The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-06-30
Prisoners and Capfiyes
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BY II. s. MERRIMAN

is familiar to him. I surmise that |,
must be worse than being in Siberian
prison ones selfv n
to render the slight twang, the wonder
full power of expressing pathos that lay
hidden in this mans tongue, is task be-
yond any pen. Tyars stopped him with
quick gesture Of the head, as If to init
mate that all this was no news to him.
"Why," he asked, CURLY, ARE you
showering all this upon me? DO you
think that am the sort of fellow to turn
back?"
"Oh, MOI answered Easton in an alter
ed tone. Then he turned in his chair
and, unlocking a drawer in the pedestal
of his writing table, he drew forth sew
eral leather-bound books, which he set
upon the table in front of him. On
nor he said, turning the pages. only
you seemed to be Of opinion just now that
the pastime of staying at home and pull
ing strings had it's advantages.
$50 it has," was the cool reply; but
that in no way alters the case as Tar as
I am concerned"
'"Then 1 apologize" said Easton, rails
ing his eyes without moving his head.
thought. perha ps-well, never mind J!
what do you think?"
II had a sort of notion that some other
interest had sprung up-that you were
getting sick of all this long preparation.
"And wished to back out?" suggested
Tyars in his high-bred Indifference.
As he spoke he looked up and their
eyes met. A strong contrast-these two
pairs Of eyes. The one, large, placid; the
other quick, keen and restless. Although
Easton's gaze did not lower or finch, his
eyes were not still they seemed to search
from corner to corner of the large glance
that met his own.
Il am afraid" he said, ignoring the
question, "that am getting trifle skep-
teal. 1 have had more than one dis
appointment. Our doctor-Philippi, you
know-has been appointed sanitary in
spector of the town of Lille, or something
equally exciting. He has intimated that
while fully sympathizing with our noble
scheme, he can only help us now with his
purse and his prayers. I do not imagine
that his purse will assist you materially
to steer through the ice on dark night
in the Sea of Kara" -
ut comes, no doubt" said Tyars, half
apologizing for the French doctors
treachery, from his failure to realize
the whole thing. The nation took up the
question of the slave trade without a
moments hesitation, and that was one
upon which there were undoubtedly argu-
ments upon both sides of equal weight.
We are not sure now that the compare
lively small proportion of the human race
victimized by the slave trade has really
benefited. The state of Russia and her
system of government Is a disgrace to
the whole world-yet the whole world
closes it's eyes to the fact. The Siberian
exiles, in my estimation. call for more
sympathy than those thick-skinned, dense
Drained negroes"
Easton said nothing. His father had
been a slave owner, but he fact was
unknown to Tyars, and he did not think
it necessary to mention it. Had the slave
trade never been suppressed, Matthew
Mark Easton would have been one Of the
richest men in America. As it was, he
sat daily in this little Office in the city
of London conducting-to all outward
Appearances small and struggling COM
what characteristic of the man and his
country that Claud Tyars should be al
lowed to remain In ignorance of these
matters.
Easton now turned to the leather bound
books, and the two men sat far into the
day discussing questions strictly technical
and strictly confined to the fitting out of
the small vessel lying in the London dock
for an expedition to the Arctic seas.
Even in the discussion of these details
each man retained his characteristic man
ner of treating outward things. Easton
was irresponsible, gay and light, while
beneath the airy touch there lurked a
truer. frmer grasp of detail than is pos
sessed by the majority of men. His
queer little face was never quite grave,
even while speaking of the most serious
matters. His manner was, throughout,
suggestive of the forced attention of q
schoolboy, ready to be led aside at the
slightest interruption, while the relation
of hard facts and the detailing of long
statistics ran from his glib tongue with
out the least sign of effort.
CHAPTER NJ.
More conspiracies have failed from-im-
pecuniousity than from treachery. If a
man has money in sufficient quantity, Sc
crecy is easily purchased. Even if he has
enough money to buy respectable coat,
he is already on the high road to success
If the conspirators assemble in swallow
tail coats and white ties, they are almost
free from danger. Suspicion fixes herself
upon the impecunious, the unfortunate
the low in station. She haunts the area
steps. and flies at the luxurious sound OF
carriage wheels. She never enters the
front door, but If she wishes to reach
the upper floor, creepeth up the back
stairs. Under the respectable shade of a
silk hat, gloved and washed, any of us
may trespass where he with but shabby
coat and forlorn boots will call down
ignominy on his head. Well dressed, we
may steal horses; stability clad, we must
not even look over walls.
There was in the temperament Of Mat
thew Mark Easton that small seed of az.