Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-05-24

Mortimer c0uttotsly opened the door.
ly. Then we addressed ourselves tt
our roast bananas.
The three left the dining room before
me. and l did not see them again unit
the afternoon. whenI passed them oil
Queen street. They were arm In arm
and walking very slowly. AS they
passed me Mortimer said in low ant
solemn voice:
do not forget. The hour is mid
night"
"The hour is midnight, and will moi
forget" repeated.
They strolled gravely on, and turned
into Chinaman's shop to try on pain
of new shoes he was making for me,
ate supper late. but my appetite
was not good. was thinking too much
of the midnight hour to be hungry.
drank two cups Of hot coffee. which
thought would steady my nerves and
brace me up Then went to my room
and arrayed myself very carefully In
evening dress. the uniform Of the con-
spirators. For further adornment I
placed rose In my buttonhole and
went forth.
/ found a cabman, a native who ap-
peared to have no curiosity. He smiled
amiably at my evening dress. but
asked no questions. | dismissed him
at the designated corner and took my
way to the cocoanut grove. met no
one and arrived in safety at the trees.
anlr ;,,
that ! hesitated about entering. Had
there been any wild animals in Hawaii
would not have gone in at all, but
knew there could be no danger except
from men. and stepped softly into the
shadow. which swallowed me up at
once. uttered the signal whistle, and
to my infinite gladness the ready re.
sponse came. l stepped forward. feel
ing my way cautiously. and big bulb
Of light struck me between the eyes.
uttered little exclamation and be-
lieved | was betrayed, but the familiar
voice Of Mortimer announced that 1t
was all right.
"Its merely a little lantern that
brought along for convenience" said
he. This place is so confoundedly
dark. All the others are here. and we
may as well begin our plans at once"
We found fallen cocoanut palm,
and all sat down upon 1t. Mortimer
put out the lantern, and we sat for
nearly minute In silence.
"We ought to begin our plans" said
Mortimer presently. IF a man under
takes plot. he ought to carry It out"
So thought also; but, being an
amateur at the business, ! did not like
to say anything.
81 think we ought to arrange for a
division of the kingdom" said Hughes
81 don't see that there's TO be any di-
vision, Hughes" said Conway, rather
sharply. ''Pm to be king, and that's
the end Of it,"
"Oh, don't mean that" said Hughes
hastily. Don't think I'm trying to get
up a revolution against you, Conway.
l meant the distribution OF authority
under you. OF course you will live at
the palace here, but should think you
would want lieutenants or deputies on
the other islands. 1t would be best for
the people to be confronted always by
some personal representative Of the
royal authority"
That's very sensible Of you,
Hughes" said Conway. How would
you like to go down to Hawaii as gov
ernor"
He asked the latter question OF me.
but did not see the proposition favor
ably. II is very rough voyage from
Honolulu to Hawaii, and ! am subject
to seasickness. said would prefer
to remain In the capital and hold some
high office there.
"Oh, well, II doesn't matter" said
Conway good naturedly. Perhaps I'd
best keep you with me, and 1t might be
the wisest thing to make a Kanaka.
some chief Of the old Kamehameha
family, governor Of Hawaii. 1t would
please the people and attach them to
my dynasty"
''The Idea is good" said Mortimer.
'and we ought to have native govern
ors for Maui and Kauai too. We must
identify ourselves thoroughly with the
island. We must not be foreign in any
particular. All people like to think
| theirrulers are the same as themselves,
only little better. and they are quick
| to resent importations."
"Then I'm glad they don't stick to the
1 old native dress" said Hughes II