The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-02-22

| suited, ana thinking Ihcy Hal gOOu
thing subscribed, and bought boat
ION credit from the German firm, Civ
ing mortgage on piece Of land as
security. Then they presented REQ
with the boat, with many cOmplimcn-
tary speeches, and sat down TO chucklc
at the way they would make the old
fool work" and the "Old fool" went
straightway to the American Consul
and declared himself to be citizen
Of the United States and demanded
his cOuntry's protection, rs hc feared
his wife's relatives wanted 10 beat him
out Of the boat they had given him.
The Consul wrote out something ter
rlfying on big shcc of paper and
tackled il TO the boat. ana warned the
surprised relatives that an American
man-of-war would protect REQ with
her guns, and then REQ went inside
his house and beat bis wife with
canoe paddle, and chased her violently
out of the place. and threatened her
NILE relatives with n large knife and
fearful language.
Then he took the boat round the 9th
or side of the is,and. and sold II for
5000 to n trader, and came back to
Apia TO DenlsOn, anu asked for n pass
age TO Tutulia; and the German firm
entered into and took possession Of the
mortgaged land, while the infuriated
relatives tore up and down the beach.
demanding Tarrco's blood in a loud
voice Tarreo with his 5000 in his
trousers pocket, sat on the fchOOncr
rail and looked at them stolidly and
without Ill feeling.
Denlson landed the ancient at Leone
Bay, on Tutulla, for he had taken kind.
ly TO the old scoundrcl, who had many
virtues and could give points 10 any
one. white or brown In the noble art
OF deep sea fishing. This latter quail
fcation. cndcared him greatly to young
Tom, who, when he was not employed
In keeping the captain sober. or bring
ing him round after an attack Of I'd.
t.'s," spent all his spare time in fishing,
either ut sea or In port.
REQ settled at Leone. and made n
good deal Of money buying copra from
the natives. The natives got to like
him, he was such cons .itntious old
fellow. When ne hung the baskets OF
copra on the iron hook of the steel
yard, which was marked To weigh up
TO one hundred and firty pounds. he
would call their attention TO the marks
as he moved the heavy pea" along
the yard. Then, one day, some inter
fering TOngan visitor examined the
pea, and declared that IL had been TAX
on from n steclyard designed to weigh
up to four hundred pounds. REQ was
so hurt at the insinuation that he i'm
mediatcly took the whole apparatus
out beyond the reef in his boat and in
dlgnantly sank ii in fifty fathoms OF
water. Then he returned to his house,
bade him wife (hc had married again
sorrowful farewell, and said his
heart was broken by he slauders of
vile Tongan pig from a mission school,
He would, he said, go back To Apia,
where he was respected 10y all who
knew him Then he began to back up.
Some of the natives sided with the
| Tongan, some with REQ. and In Il few
minutes n free fight took place on the
| village green, and REQ stood in his
doorway and watched 1t from his mar
row. piglkc eyes; then, being of Il
magnanimods nature. he walked over
and asked three stout youths who had
beaten the Tongan into a state of un-
| consciousness and were jumping on
| his body, not 10 hurt him.
About midnight 'Rco's house was
seen to be in flames, and the owner,
uttering wild, weird screams of Fla
olaw Fla ola" CMcrCy!" "MCrcyrO
| fed down the beach to his boat. fol.
| lowed Ivy his wife. large fat woman.
named appropriately enough Taumafa
! (abundancc). They dashed into tho
water, clambored into the boat, and I've.
| gan pulling seaward for their lives.
The villagers. thinking they had both
gone mad, gaZcd at them in astonish.
ment and then went back and helped
themselves 10 the few goods saved
from the burning house.
As soon MS REQ and the good wife
were out of sight OF the village they
| HuN dbOul, ldh lllt budN llllN ~ llllit hiN
further down the coast. planted bag
containing 500, with the best of the
trade goods (salved before the fire
was discoveredD. and then set sail for
Apia to "get justice from the Consul"
The Consul said il was n shocking
outrage; the captain of the United
States ship Adirondack concurrcd; and
so the cruiser. with the injured, stolid
faced REQ on board. steamed off to
Leone Bay and gave the astonishcd
natives twelve hours to make up their
minds as to which they would do-pay
REQ $1,000 in cash or have their town
burned. They paid SOCIAL they could
ralse-and then in a dazcd sort of way
sat down to mediate rs they saw the
Adirondack steam OF again.
REQ gave his wife n small share OF
the plunder and sent her home TO het
parents. When Tom Denison next saw
him he was keeping n boarding house
Mt Leyuka. in Fill lie told Denison
he was welcome to free board anc
lodging for n year. REQ had his gooG
points. as | have said.-Louis Becke. in