The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-08-31
CHAPTER XIII.

Il should like, SAID MI. FrOSt-l
should particularly like to know what
your individual caper really is"
MAKE your desire a little clearer" re-
turned Mr.. Zeno. II speak English toll
erably well, think, but l have yet to
learn American. Try English"
The two were seated in Frost's dingy
apartment. The tenant of the room was
better dressed than usual, his clothes
We're better brushed, and his linen was
sitter and whittier than ordinary. A tall,
shiny silk hat cooked lazily over one eye
gave him a rakish air, and as he leaned
back in a broken down rocking chair, with
his heels on the window sill, he contem-
plated the trim and well polished boots
which ornamented his feet with a look
of obvious satisfaction. The evening sun
shone through the dirty, uncurtained win
dow, and gave his sallow skin an unac-
customed glow.
what do you want to get at, at all?"
demanded Frost. What do you want
to know? What do you want to do?"
Il want to know and do many things"
returned Zeno. Come to your point,
my friend. Be more precise. What do
you want to know? What do you want
| to do?"
You don't put your head into the
| lions mouth and hold it there for moth
in" said Frost, turning a shifty glance
upon him. "You could know every move
ment that old mailman makes, if that's
your only game, without putting your
own skin in danger for second. There
amt thing he does that l don't know,
or couldn't know if 1 wanted to, and
what know you could know at a very
slight momentary expenditure"
| "Well," returned Zeno, "very we'll.
You know the man in the photograph
You know Athanos Zeno. Nobody else
knows Athanos Zeno, my good Frost. If
Athanos Zeno is betrayed he is betrayed
by George Frost. Is it worth while to
talk Of this any longer? Do you think
that l am not content with carrying my
life in my own hand, and that l put it
into yours? Do you think that I am
young enough and foolish enough to trust
anybody without a check? Let me tell
you why employed you. saw that you
were clever, cunning and without scruple,
and without courage. 1t is not good
thing always to choose a man without
courage, but it is a good thing in your
case. because when you know that your
life hangs upon your good faith you will
be faithful. Now, is it really worth while
to talk of this any longer?"
| II own up" said Frost.
II shall not trust you bit more if
you own up, as you call it." said Zeno,
TRANQUILITY. II shall not trust you a
bit less. / shall not trust you less for
| this talk, because / have never trusted
you. l shall not trust you any more,
because l never trust anybody. l am
shall we talk of this thing any more? Is
it really worth while?"
you're not such a fool" Frost an
swered, evidently i'll at ease beneath Mr..
Zeno's smile-"you're not such fool as
to suppose that I'm going to throw up
a tolerable safety such as I've got hold
of. amt the man to quarrel with my
rations, nor yet to get my skin pierced
while can keep it whole. l was a fool
to threaten you, but l wanted to know
your game and that was all. If I amt
going to be let know it, I'm placable"
Then" said Zeno, I'VE will go out
and have some dinner. And you shall
pay for the dinner, because you have
been fool. Eth, my Frost?"
I'm game for that" said Frost. "Are
you going to take your parcel with you?'
"Ah! the parcel" said Zeno. 1.-THE
parcel is your affair. I had forgotten.
This is little invention of your own.
You will bring it under the attention of
the committee this evening and it will
secure you little praise, l can assure
you"
What is it?" Frost demanded.
"Ha! hal" cried Zeno, with a laugh,
you have OWNED its nature What a
cunning fellow it is, and what a cour-
ageous fellow it is.''
II say, look here" said the other,
shrinking closer against the wall, you
haven't got any of that stuff here, have
your I can't stand it, Zeno. I won't