Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1904-07-29

Go HM consul ut Antigua was not
particularly enthusiastic over
his post. It was financial rea-
sons rather than inclination that kept
him there. Indeed. had the financial
part Of the equation been less imper-
ative, he would have packed mp his
few belongings, said goodbye to Poti-
phar-the sole person on the coast, by
the way. 30 whom he would have
cared 70 say goodbye and embarked
In one 81 the fruit steamers for Gods
country.
From purely consular standpoint,
Antigua was not an exciting post,
From the standpoint of nature, 1t was
quite the reverse In the years he had
dwelt In the tumbledown. wormeaten
shack which served as consulate, he
had passed through two earthquakes, a
volcanic eruption. several epddemics OF
yellow fever and hurricanes 20 numer-
GUS that he had long since lost count
Of them. II he had grown somewhat
skeptical OF Antigua as 4 place OF
abode, II must be admitted that he had
HVAAA0 kEUnQu VN us H1U8.
But on the particular afternoon An
tiguia was displaying her best side.
Potiphar's dinner had been excellent,
and with black cigar between his
teeth. the consu. lolled on the veranda,
enjoying the cool, sweet breeze that
came in from the water. The palm
trees rhythmically swayed their tufted
heads to and fro; the blue sky was
necked with heecy white clouds; the
bluer water Of the bag sparkled ira-
descently In the sun and tinkled pleas
antly on the pebbiy beach.
The consul, with his feet elevated 10
the veranda rail. succumbed to ali tina
soothing influences about him and
nodded sonnolently. Occasionally he
reused himself to pun the black cigar:
but the intervals between his puffings
grew longer and longer. until the spark
on the cigar had died to crisp white
ash. The consul slept.
When he opened his eyes it was late
afternoon. for the shadows OF the
palma we're stretching out toward the
water. He bllnked his heavy eyes, and
suddenly became conscious Of being
watched. He turned. In chair drawn
close beside him was man---such
figure Of mani The face--evident
young-had long been stranger to q
razor; the hair was long and matted;
torn felt hat perched jauntily ON one
side OF the head: for clothes there was
soiled shirt and faded tattered
trousers; and the feet were encased In
the remnants OF a pair Of canvas shoes.
1his was the sorriest specimen OF
heachcomber he had ever encountered,
thought the consul drowsily az he
rubbed his eyes.
When he rubbed his eyes he fully
expected the fantastic apparation to
disappear, but when he looked again
It was still there. SO he Strengthened
himself In his chair and said: "Helloi''
How do You DOR said the man.
The consul sat I'D.
where the thunder did you come
FROM" he said. II didn't know there
was an English-speaking white man
nearer than the plantation that is, not
one that would want to come here to
the consulate" he amended.
The man grinned his appreciation of
the consul's last clause.
''Oh, guess I'm on the beach, all
right" he said easily.
The consul looked him over again,
and found no cause to dispute this
statement.
"Wellw he said In a tone which
clearly implied that II the other had
any business with him he had better
come to 1t at once.
Whatever the business that had
brought him thither. the man was evil
IDENTIFY at loss how to begin. He re-
moved the disreputable hat. and ran
his hand thoughtfully several times
through the tangled mat OF hair. His
brows were drawn into perplexed
frown. Finally. be leaned toward the
consul. couEhed and said:
my name IL Robert Brant."
':Ab, That IL important" said The
consul dryly.
'.yours is Grayson. ! believe" the
man pursued.
The consul nodded indclently.
Il believe. Mr.. Grayson." the man
went on. that q consul here. you