The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-05-24

tor. A pig rooted and rustled among
q heap Of cocoanut shells Half an
hour passed. and from far acrcss the
water, as faint and silyery an some oil.
6n signal. the ship sent her message
Of the time six bells.
Painting and crouchIng. wintsrslea
sropcd his way among them.
Come" he said.
They followed him In silence. unioos.
Ing their holsters and grimly ready. A
pair OF handcuffa cllnkcd In Hatch's
jumper. They inhaled the deep breatl,
OF tried nnd resolute men. Injured to
danger aud accustomed to give and 70.
ceiye an unhInchlng loyalty.
There" said Winterslca.
The path opened out on q little clear.
Ing among the trees and showed them.
set on high. the outlines Of Il native
house. Like all Tahtian houses. II
was on the model OF bIrdcagc. and
the oval wall Of bamboo. set side by
side, lot through vertical strcaks OF
light from the lamp or fro within. Az
the whole party drew nearer they heard
deep below them on the other side the
pleasant sound Of falling water aud
realized that the cliff they were mount.
Ing overlooked little river NJ Its foot
Here In exquisite seclusIon Jack Gar.
rard had chosen the spot for his moral
suicide.
Creeping up 10 the house and looking
through the cracks OF the bamboos. his
comrades saw him sitting within dress.
cd like native In tapa cloth. with bnre
chest and flowers In his tawny halr. lie
was sitting IN hammock. and with
her head against his knee. beautiful
girl was looking UP into bis face. one
hand locked In his. In that land OF
pretty women she was the one TINT
ontshonc them ail Tchea. the sister OF
the king. for whose sweet favor every
man Oh board had sought in vain. And
here she was. with her long hair zoos
encd aud her eyes swimming with love,
looking up at the lad who had given
name and honor TO win her heart. The
pair were hardly more than children,
and Brady, n sentlmentalist OF forty,
with red hair. sighed as he peeped
through the caves and thought OF his
own dear girl at home.
Garrard laid down the pipe he had
been smoking and In happy uncon'
kciousncss OF any audience but the wo
man at his feet began TO sing. His
voice had always been his greatest
charm and the means OF gaining him
the friendship of men much older than
himself. II had won Hadow. II had
won Francis
Jack lay back In the hammock and
with wonderful tenderness and feeling
sang Flow Gently. Sweet Alton" re.
peating the last verse several times
over. II was plain that something In
it--somc phrase or llne-had deeply
moved him. for he suddenly bent over
and laid his face In his hands. shaking
with strange emotion. Tehea arose
and. throwing her arms round his neck
aud forcing away his hands. pressed
her lips 10 his wet eyes. Even as she
did so Brady gave the signal for the
whole party TO move round TO the door,
He entered first. the others close be-
hind him. Jack leaped to his feet.
white and speechless. his wide open
eyes those Of an animal at bay. Brady,
Wlnterslea, Stanbury- Jones. Hotham,
Hatch, the familiar faces haunted him
like the sight OF ghosts, Friends no
longer. they were now avengers with
the right to track him down and kill
him.
"Jackv' cried Brady In stiHed voice.
The lad took a step back, The girl
moaned and tried to run between
Hatch and Stanbury.Jones. The old
seaman caught and shook her like a
dog, tearing away the whistle she put
to her lips and dashlng 1t to the floor
Jack put up his hand and snatched
pistol hidden in the thatch Of the roof.
Brady on the instant leveled his own
and thundered out:
Drop It, or I'll shoot!'
"Shoot and be hanged!" returned
Jack, and with that he turned his pis-
tol on himself, and, placing the muzzle
against his forehead, pulled the trigger.
1t missed fire.
Before he could try again Brady had
caught him around the neck. while