The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-09-29
CHAPTER ".

=. CHAPTER ~.
After the incidents above recorded,
things went on quietly enough for some
months I hadsa serious talk with Jones,
reproaching him gravely for his outrage
GUS demeanor He capitulated abjectly
on being shown the cable, which was pro-
cured in the manner kindly indicated by
the President. The latter had perhaps
been in too great hurry with his heavy
guns, for his hint of violence had rather
stirred than allayed Jones' apprehensions.
If there were nothing to conceal, why
should his excellency not stick at murder
to hide it? However, explained to him
the consideration of high policy, debating
inviolable secrecy, and justifying some
what arbitrary way of dealing with
trusted official; and the marked gracious
ness with which Jones was received when
he met the President at the Ministry OF
Finance on current business went1far to
obliterate his unpleasant fecohections.
further bound him to my fortunes BY OBJ
tanning for him a rise of salary from the
directors, lin consequence of the favora-
BILE report of his conduct received from
Mr.. Martin"
Peaceful as matters seemed, was not
altogether at ease. To begin with, the
new loan did not apparently at all inn-
prove the financial position of AureatA-
land. Desolation still reigned on the
scene of the harbor works; there was the
usual difficulty in paying salaries and
meeting current expenditure The Presi-
dent did not invite my confidence as to
the disposal of his funds; indeed before
long I was alarmed to see growing cold
ness in his manner, which l considered at
once ungrateful and menacing and when
the half-year came round he firmly refus-
ed to disburse more than half the amount
Of interest due on the second loan, thus
forcing me to make an inroad on my re-
serve of $4,000. He gave me many good
reasons for this course of conduct, dwell
ing chiefly on the necessary unproductive-
ness of public works in their early stages,
and confidently promising full payment
with arrears next time. Nevertheless l
began to see that 1 must face the possi-
bility of a continual drain on resources
that l had fondly hoped woul be avail
able for my own purposes for consid-
cradle time at least. Thus one thing and
another contributed to open a breach be-
tween his excellency and myself, and, al
though l never ceased to feel his charm
as a private companion, my distrust of
him as ruler, and, l may add, as fellow
conspirator, steadily deepened.
Other influences were at this time at
work in the same direction. Rich in the
possession of my bonus" 1 had plunged
even more freely than before into the
=; of rhop T
welcome before l was now a doubly hon
ored guest. l became acquainted, with
the Signorina, the lady to whom the Pres
ident had referred during his interview
with me and my acquaintance with the
Signorina was very rich in results.
This lady was, after the President, per-
haps the best known person in Aureata
land-best known, that is, by name and
face and fame; for her antecedents and
circumstances were wrapped in impene-
trable mystery. When l arrived in the
country the Signorina Christina Nugent
had been settled there about a year. She
had appeared originally as a member of
an operate company, which had paid a
visit to our National Theater" from the
United States. The company passed on
us uOl very UIIlllduL way, Dul Tic OlSuO-
riana remained behind. 1t was said she
had taken fancy to Whittingham, and,
being independent of her profession, had
determined to make a sojourn there. At
any rate, there she was. She establish
ed herself in a pretty villa, closely adj
joining the Golden House; it stood OPP
posite the presidential grounds command
ing view of that stately enclosure; and
here she dwelt, under the care of lady
whom She called Aunt" known to the
rest of the world as Mrs. Darlington.
The title ''Signorina" was purely profess
sional for all l know the name "Nu-
gent" was equally a creature of choice;
but, anyhow, the lady herself never pro-
fessed to be anything but English, and
openly stated that she retained her title
simply because it was more musical that
that of Miss"
(TO be continued.)