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


BILE haste. His gait was neither that OF
the busy city merchant nor the easy
lounge Of the sailor out Of work. Pres
emily he seemed to recognize some famil-
lar landmark. He turned suddenly up a
ma rrow passage and, pushing open q
swiny-glass door, climbed flight of lead
covered steps. On the second fioon he
stopped before door bearing ON a small
brass plate the name, M. NJ. Easton.'
Without knocking he opened the door
and on his entrance an elderly man rose
from his seat at low table, and. after
quick glance, lowered his colorless eyes,
bowling graveIy. Tyars returned the sal
utation with a short nod.
The elderly man then turned to go into
room beyond the small. bare Office.
When he turned his back, this city clerk
was no longer elderly. His back was
that of a young man. Addressing him
self to some unseen person in the inner
room. he uttered two words only-the
name of the visitor waiting in the outer
ofice-without prefix or comment.
Come in, Tyars!" called out cheer
full tenor voice, Immediately; and the
clerk. turning into an old man again.
stepped aside to let the visitor pass
through the doorway.
The man who rose to greet Tyars. hold
ing out a. thin hand across the table at
which he had been seated was singularly
slight. His narrow shoulders sloped at
. larger angle from the lines of his sim
envy neck than is usually to be found in
men of the Anglo-Saxon race. The hand
held out was unsteady, very white and
long. The face was narrow and extreme
iy small ut school Matthew Mark Eas-
ton had been nicknamed Monkey" Eas-
ton. Despite his youthful appearance it
was some years since he had left school,
and indeed men of his year at Harvard
were mostly married and elderly, while
Easton still retained his youth. In addi
tion to this enviable possession there was
still noticeable in his appearance that
slight resemblance to a monkey by which
he had acquired nickname singularly
appropriate. 1t was not only in the small,
intelligent face, the keen, anxious eyes
and thin lips, that this resemblance made
itself discernible, but in quickness of
glance and movement, in that refined and
nervous tension of habit, which is only
found in monkeys and all the lower ami
mails.
BY way of greeting this man whistled
two or three bars of "See the Conquering
Hero Comes" softly through his teeth,
and pointed to chair.
Smith," he said raising his voice,
you may as we'll go to the bank now
with those checks"
There came no answer to this sugges-
zion, but presently the door of the outer
Office closed quietly.
Il call him Smith," continued Easton
In thin and pleasant voice spiced by
distinct American accent. because his
name is Pavloski. That unfortunately
luxuriant crop of gray hair standing
straight up gives him a foreign appear
ance. which the name of Pavloski would
seem to confirm. Besides, it takes such
q long time to say Pavloski."
While he was speaking Easton's face
mad remained quite grave. and, conse-
quently, very sad. There was short ST.
lence. Both had much to say, and they
appeared to be thinking and searching for
. suitable beginning. Easton spoke first.
see," he said, shat you are trim
and taut, and ready as usual. The ex-
ecutiVe keeps up to the mark"
Yes replied Tyars, my department
= In working order. The ship is getting
on well, and | have found nv first off,
GER"
The slight. delicate man looked at his
companions large limbs and half sup
pressed a sigh. His wistful little face
contracted into q grave smile, and he
nodded his head
Il dislike you," he said, in his peculiar
II humorous way, when you talk like
that. 1t seems to imply an evil sense
OF exultation In your physical superior
ity, which, after all, is fleeting. You
are only dust, you know. But-but II is
rather poor fun staying at home and pull
Ing strings feebly."
1T has its advantages" said Tvars in
an unconsciously thoughtful tone, which
brought the restless eyes to his face at
once. Besides" he added. more lightly,
you do not pull feebly. The tugs are
pretty strong, and the strings, you must
remember, reach good distance"
"Ye-es" Mathew Mark Daston had a
singular habit Of elongating the little
word into several syllables, as IL in order
to gain time for thought. "Ye-es! snn.
pose it has. But" he said. rousine him
self, Il have not been idle. That ia to
say, Smith-Pavloski Smith, Won know
He has been working terri6callv hard
Poor fellow! His wife is out there-sf
Kara"
Yes, I know. You told me-" inter.
Fupted Tyars, and his manner uncon-
sciously implied that a fact once imna r..
Cd to him was never forgotten. HAS he
heard from-Or of-her YETI"
NO, not for two years. He believe.
she is alive still, and report came from
Riga that she had been sent to Kara"
The Englishman listened without cor.
ment. His strong. bearded face wa. no,
pleasant to look upon just then. for the
massive jaw was thrust forward. and
there was a peculiar duh glow in hi,
placid eyes.
There was q child, you know" con.
einued the American, watching the ef
feet of his words, ito be born in prison
In Siberian prison, where the attend
ants are the riffraf of the Russian army
more brutes than men, That would
probably be year ago"
He paused, his thin voice lowering to
ward the end of the sentence in q way
that rendered his American accent sinRu
larry impressive in its simple narrative.
wonder" he continued, what hal