Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-08-04

CHAPTER XVII.
That night I passed sleeplsssly, pom.
dering over the strange events of the
day. 1t was clearly my duty to place
in the possession Of President Dole
such facts as | knew that would assist
him in his search for Gordon Cor.
don's disappearance would make
great disturbance. He had become
marked factor in Hawaiian affairs.
The commander Of an army cannot be
spirited away without making a stir.
But while ! proposed to make Dole
acquainted with the object of the meet
ing which was to have taken place be-
tween Gordon and me at the Ameri.
eau Hotel, and even TO give him Cor
don's letter to me, ] was equally firm
in my resolve to say nothing about the
strange tale Of the old chief. Lowei.
In fact, had it not been for the new
mystery,th disappearance of Gordon.
Just when he had discovered some
clue TO the whereabouts Of my sister
Winnie, l should have doubted the
wild story Of the priestess Kaumai. in
every detail But it was evident that
we were surrounded by mysterious
power that had spies in our very
households, watching for every act
of suspicion or any move that might
lead TO their discovery.
The more reasoned the more man
! hn.s 20 - 4
Winnie alone and on the plan partly
laid down by Lowai. If / attempted
to tell any one else of the mysterious
Observation-Disclosures, / would either
be laughed at or would create 50 pro
found a sensation and make so much
Of stir that would be snatehed away
bodily myself Indeed. as stated in
the foregoing chapter, actually feared
and half expected that at any moment
L might be seized by some uncanny
though powerful baud and spirited
away through space.
Having reached a conclusion on
these lines, made haste to put my
plans into operation Early the next
morning | was at Dole's house.
The president was at breakfast, but,
being well in his favor. no ceremony
ever obstructed my visits. l was
conducted into his presence.
president Dole, you will, pre-
sume, institute a search for Gordon?"
1 said.
"Why, certainly SO, if he does not
appear. But cannot understand why
he should be in hiding. He is most
Trustworthy young man.
"True. Your confidence in him re-
fleets credit upon yourself He is not
voluntarily in hiding. You recollect
that last night 1 told you that Gordon
and were to have meeting at the
American.
81 remember your saying that, re-
piled the president, looking at me
sharply.
"Here is note / received from
Gordon yesterday" l handed Cor
don's letter to him. He read it over
carefully.
There is some deyilment back of
all this. We are not yet free from the
superstitious practices or the vindic-
tive hate Of some of the natives. This
demands our immediate attention.
What are you going to do to-dayG"
81 am going to prepare for trip to
Molokai'
"lIolokai! What takes you there
just now?"
81 am anxious to begin the monu-
ment to Warren, and must choose the
site. The ship sails tomorrow, and |
shall go in her"
President Dole studied me carefully
a moment His shrewd eyes seemed
to pierce the armor of assumed ease l
had put ON.
But all he said was;
every we'll"
L knew that Dole did not believe
me. Yet, my resolve to pursue my
search alone, with Lowai's secret un-
told, was strong, and risked Dole's
displeasure rather than failure. For
knew that even had Dole given ere
dence to the story of the priestess.
aud sent force to intercept her, Win
ME would be killed in revenge before
we could rescue her My part with
Dole was done and, leaving him with
Gordon's letter in his hand, L re-
turned to The Corals.
had not as yet examined the leath-
or pack bequeathed to me by Lowai.
nor had I more than casually noted
the ring.
Upon examining this ornament. 7
found it to be a peculiar combination
of metals woven together. Zinc and
copper seemed to be prominent in its
makeup. / had seen similar rings
worn by people in the islands, but as
they we're given to all sorts Of odd
iewelry and ornaments, the peculiar
rings had never aroused any curiosity
or excited my attention. 1t was plain
that, il Lowai's story was true, and
the Kammiloukanilimawei really ex-
listed, it had many priests in Oahu.
some of them of considerable political
importance.
In the privacy Of my own room l
examined the pack.
The contents of it certainly gave a
coloring of reality to what Lowai had
claimed to be the truth,
found a long robe, which complete
~ enveloped me.
This robe was ornamented with
various stones found in abundance in
the mountains; some of them, If pro-
perIy cut and finished, perhaps yalu-
able. And there were hideous heads
aud figures. idols no tlcubt, cut from
Al - - 4ka vrorkmanehin