The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-02-27

the finest hotel in all Hawaii. 1t is
American through and through. You
get good American wines there, and I,
You get good American care. Let me
give you one of my new cards"
eve didn't come here to advertise
your hotel, Seacamp," said Gordon.
twill explain" he said to the super.
intendent. 1--WE are trying to find
one Jean Chicot, believed to have
been in your employ ten years ago."
ST was not here ten years ago, said
the superintendent. II was at that
time on the Spreckels place in Hawaii.
But the overseer has been here good
many years longer than I have. We
will have him up and ask him."
We went into the private Office OF
the superintendent, and he sent for
the overseer.
"Mr. Peters,. said the superinter-
dent, when the overseer appeared, "do
you recollect any one by the name Of
Chicot-Jean Chicot, having worked
on the plantation about ten years
ago?"
"Why, yes; everybody that was here
then remembers him. Why. the con-
founded lunatic used to give US more
trouble than oil she 'Japs' and Geese
we ever had"
"Strange acting, was Ae?" 1 asked.
"Strange! He was crazy loon. He
used to 60 through all sorts of moan
ings and contortions, even while at
work. And he wasn't here more than
half the time. He would disappear
about every two weeks and would he
gone few days and come back crazier
than ever. Finally he went away for
good. Never came back. And nobody
is sorry"
"You think he was really crazy, or
might he be shamming?" asked Gore
don.
"Well-he's French" replied the
overseer.
"I seem to be fated to deal with
cranks," T said. "What kind of a
looking fellow was this Chicot?"
"a small, dark man, with white
hair"
"No one has seen him since he dis.
appeared?"
1T have not. Jim Orcutt, the time
keeper, once saw him up the Wailuku
Valley. Orcutt was up fishing in the
pools above the falls, and Chicotpassed
him. Orcutt is near by If you want
him."
"Have him come here" said tho
superintendent.
Orcutt appeared.
"How long ago was it, Orcutt, that
you saw Jean Chicot up the valley"
asked the superintendent.
"About three or four years ago,
Sir" was the reply.
"Can you recall the circumstances
listinctly?"
Gall there was to it. I was sitting
on a rock fishing in the Nailu pool,
the big one above the falls. and Chicos
came along walking up the valley.
He saw me, and turned off in the
woods. I called him, but he did
not answer. I don't know where he
went"
''How did lie look?" asked Gordon.
"Did he seem to be suffering from
want or privation?"
''No; he looked all right. Anyhow,
Chicot had little money saved, and
could buy what he wanted"
"But where? If lie came to town no
would be seen, and no one seems to
know anything about him." I said.
"He wouldn't need to come to town.
There's considerable travel up and
down the valley. There is quite
comfortable settlement of natives up
the valley. They come and go. He
could get his supplies from them"
"Did you know anything about his
tamilys" Gordon asked.
Peters looked at me and hesitated.
"Do not be afraid to speak of what
you know" I said. "There are no
secrets"
"Well, he used to tell US that if he
had his rights he would be rich," con-
tinued Peters. "He said that his
daughter was the wife of Mr.. Warning
ford, once the owner of Sugar Head
Plantation, and had been cheated out
of her dover"
"Tndeed?" T replied. "Anything
1ore?"
"No; that is all he ever said of his
family matters" :"
"That much was pretty well KNOWN"
said the overseer. "Warringford was
q good-natured fellow. very rich, and
the Chicots got in on him as long as
he'd stand it. When he shut down
ON thann his wife left him. and took. /