Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
CUTCLIFFE HYNE.

now or Otner 10 tally.
Garter sat himself on the bench and took
good hold on his nerves. Then he slid
an arm round her waist and drew her to
him We'll" he said. "out with it. What's
She dropped her head on his shoulder
contentedly enough. "Oh, the usual. When
you're away from me, dear, l never feel
quite certain if 1 ought to marry you"
Now, that's awkward isn't it? But as
have been up country colloguing with
your other sutton, old Kallee, you couldn't
Il wish you hadn't gone
How delightfully."- unreasonable! We'd
nothing to boil the pot on before and now
We've plenty, and neither of us is bit
the worse. What's broke since I've been
away?'
THE world l think" said Laura miser-
ably.
Then 1 hope I'm the sticking plaster
that will mend it. Now l want to hear all
about Las Palmas and what you have been
doing. / see most of West Afrfcas here.
Great Christopher! but it is fine to smell
even the outside edge of civilization once
more. My mother used to get tired OF
Wharfedale occasionally-ah, well, but that
wouldn't interest YOU.
No you always cut yourself short when
you begin to talk about your people,"
DO l? Well, what's sauce for the gan
der's sauce for the goose and you're the
goose. Did you ever speak to me about
your folk? Not one word, unless I dragged
it out. Look here, Laura, are you trying
to wrangle? Because if so, and if it's my
fault, just say what's the crime, and give
me my licking and get it over. I've got a
clear conscience and I'll be penitent as
you please"
My dear, you've been perfect"
"Oh, l say said Carter, mot too sud
den. That sort of thing brings on heart
attacks
Il know your temptations, and you've
been an honorable gentleman all through
Il wish'' said Carter whmsically, you
nad fhpr nr1a Vt lnnl a mi
in that light A missionary on the steamer
yesterday called me a gin-selling ruffian
because l happened to be sitting in his deck
chair; one of the protectorate officials a
week ago accused me of being smuggling
gun-runner because I've been up country
and happened to, get on with the native local
headmen instead of scrapping with them,
and Miss X. O'Neill, of mutual ac-
quaintance, has given me to understand
that if l don't quit poaching on what she s
pleased to call O'Neill and Craven's terri
tory she'll run me out of business. To
give her her due l gather she proposes to
pay me something to clear out"
And you're going to take it from herr"
Don't say her so tragically. I'm not
going to take anything from her or from
any one else. I've got a mine, and it's a
mailing good mine, and I'm going to run
it by my lone or bust. 1t isn't a thing you
could sell to company and besides it isn't
one of those mines one would care to sell.
It's too good for that. It's just a fortune
for two people, and one of them is pres
emily going to sign herself Laura Carter
George, you're quite the best man on
EARTH
II doubt it myself at times. By the way,
who should l see down in Las Palmas just
now but Cascaes He did me the honor of
ignoring my existence. 1t wasn't the I'M
shaved Coast Cascaes either; he'd got a
clean blue chin, and the rest of him was
dressed fit to kill. Now, what is the mys-
FERROUS Cascaes doing here?"
He's O'Nein and Craven's agent for
Grand Canary. 1 thought you'd heard.
NO, it's news to me- It's news, more
over, that they had any business here that
required an agent"
They haven't
Hum said Carter. Miss O'Neill
doesn't pay a salary without getting value
for it. Now this is one Of her deep-laid
schemes"
Laura looked at him queerly. Yes she
schemes. George. 1 wonder If you can
see through it,
The sun above them scorched high and
the cool white buildings of the banana
farmer threw the shortest of purple shad-
ows. The fresh breath of the trade rustled
the ferns and the palm leaves of the gar
den and stirred the great masses of the
bougainvillea into rhythmcal movement.
Its grand to be in place like this after
a spell on the coast" said Carter
DO you prefer it to England?' Laura
asked pointedly.
Carter held down sigh: Il believe l
lady. what do you say? Shall we buy
property here in Grand Canary and settle
down and grow the finest flower garden in
the island?"
But roses are your favorite flower and
they don't do well here in the SOUTH.
"Oh, it's roses that my father cares for,
at least he and the mater together run
the roses at home. But l think my taste
runs more to bougainvillea, say-and great
trees of scarlet geranium with stalks as
thick ones leg, and palms, and tree
ferns. Besides, a garden means irrigation
here, and I've never had real water
since 1 was a kid and worked out most
wonderful system by the old smelt mill at
home. Yes. We should have great times
gardening out here"
They had never said so in words but
both of them knew that George Carter
would never take Laura back to England
when once he had married her, and the girl
through all her fierce tropical love for him
recognized what this self-denial must cost
and valued it to the full. But presently
she brought him back to the matter they
had been talking of before.
Cant you see why Kate sent Senior
CaScaeS here, George
Il haven't given him another thought
Besides. although Miss ONeill is seeing fit
to interfere with me, / don't intend to
NEEDLE with her.
II think you ought to defend what's your
own"
Certainly l shall. Can any one accuse
me of not doing SO? But | don't why
you keep harping on Cascaes. The man is
an open admirer of Miss O'Neills, and l
suppose she's tckled thereby. Anyway
that's the only reason i can see why she
should have provided him with a job
DO you mean to say you think it is
Kate the Senior Caracas is running after?"
Certainly l do. Who else was there at
Mokki?'
do you think I've SO few attractions
then?"
But. my good girl, you're engaged to
me. and he knew it all along. There was
no secret about our engagem'-t. Every
body about the factory knew of it,
And because a girl is engaged, or even
married. do you think that's any bar to
another man admiring her?'
Carter whistled. I've been a blind ass.
and l must say did refuse to listen to the
highfalutn' nonsense Cascaes wanted to
pour into my sympathetic ear How often
have you seen him here In Grand Canary?"
He has called every day
That's not answering my question"
George dear. give me credit for loyalty.
He told me one day when you were build
ing that fort at Mokki that he liked me,
and that If the Okky-men came he would
die cheerfully before any harm should
come to me; and told him that he had no
right to say such things to girl who was
engaged to you
why wasn't l told of this?"
Because he said to me he had nearly
shot you once, and 1 was afraid that If