Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18

Because he'd seed through you an
know'd you'd seen through him. Because
ne found out you wasn't satisfied and
meant to have him turned off. 1 heard him
tell the Obi man the whole yarn. He read
your letters to your father after you'd gone
to bed: an then he took yours out an put
in others into your envelopes. an forged
your signature to 'em. Then, when they'd
got you settled. they were going to pre-
tend you'd gone bathing an been eaten by
| sharks. The story all hung together very
| himself an. II you take my advice. you'll
do what he's done afore you, an make Jesse
Hagan keep his mouth shut. No harm can
| come Of that; then you're free to go home
turned over to the police, there'll be the
devil to pay. an case at Trinidad. an
LAWYERS an trouble. an Jesse Hagan
LET things gor' gasped Henry Vivian
why not? Just consider. Therell be
oceans Of bother for you IL you stir this up
Nothing better could have happened. This
wicked scoundrers taken of in the nick Of
time
Hoist with his own petard. indeed"
We'll, he's gone-vanished like smoke
an nobody will mourn him neither. What
could suit you SO we'll? Forget you know
anything about it. Why not? All you
can do is to hang Jesse Hagan for his
share. But, IL you arrest him, so like as
not he'll turn round on me an say done
It. Then my name comes in. an I'd very
much rather it d. dn't Just at present."
They argued long upon this theme, but
Vivian would not give way. His sense of
the matter drift, and Daniels worldly
wise advice fell on deaf ears. They made
meal and the negroes who served it
looked curiously at the silent colored man
while others were present Daniel kept
dumb. Then, as the day advanced, the
horses were again saddled and Vivian, with
Sweetland, rode off to the hut of Obeah.
While the attendants stared to a
ragged negro galloping off on Jabez Ford's
horse, Dan attempted again to convince
Henry Vivian that cynical silence would
for the present best meet the case. 1t was
only the thought of Sweetlands own posi-
ton If all came to be laid bare, that made
the other hesitate. Vivian, indeed. found
the summit of the hill. tied their horses to
the opuntia hedge and returned to Jesse's
dim dwelling.
Profound silence reigned there. and the
corpse of Jabez Ford nor any sign Of the
Obi man himself appeared. Hunting in a
corner, Daniel found the bottle of dye
which had served so effectually to disguise
him; and at the same moment Henry
Vivian discovered a scrap of paper on the
table under the red eye of light that fell
from the roof upon It,
Jesse larf at ropes and bars, but Jesse
no larf at Massa ledge at Trinidad who
hang him. Jesse tired, so him go to bed
along with other gem men and Marse Ford
under the snake-gourd in him garden"
Daniel rushed out to find this statement
true. The Obi man had flung Ford into
the grave prepared for Henry Vivian He
had then jumped in himself and. with a
long knife that lay beside him, had sew
cred the arteries in his throat. A storm Of
flies rose up whirled away from the
CHASTITY grave.
Where's his spade?" cried Daniel. Even
you will grant there's but one thing to do
for EN- now"
NY duty's, hard to know" declared
Vivian.
Then leave It," answered the other.
for keep so glum about it? Let me ad-
vise for 1 know I'm right. Take the next
ship home an set out all afore your father.
He'll say what's proper to do III bury
home-along; an when he's heard all. Sir
Reginald will know very well how to act.
Trust him!'
And you sweetland?"
"Ill tell you what 1 think about myself
so soon as be through with this job One
things clear as mud; the sooner we're out
of Tobago the better. If you can only trust
the second in command at the Pelican
works to carry on for the present. 1 say
be off. Then this scarey business will right
itself. The bad man fades away from
memory. His sins are forgotten. Never
was case where silence seemed like to
suit everybody best an do the least harm.
In his heart Henry Vivian felt somewhat
nettled to find an untutored man rising to
strength of character and practlcal 1Orce
greater than his own at this crisis. But he
could not fail to feel the sense Of Dams
advice. Moreover, he was awake to the
immense debt he owed to Sweetland.
raw earth of the grave under the snake
gourd, Henry Vivian and the sailor held
solemn speech together. They talked for
hours; then Daniel had his way.
1t was at length determined that Sir Reg
maids son should return home at once
Having yielded slowly to Dams strong en-
treaties in this matter, Vi'ian asked
question
"And what do you do, sweetland? Or
1 should ask. what can do for you? Your
welfare Is mine henceforth. This tragedy
has merely obscured the problem with re-
spect to you. I return home and convince
my father that what has happened was
really for the best We will take 1t that he
agrees, presently appoints new overseer
and leaves this scoundrel in his unknown
grave. So much for me and the issue of
nv affairs; but now what happens to you,
my lad? One thing is to the good; you'll
have the governor on your side when he
| hears you saved my life"
We'll" answered Dan, II was waiting
for us to come to my business. To tell
you the truth, I've thought of myself so
well as you, Mister Henry. An this Is
! what I've got to say. You'll think I've
gone cracked, I reckon, yet 1 beg you'll
hear me out, for I've given lot of thought
to the matter you may be sartin; an mad
though it do sound, if you think of it,
you'll see that us ABOUT the only way
If you count that you owe me ought beg
you'll fall in with my plan; then l shall be
in your debt for everlasting"
II owe you everything, Dam I owe it to
you that I'm not dead and buried in that
old fiend's garden, where he lies himself
| Tell me what's best to be done for you,
| and be sure if it's in my power that I'll
| do it,
"Well tits this way: you believe in me;
| you take my oath I'm honest. But the
world don't. 1 can't go back to England
| and stand up an say didn't do it, neigh
bors,' because the laws up against me an
| there's nought but short shrift an a long
| drop waiting for me as things are. But"
stop here, then, for the present"
"That won't do neither I've gotten a
feeling pulling at me like horses to get
home. I'm wanted there. My girl wants
me. I know it,
"How's shat to be done? Show your nose
| on the countryside ard you'll be arrest
ed"
$50 I should be-such nose as mine,
| for there's no mistaking It,; but how If I
| bide the color 1 be now?"
go home biack!'
"Why for not? IT'S that AK Of you, sir,
as payment for saving your life. You take
| me back as your black servant. I'm dumb,
but I'm such treasure that you can't
| get on without me. Do it! Do 1t for love
/ of hardly used mani I'll AK IL on nv