Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-07-30

Ill
- 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-
alive, he would have packed up his
few belongings, said good bye to Pou-
phar-the sole person on the coast, by
the way, to whom he would have
cared to say good-bye-and embarked
In one Of the fruit steamers for Gods
country.
From a purely consular standpoint,
Antigua was not an exciting post,
From the standpoint of nature, it was
quite the reverse. In the years be had
dwelt In the tumbledown, wormeaten
shack which served as consulate, he
had passed through two earthquakes, a
volcanic eruption, several epidemlcs OF
yellow fever and hurricanes so numer-
GUS that he had long since lost count
OF them. If he had grown somewhat
skeptcal of Antigua as a place of
abode, 1t must be admitted that he had
some reason on his side.
But ON the particular afternoon An
tguia 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
1ecked with feecy white Clouds the
bluer water of the bay sparkled irri-
descently In the sun and tinkled pleas
antly on the pebbly beach.
The consul, with his feet elevated to
the 'eranda rail. succumbed to all the
soothing influences about him and
nodded somnolently. Occasionally he
reused himself to puff 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 1t was late
afternoon, for the shadows OF the
palms were stretching out toward tho
water. He blinked his heavy eyes, and
watched. He turned. In chair drawn
close beside him was a man-such q
figure Of a man! The face-evidently
young-had long been stranger to a
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
ne remnants OF pair Of canvas shoes.
1hls was the sorriest specimen of
oeachcomber he had ever encountered,
thought the consul drowsily as he
rubbed his eyes.
When he rubbed his eyes he fully
expected the fantastic apparation to
disappear, but when he looked again
II was still there. So he Strengthened
himself in his chair and said: Hello
How do you do?" said the man.
The consul sat up.
Where the thunder did you come
Hom,' he said. II didn't know there
was an Englsh-speaking white man
+ nearer than the plantauon-that is, not
q "OuiO WANT W COLuc hSL "
f re consulate" he amended.
3 The man grinned his appreciation Of
'he consul's last clause.
On, l guess I'm on the beach, all
night" he said easily.
E Inc consul looked him over again,
ana found no cause to dispute this
statement.
We'll" he said in tone which
eearly implied that II the other had
any business with him he had better
come to it at once.
Whatever the business that had
brought him thither, the man was evil
seuuy at loss how to begin. He re-
O'eu the disreputable hat, and ran
-. US hand thoughtfully several times
ougn the tangled mat of hair. His
M,s were drawn into a perplexed
Ataown. Finally. he leaned toward the
N'nsui, coughed and said:
& My name is Robert Brant"
'Onsul dryly.
{ man pursued
L AZ, ne consul nodded indolently.
s g. oeileve. Mr.. Grayson." the man
ont that na cous,,I hAra rau