The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-04-19
In the Light of Understanding
BY JOHN s. LOPEZ
Illustrated by Adolph Treider
Illustrated by Adolph Treidler.
BY JOHN S. LOPEZ.

First, think it was sheer panic at
the prospect of Punishment from ones
own kind that drove us together. At
any rate, I never encountered a more
heterogeneous, impossible herd than
made up the passenger-list on that
trip. Even before ''AlI ashore had
been called, had mentally sifted down
to Norling as my only possible hope
of human companionship. He told me
afterwards, in that frank, spontaneous
way of his, that he had come to the
same conclusion regarding me, which
probably accounts for the fact that
before the first day was over we had
slid into a delightful and exclusive
partnership for escaping boredom.
Even before we realized it, he was
calling me johnson, old boy!" and I
had affectionately shortened his name
to "Dickie," 1 gathered that a be-
lated attack of ambition had started
him on the road to useful business
career. The last had to do with su-
gar, his father being in the refinery
business in Philadelphia. This Hawai-
ian trip was the first parental 1et-in
on the career.
Our mutual esteem was still running
high as we leaned over the rail, watch
ing Honolulu grow up out of the per-
spective, and were laying our plans for
the first day ashore. 1t was an old
story to me, but 1 had plenty of
amusement explaining the harbor-
sights to Norling, until bevy of in.
formation-hungry old maids fell upon
me as an animated Stoddard lecture. |
and pestered me with questions. FL
nally we managed to disentangle our
selves without brutality, and shifted |
forward
By this time harbor-activity was TO-
cusing upon Us, the arrival of the big
passenger-ships being a rather import
ant happening. Whistles were footing
a welcome, tugs were dancing over
the water, and all the bumboats and |
small predatory craft of the harbor
a
of hungry flies. 1t was a scene that
always interested me. While I was
watching two old Cinnamon in a
sampan-like ark, and trying to figure
out how they managed to keep afioat,
Norling gave a sudden tug at my
arm.
Someone in the boat over there is
trying to attract your attention, I
think" he said.
Surely enough. it was, looked over
toward the trim cutter. manned by
bluejackets, and in the sternsheets
discerned one of my boon familiars,
Lieut.. Bobby Nicholson, of the Brook
Ign. which had been lying around Hoo
nolulu a good while. Manifestly,
Bobby was shouting and making fran
tic signs, but they We're about as in
forming as the gestures of a crab. 1
couldn't hear above the din. But l did
some noncommittal wig-wagging my
self, realizing that he wouldn't under
stand. either, and that he couldn't say
I had sighted him. Bobby is so SEN
Sitive.
Within a few minutes We had warp
ed into the dock. Thanks to the
wheels of my experience, oiled with
some coin of the realm, We soon had
our hand-luggage ashore and were
pushing our way to safety through the
regiment of professional assisters. Old
Wah Sing, the obsequious porter of
the hotel where 1 always stay. singled
me out and fell upon me with two of
his pigtailed underlings. 1t was in
our plans to walk and stretch our
legs, so we surrendered the bags forth
with and started up leisurely. That is
why we found Bobby Nicholson stand
ing impatiently in front of the hotel
when we got there. He had ridden.
''Tm in an awful rush. he sputter-
ed, after he had metaphorically fallen
on my neck and had been introduced
to Norling. Game to tell you to be
sure to be at the blowout at the
American Club tonight. Bring your
friend. Sure to have a bully time. It's
in honor of the officers of the British
cruiser Dolphin that's in port. Didn't
know you'd be back or I'd have sent
you invites. Good thing l saw you
from the cutter. Well. so long. See
you later TIL be late for duty
He was off with a rush almost be-
fore we had time to call our farewells.
Then, suddenly, he wheeled in the
center of the driveway, and shading
his eyes from the sun called back: