Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-06-29

not only was he gentlemanly Snug.
gler, but he proved to be an eloquent,
scholarly gentleman. Lord how he
taIKed; he seemed to be posted on any
ana every topic of conversation, eX.
cept smuggling and roguery; when.
ever these were mentioned ne waved
them aside gracefully with that ges.
ture of mild depreciation SO familiar in
the pulpit.
was becoming enamored of the
man and his ways. Anan had ordered
another bottle of wine to meet Wha.
.ley's compliment, when | noticed that
"a meanly dressed person OF medium
height. surrounded with a mild air of
dissipation, stood Just inside the CORR.
dor entrance furtively watching VIVA.
ley. as though awaiting the chance 20
speak. Whenever the shabby gentle.
man caught my eye, he at once looked
inadvertently away, without moving,
however. This side play had contin.
ued fifteen or twenty minutes. In the
meantime Whaley had fallen to telling
stories OF the orient and of his recent
visit. as the companionship and tho
wine warmed him. Our glasses were
nearly finished when the strange gen.
tleman, watching a favorable opportu.
nifty. came quietly to Whaley's side
and. touching him lightly on the arm,
said:
! II beg your pardon, sir: but may |
speak with you few mInutes?"
! Whaley turned quickly and bent his
back eyes sternly on the intruder He
stood in silence for a moment. and
then said, rather harshly, thought,
when ! considered how dcbonair he
was ny nature:
Now. what list. my man? LIST 80
important that you interrupt q stran.
ger engaged in conversation with his
friends?"
His tone emphasized the sneer con
tanned in his abrupt question. The
newcomer looked at Anan and me in a
helpless way; then again at Whaley.
saying with evident embarrassment:
| Yes. II is-that is-might be-im.
portant; that's owing to the wlnd-and
and the salt of the sea: but"-here
the man raised his hand to his forehead
and drew two fingers across as though
,wiping away the perspiration-"it will
keep for another time"
AS he said this he turned to leave
with the air OF one wearied
Whaley glanced quickly and keenly
at us and then, smiling blandly, said {:
Poor chap! perhaps he is in need. or
has known me elsewhere; excuse mo
for a few minutes. gentlemen. and
await me while speak with him."
turned to Anan and saw a glitter
OF excitement in his dark eyes that
made me wonder. The evening seem.
ed filling with enigmas, as Elusive as
those of dreams.
What Is it," ! cried.
ITS ID good acting" said he
in constrained voice.
What is?" | asked with some eX
element.
AT this time the bar was deserted
and only the clicking of billiard balls
came from the room beyond. Anan
: looked at the floor for moment and
said rapidly:
"Roddy, old man Tiny name Is Rod.
IerickJ, ! must 20 for a time,-it may
be five minutes or an hour; you await
me. and when Whaley returns keep
him till come"
] tried to reply. but ne gave me no
chance, and vanished through the side
door, leaving me with my mouth open
holding hali.glass of champagne In
my hand.
| II was twenty minutes before VIVA.
! ley returned; he came in with two
well'knOwn Government officials, who
were returning from the band con-
cert in Emma Square. and the hotel
now began filling rapidly from the
same source. Whaley came over and
offered me his cigar case. yhich con.
tained some as fine MeXicans as | ever
smoked.
Where's Anan?" he asked, looking
around as we seated ourselves near a
lreading-table.
| told HIM he had been called out
but would return shortly. and that he
had requested that We should await
him there.
Whaley commented that he was sor.
ry he had disturbed our little party,
but explained that in so doing he had
been enabled TO relieve the distress Of
a friend, whose messenger we had
seen at the time. We then fell into
small chat.
1t was fully an hour before Anan ap-
peared, and when he did he proved Q
surprise. He was plainly under the
influence Of recent excitement; his
Derby hat had a dent In one side and
one OF his patent leather shoes was
marred with freshly dried mud. Wha-
leys face at once became quizZicai
and, shutting one eye in the funniest
way imaginable, he asked:
Now. tell the truth, Anan. was It a
case OF the old man watching the
girl?"
"What?" exclaimed Anan, with min.
gled surprise and indignation.
In reply, Whaley laughed heartily
and pointed to his damaged hat and
then TO his soiled shoe.
"Ah, yes" said Anan. rather sheep.
ishly | thought as he surveyed his con.
dition. "Yes-you see had to climb
stone wall and the lantana-" and,
breaking off. he actually blushed like
q girl.
Whaley renewed his laughter at
Anan's confusion, but ], who had
watched keenly knew ! had just wit.
messed another piece of acting that
matched any had ever seen upon tho
stage.
81 suppose we win see you at the
club tomorrow" said Anan, as we bade
/ WhalpV gOOd.nipht