward to where the man was confined, and Holmes turned to me again. “I hope this won’t give you a bad idea of the plaoe. It is cßdte an extraordinary event in my experience, and most unpleasant for you," he added in courteous tones.

CHAPTER X.—(Continued.)

Just then there was a loud bellow, and the skipper came rushing up to where we were standing, crying excitedly— “He’3 gone, he’s gone, the varmint 1”

"Oh, Benton I can get on with, though he’s queer tempered." “You seem a nice lot, I must say. What are you like?" and as she put the question her smile deprived it of impertinence. “That you must find out for yourself, and your judgment must be largely tempered by. -mercy... As a matter of fact, the best of the four is Ranger." "Is that the other man? Is he a passenger?" "Yes, he has oome with me."

-"Do"you mean your prisoner? How can he be gone I must hold you responsible, Captain MarteJ, if that Is so," answered Holmes angrily.

"You can hold me what you like, but' the' darned bigger "has " gone. One of the men must have let him out, and he’s slipped overboard and swum for it."

It seems a feasible explanation, for we were within half a, mile of land, and I knew that the natives can swim like fish. But I felt very'uneasy, and Ranger, who had drawn near, was quietly eyeing both the captain and Holmes,

"A friend of yours?" "You may call him that and rightly, though he’s supposed to be my servant. But, come, If you’ve no more questions, tell me more about your adventures." And changing the subject, she began giving me more details of her perilous experience, which I have already related.

"I wish I could lay hands oh the darned swab that has played me this trick, that U do," orled the captain, pushing back his cap and scratching his head. ■ •-

We had many a long ohat together, and paoed the deck long after darkness had set In. I forgot Ranger’s warning, and was only reminded of it by noticing that he kept on deck as long as I did, and I saw him walking up and down" the other side of the vessel doing, as I.mentally called it, "sentry go." '"We should be making Moa Tao this time, to-morrow," remarked 'the skipper at breakfast, "and can put you ashore, missy, for Mr Holmes to 1 send you home." Shb. thanked him, and said that she was sure' that her father would endeavour to repay him for his kindness, and I observed that I should be glac! to stretch my legs on shore onoe more.

"But this is a very serious matter, captain; while that' man Is alive and at large on the island my friend's life is in great danger, I know these natives,” said Holmes, with anxiety in his voice. "But .what.,.part of /the island did he oome from?"

Martel gave the. name of some place, apparently three or four miles round the coast.

Holmes stood rubbing his chin in a perplexed manner for a moment or two.

. “I must go after -him, and you must help me, Martel,” he. deoided at'last. ' / v'

“I’ll do that,” responded the skipper heartily. "Dy’ye mean now?" 1 "No, no, that’s no good; lie’s got too much of a. start. We must -wait until to-morrow, and make a regular expedition of It. You must bring your crew, and I’ll bring a boatload of my fellows. I-Ic’ll be back in his village by that time, and I fancy that I; have influence enough, if backed -by your crew, to get him handed over, or to get Ills chief to deal with him. Mr Norrisli must be made safe at any cost." • • • •••••'•* *

“Aye, to them that isn’t bred to long vy’ges, I suppose it’s trying being shut up so long.” “I’ve found it so in spite of its interest. Doesn’t Dr. Johnson say that a ship is to be compared to a prison?" From, the: skipper’s inquiring, “Who In thu.ndef Dr. Johnson was," I supposed that my literary reference was lost upon him. But my last day on board the Motane was, pleasant enough. . I found Una Malcolm’s frank, comrade-like manners charming. She treated me as I imagine she would treat one of her brothers, and we had many a chaffing match together, which I found myself enjoying, and, rather to my surprise, capable of contributing my share.

I thanked him, and murmured something about being aDle to take care of myself, But Holmes would have none of it.

“No, no,” ho said, "you don’t know theso people. , I do, and when they like they can be as cunning as they make them. I want you to be able to walk about freely, without a spear suddenly whizzing out from behind a bush and sticking into you. Martel and I will fix It up to-mor-row. But now let us see about getting ashore, though I shall keep you a prisoner until I’ve dealt with that rascal,” and he smiled at his Joke. I found myself coming again under the spell of his manner, and I could sec that Una was feeling its fascination, for her manner towards him grew less cold.

Ranger, seeing that I was so employed, kept aloof, but did not relax his vigilance; It was as well that he did so, for I was forgetting past perils and becoming unmindful of future possibilities. Martel brought them back by coming up to me that evening (as he did so I saw Ranger come nearer) as Una and I were strolling up and down, and saying—

"A few more hours now, Mr Norrish, and that rattlesnake of yours will be sorry for himself. I guess Mr Holmes won’t take it kindly that his guest was nearly killed." “Your promise still holds good to land us to-morrow morning?” “If the wind holds," he answered, looking up to windward, "and there’s every promise of that,’’ and then he strolled off. “What has he been talking about?” demanded Una, and I told her of the “islander’s” attempt, but did not mention the more serious matter of the shots, as I did not wish to alarm her.

Ranger had all our traps transferred to the boat, and wo followed them.

“Come ashore as soon as you can, skipper, and we will arrange details for to-morrow,” called my host as be picked lip the yoke lines, and the men began to l'end the boat off from the schooner’s side. “I hope that we have not frightened you, Miss Malcolm,” he said, turning politely to Una. “You are not troubled in tills way at Fatu-hiva?”

Una smiled, on him, and replied that if they were she had not heard of it.

She listened with keen interest, and when I finished said—- “ You had a narrow shave of it. The natives of these islands are rather an untamed lot. But I pity the man if Mr Holmes lias to deal with him, If all the stories of ills treatment of the natives are true. Dad says that such as he earn the blame that is put upon the traders, and make the work of trading with the natives more difficult.”

Giving the native equivalent for “way ’nuff," Holmes steered the boat for a small jetty, alongside which the boat glided softly. lie jumped ashore and offered his hand to the girl, but with her usual Independence she ignored It and sprang lightly from the boat. 1 followed.

"If you will tell your man to look after them, I will tell my men to bring up the luggage to the house.” I asked Ranger to do this, and joined Una and Holmes In their walk towards a house built native fashion, but much larger than the usual native houses, and which stood about a quarter of a mile from the beach.

This was a fresh light on the character of my host, and I pressed for ■particulars, but she could only speak very vaguely of Holmes’s doings. “Pcraps there’s nothing In the talk,” I said, as we bado each other good-night. "Anyway, you will be able lo judgo for yourself tomorrow.”

As I walked along I used all my powers of sight to fix.in my mind the picture of the first South Sea island I had seen.

I was a bit restless that night, .and only got to sleep in the early hours of the morning. The consequence was that I did not enjoy what I had hoped—the sight of Moa Tao from Its first appearance. When I got on deck they were preparing to let go the anchor, and the ship’s boat, had been lowered and was riding alongside. Putting off from the shore I saw another boat manned by natives, with a white-clad figure in the stern, which was waving vigorously. It was Holmes, and lie was soon on the Motanc, and greeting mo with outstretched hands.

Many descriptions -of them exist, and I had read some. I recognised the usual vegetation of 'the islands — the coco-nut palm, bread-fruit treo, and suchlike—-but the height to which the land rose, in the interior, surprised me, and I remarked upon it.

"All" said Holmes, "you have your mind full of coral islands. Ttiese aro probably volcanic, and that accounts for the difference. But when we have disposed of your friend we will do a little exploration on our own. Come along in.” The building was, as I have said, built in native fashion, and was a one-storey arrangement. Its -only'difference from the usual native type of architecture was in size, and in the fact that on Hs sea face 'a verandah had been constructed. There was a living-room and a couple of bedrooms apparently. The cooking was done in another hut away from the living one, and grouped at the hack of 1 lie house were buildings which I Judged lo be used for trade purposes.

“Welcome to Moa Tao!” lie cried. “I hope you have had a pleasant voyago, and that my friend Martel lias looked after yon well."

I was replying as host I could to his greeting when Una came on deck and in responso to his surprised inquiry I told him who site was and how she came on boat'd. “Not the daughter of Malcolm of Faltihiva?” lie asked, with warm interest. “I. must get word sent to him as soon as possbic, and arrange for your passage across. Well, what, is it, skipperV” ho called, as Martel came up to speak to him. “this Mr Norrish spoken of the attack made upon him?" “No; where?" “Here, on my ship, I am sorry to say. by one of the men."

To Una was assigned ono of the bedrooms, and to me t'he other. "1 am in rattier a llx to know what to do with your man, old chap. I wonder if lie would sleep in one of the outside buildings?” “Don’t bother about him; he can share my room. We have been cabin companions, you know. Bui how about yourself?"

Holmes turned to me quickly. “What’s all this?" he asked, and I gave, him brief -particulars.

“.My dear fellow, I am sorry. To think that your life has been so im•perlliod. What has become of iho man, Martel?” “I've got. him safe under hatches, and proposed ui we should put in

“1 shall have a bed made up here, as I've done frequently before this; so if you don't mind taking your man in, we shall he fixed up. Miss Malcolm complicates matters rather, but we can put up wiili things for Ihe day or two that she is here, poor girl,” and

he went on t-o speak very sympathetically of the father's anxiety. We had a very good meal for lunch, and I tasted bread-fruit for the first time, and liked it. After lunch our host excused himself on the ground that he must find if Martel had come ashore. I offered to go with him, but he smilingly assured me that I was better off, and more useful, entertaining Allss Malcolm, and left us. “I agree with him. I’ve had enough of Captain Martel in the past few weeks. What do you think of Holmes? Hasn’t he a fascinating way?” "He grows on one. I wonder why Jimmy didn’t like him?" "You can’t explain these things. You either don’t ox; you do, and there’s an end of it.”

She had to ponder that statement before she could'trust herself to reply. “I used to think that was so with girls, but I notice that dad and the boys generally have a reason, and a good one, too, when they dislike anyone." ! •

"Perhaps there are exceptions, and the case of Holmes is one of them. There may be no truth in the stories they have lifrard.” Our host returned in a very short time, and smiled pleasantly at us. “I’ve seen Martel and fixed things up. I think we can manage." "I hope that I may go with you. I could lend a hand If there was any trouble with the villagers." "It's not to he thought of, my dear boy," said Holmes emphatically. “Don't think mo rude if I say that you would do more harm than good; and if there was any trouble and you got knocked on the head, I should never forgive myself."

“But why should my going cause trouble?” I. grumbled, "lam known to the people and have some Influence with them, as all their ‘trade’ —copra and stuff —passes through my hands; and the skipper is well known to them, too, and speaks their lingo, and can back mo up; that is why I am taking him. Though I shall take my boys, and he his crew, we shall do more by diplomacy than by force. If we attempted it they would all -souttle off, and we should never get'the man. Seeing a stranger would make them go off at once to the ■ hills.’t I ' i : n don’t like your taking all thistrouble on my account,’’ I objected, . ‘‘Don’t worry about that, my dear fellow; my safety also is concerned. I can’t let a man like Hua-huna wander around. Remember that for the most part of the year I am alone." “Was the beggar called Hua-huna? Did you know •him?” I asked quickly, and I thought I saw him bite his lips as if he was vexed, hut he recovered himself as he gave a short laugh, snylrip “Martel told me his name, • but I can’t place the rascal, though I know most of the men on the Island, and the women, too, for the matter of that. You seem all alike,” said he, turning to Una, “in the liking for ;flne clothes, and it’s part of my business to satisfy these cravings.”

“Then you really mean to leave me behind!" I exclaimed. “I must. And there is a further reason: I have Miss Malcolm to consider ” “Don’t let that worry you; I can itake care of myself, and know something of the native tongue," broke in Una. , • Holmes regarded her ouriously, as ■if weighing in his minid this piece .of information. ' "That’s spoken like the brave girl you are, Miss Malcolm, and I grant vour courage, but you can t come anyway, ancl if Mr Norrish and his man are hero to look-after you; I should feel happier." t . . ■ . So, to cut..the...story short, I had to resign myself' to circumstances and give my consent to being his friend. I found it harder to- agree to another arrangement. “You must give me your solemn promise not to‘go outside the house till I get back." ••= “Come now," I expostulated, that is a bit thick. I oan't stop Indoors with all this fine weather about and strange sights to see.”. ;

‘‘Only as far as the verandah," he replied firmly. "Come, It is only for a few hours really, and It is for your safety. I shall appoint Miss Malcolm your jailer. lam sure that if she will consent, she would he efficient." I laughed at the suggestion, but made another effort. “Come now, you are trying to get my wind up,” I urged. “My dear Norrish," answered Holmes, “I view the matter seriously, and I must beg of you to do the same. You don’t know the . risk you might run, I do; so please be advised by me. Don’t you think he had hotter do so, Miss Malcolm?,; You know something of these natives." “Perhaps It would he best," she said in reluctant tones; “but I call It tommy-rot being tied up to the house. I intended making Mr Norrish trot around to-morrow, and now you've got him caged. Rotten, I think it is.” “I quite agree with you,'but'l feel more cheerful now that I have his promise; I know that I can rely on his keeping It. —Come out on the verandah and smoke your pipe." (To he continued.)