Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-04-13

About thousand feet from tho
southern shore of this sheet of wa
ter-which Hestor had named Nor.
tons Bay"-was small island. It
was a gem of an island. Basaltic
rocks reached up from the liquid
depths of the bay, and it's northern
end was a crag, probably 100 feet
above the surface of the lake. To
the west it sloped gradually down,
and at low tide there was a sand
bar. 1t was on the inner edge of
this bar that Hester had sighted the
crocodile. Tall, slender cocoa palms,
with their crowns of graceful leaves,
nodded in the morning breeze. eau
cho, camphor and dragon trees added
their beauty to this tropical bou-
quet. The base of the rocks was hid
| den in giant pond lilies, ivy and
other climbing plants. which fes-
TONED the sides of the cliffs, as if
struggling to join the masses of
flowers which overhung the rocks
above.
But the water had treasures not
less beautiful. At depth of so or
GO feet the bottom of the lake was
clearly visible. Looking over the
sides of the yacht, the voyagers
| who were now approaching the
shore, saw swarms of fish whose
sides reflected the colors of the rain
bow.
Color is born in the tropics. It
dies at the poles. In the chill of the
axial antipodes, black and white
alone survive. In the warmth of the
tropics all objects, animate and in
animate, vie with each other to out
rival the Imagination of the artist
and blunt the pen of the writer.
at looks like big aquarium, don't
it," said L. Sylvester Vincent, as he
gazed into the water. "Look at the
fish under those rocks! I'll bet
those are angel fish, saw some just
like them at the aquarium down at
the Battery in New York. Say, but
there are some beauties down there!
Tt looks as if it had been built for
them. The rocks are covered with
moss, and there is a tunnel just
! like l saw in the aquarium. thought
at the time that the fish in New
VI Hdu pretty SOIG OuI
| these fellows here have them beat
in a walk. 1 wonder if they're good
| to eat?"
The reflections of Mr.. Vincent were
cut short. By good seamanship Capt.
Waters brought the yacht alongside
| jutting rock, which nature must
have designed as a pier. Four sail
ors sprang ashore, and in few min
utes the lines were taut; the stumps
of two trees acted as posts. Tenders
were lowered to keep the sides of
the "Shark" from rubbing against
the rock, and it was possible to step
from the gangway directly to the
natural stone pier.
"Weicome to 'Hestoria!'" ex-
claimed Hestor as he leaped ashore.
Come on, gentlemen, and explore
the mysteries of the tropics. 1 want
to show you something that will sur
prise you"
Back of the pier there arose a rock
which cut off the inland view. Hes
tor rounded this rock, stood in the
open space, and waited for the others
to- Join him. Mr.. Pence was the last
to quit the yacht and showed an in
clination to remain on board. He left
only when he found himself desert
ed.
"What do you think of that?"
Hestor pointed towards a grove
| of cocoa palms, in the center of
which stood a large bungalow. It
was an artistic blending of Moorish
and Indian architecture. This build
ing was an ell-shaped structure, the
corner of which was two stories in
height and rounded in a curve, form
ing at the front half a circle. From
this as a base, there were two long
! wings one story in height, with slop-
ing roofs, supported at the front by
pillars, within which were deep We.
randas. These verandas were each
about 60 feet long and opened into
the central part of the structure.
which on it's interior, as well as in
it's second story, was perfect cir
Gle.
Sidney Hammond looked at Hestor
in amazement.
'When did you build this?" he de-
manded.
"Never mind when I built it," re-
sponded Hestor, with good-natured
laugh. Its built all right, as you
can see. AS a matter of fact, old
man." he said, addressing Sidney and
looking carefully around as if in
search of something, 'this is the first
time I ever saw it myself. I had it
| hllilt for nv tropical residence