Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-16
III.
The Twelve Repeating Rihes.

Af,ar nv watch below the next morning
7 met Percy barrow. In many ways ne is'
mr. was the most extraordinary OF my
many acouatntances. During that first haif
hours chat with him / changed my mlno at
least a dozen times One moment 1 thousnt
him clever the next an utter ass no"
found him frank, open. good companion.
eager to please-and then droop OF MS
blond eyelashes. a lazy. impairment ora"i
of his voice hint of half-bored conde-
scepsion in his manner. convinced me that
he was shy and affected. In a breath 1
appraised him as Intellectual, fool shall
low mind deep schemer. an idler. and an
enthusiast One result of his spasmodic
condolences was to throw doubt upon their
accuracy. This might be what he desired:
or with equal probability it might be the
chance reflection of childish and aimless
amiability.
He was tall and slender and pale. languid
nj movement. languid of eye. languid of
sp.cch His eyes dropped, half-closed be-
meath blond brows: a long. wiry hand lazily
twisted a rather affected blond mustache.
his voice drawled his speech in manner
eitEr- insufferablv condescending and i'm
partinent or ineffably tired-who could tell
which? .
found him leaning against the taffral.
his languid graceful figure supported by
his elbows his chin prOpped against his
hand As | approached the pinnacle. he
raised his eyes and motoned me to him.
The insolence of il was so superb that for
a moment ! was angry enough TO ignore
him Then I reflected that ! was here. not
to stand on my personal dignity, out 10 get
information. / joined him.
You are the mate?' he drawled.
Since | am on the quarterback / snap
ped back at him.
He eyed me thoughtfully.- while he rolled
with one hand a corn-husk Mexican cigar
cite
DO you know where you are going?" he
incurred at length.
Depends on the moral character or my
future actions" | rejoined tartly.
He allowed a smile to break and fade
then lighted his cigarette.
1.-THE first mate seems to have a remark
able command of language" said he.
did not reply.
We'll to tell you the truth, don't know
whore we going. he continued
''Trought YOU might be able to inform me-
Where did this ship and its precious gang
OF cItthroats come from. anyway
Meaning me-?
ooh. meaning you. too for all I know"
he shrugged YEARLY. Suddenly he turned
TO me and laid his hand my shoulder
with one of those sudden bursts of con-
fdence | came later TO recognize and look
for but in which ! could never quite be-
II am eaten with curiosity" he stated in
the least curious voice in the world. Il
suppose you know who his Nibs is?'
DIR. Schermerhorn, do you mean?"
Eyes Well I've been with him ten years.
/ am his right-hand man. All his business
j transact down to the last penny. l even
order his meals. His discoveries have taken
shape in my hands. Suddenly he gets a
freak. He will go on voyage. Where? |
shall know in good time. For how long? l
shall know in good time. For what pur-
pose? Same answer What accommoda-
hall / OG Il tnn
worst shock of my lfe-he will engage them
himself. What scientific apparatus? Shock
number two-he will attend to that. Is
there anything ! can do? What do you
suppose he says?'
''How should know" asked
you should know in the course of INTEL
Iigent conversation with me-" he drawled
well he. good old staid Schermie with
the vertebrated thoughts gets kittenish. He
says to me, 'Joost imachin Percy, you are
all alone on "a -desert-island placed: and that
you will sit on those sands and wish within
yourself all you would buy to be comforta-