The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-06-30

tween them, both being lonely men with
no sisters or cousins to admire t0elr
prowess.
These slight retrogressive explanations
will serve, perhaps, to make clear the po-
sition of Matthew Mark Easton with re-
gard to Claud Tyars in the events that
follow. To some extent the outcome OF
these past incidents was dinner party
given by the American one November
evening. OF those assembled some are
living to this day. but others, though
young. are now dead leaving to the sur
vivors the memory of brave example
the unanswered question of useless life,
/ lived and lost.
| There was nothing singular or remark
able about the fare provided. 1t was, IN
fact, supplied "all hot" by neighboring
confectioner, but the guests formed as
UNIQUE a collection of feasters as could
well be found even in the metropolis OF
England.
Among the first to arrive was Smith
"P. Smith," as Easton playfully called
him. The old young clerk OF the little
Office in the city, Pavloski Smith, was
dressed in irreproachable swallow tail
coat and white tie. He shook hands with
Easton, bowling his gray head in a Pc
culiar jerky manner, as if they had not
parted at the office two hours before.
After him came at intervals three
men: the first elderly and stout, the 9th
er two younger, but all alike had that
peculiar repose Of manner which was espe-
cially noticeable in the man called Paw
loski. They were evidently foreigners.
They spoke English remarkably well. and
made few mistakes in grammar. Easton
received them with a few words OF vel
come.
'Tyars," he said to each in turn, has
found a gentleman who will serve as FIRST
officer. He brings him tonight"
u.s." inquired the stout man, who was
of a somewhat ceremonious habit, rs
Mr.. Tyars well?"
"Quite we'll. thanks; at least, sur
mise so," was the answer.
The two younger men heard the news
without comment. Without awaiting an
Invitation Pavloski drew a chair for
ward to the hearth rug and sat directly
in front of the fire, holding his two hands
out toward the warmth. In this position
1t became evident that he was contem-
porary of the two younger men, who
presently moved toward the fire and stood
talking together in their peculiar Eng
lish, while Easton and the stout gentle
man exchanged meaningless platitudes.
The three younger men had thus
grouped themselves together, and when
piaced in proximity there was some sub
tie point of resemblance between them
which could not at first sight be defined.
1t lay only in the eyes, for in build and
complexion there was no striking like
ness. Each Of these three men had q
s:ngularly slow glance. They raised their
eyes to ones face rather after the man
ner of whipped dog. and when looking
up there was noticeable droop OF the
lower lid which left a space of white be-
low the pupil of the eye. 1t may be
seen in men and women who have passed
through great hardship or an unspeak-
able sorrow. Such eyes as these speak
for themselves. One can tell at once that
they have at one time or other looked
upon something very unpleasant Finally
Tyars entered the room, closely followed
by Oswin Grace.
There were thus seven partakers OF the
good things provided by a neighboring
confectioner-four Russians, two Eng
lishmen and an American. There had
been no secrecy about their coming; no
mystery taps at the door, no strange
sounding passwords. Moreover, the con-
yersation was of simple, straightf0r-
ward nature, without dramatic relief In
the way of ambiguous and irrelevant re
marks respecting the length of some alle-
gorical night and the approach of sym
bOlic dawn.
ITO be eontinued.S