Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1900-05-17
A PLOT FOR A GROWN.
By JOSEPH A. ALTsHELER.

Qualnted earlier In the day with a
sugar planter from Kauai, down for a
short ding in Honolulu. We sat on the
veranda talking south sea talk and
slapping at mosquitoes until we be-
came very thirsty. Then we went
down to the bar In the basement, and
when we had smoothed our throats
with a milk punch apiece we strolled
into the billiard room. There we saw
the three-Conway. the English
man; Mortimer, the American. and
Hughes, the Canadian. Conway and
Mortimer were playing billiards.
and Hughes was playing critic, declar-
ing with frequent and unnecessary
emphasis that IL poorer men with cue
lived he had never seen them.
had heard Of them before. The
China boy who took care Of my room
and examined all my property in minu-
test detail, but never took anything,
had given me some hint Of them, de-
claring with much display Of the
whites Of his eyes that they heap big
devils In their own countree." I had
listened also to some hints from more
authentic sources, and hence viewed
the three with interest.
As l have said, Conway was English,
excessively English, may add, with
an air that would have become the
younger son of a nobleman; Mortimer
talked much and loudly. and Hughes,
as became his Canadian birthright,
xr;a 30 IT,. Itch
failed.
My friend from Kauai had heard
nothing about these men, and they
failed to interest him. He leaned back
in his high chair and, the milk punch
acting as a becoming nightcap, fell fast
asleep. sat beside him and kept my
eye on the billiard players and thei.
friend. Mortimer, true to his national
ity, was doing the most talking and In
nowise was loatb to tell about himself.
He was the son Of rich merchant in
st. Louis, who. fearing that he was
falling into dissipated ways. had sent
him down to Honolulu. where he would
be out Of the way Of temptation.
"Out Of the way Of temptation" said
Hughes. Good Lord!'
Then all three laughed, each in his
own fashion, and l. who knew Homo
lulu so well, laughed also, though ST.
lently. The big planter from Kauai
snored, and his sleeping face crinkled
into a smile as If he were dreaming
that the price Of raw sugar had gone
up a cent pound In the San Francisco
market.
could not help hearing what the
three men said. Nor was there any
reason why should feel like an caves
dropper, for they talked to the uni
verse of which was humble part.
Eyes. it's a failure" said Mortimer
posing his cue across his hand. ITS
been tried in the United States. and it
doesn't work. It's too cheap and nasty.
People want titles and decorations and
things Of that sort, handles to their
names, something they can see and
have other people to see. That's what
q man needs to rule with-hunks Of
meat that he can throw to the animals
you know and keep 'em quiet"
You're right" said Conway. Eng
land knows all about 1t. We tried
democracy there once-Cromwelfs
time, you know. One man said he was
good as another, but wasn't. Crom-
well made himself dictator. Cromwell
died. People must have kings and
princes back. Couldn't get along with
out 'em. Masses must have something
to bow to. Couldn't bow to each other.
Same thing in France when Bonaparte
was master. Same thing will be every
where"
"Only think" said Hughes, how
much is awaiting those in republican
countries who have the keenness to
foresee the result and the boldness and
the diligence to prepare for it!'
"You mean that to the victor belong
the spoils-eh, Hughes, my boy| said
Mortimer. II guess you've hit 1t, and
| a man who thinks much of himself
ought to prepare for victory"
The assertions Of the American inter
ested me. 1t was commonplace for an
Englishman or Canadian to attack
democracy, though both live under 1t.
and praise the divine right Of kings,
but never before had1I heard an Amer
lean do so.
But at this point the three ceased to
address the universe and talked only to
each other That being the case, l felt
that no longer had a right to listen.
I walked up the planter from Kauai.
and we went Off to bed just as the
three ordered cocktails-"and be sure
there is plenty of whisky in 'em. bar
keeper"
The next morning my China boy
showed me silver dollar Mortimer,
the American, had given him as tip.
HE velly good man." he said, ringing
the coin to show that 1t was real He
rich as mandarin" When went out
on the piazza, the three were there, all
attired In white duck and bearing
themselves with the dignity Of the
royal born. | also sat on the piazza,
which was not forbidden to plebeians,
and presently Hughes. who was the