The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-09-05


SONS were withered il the hectic burning
when the sun was but an hour high.
Lara's face was ashen and darkly lined
under the eyes, The night had been an
evil one to her, evil with struggle IS
yet unfinished.
"Peter, you're pulling yourself down"
said Uncle Joey after breakfast. Don't
take Pelee quite so seriously. Go to bed
for a day, or, better still, steam the
Madame out for a days run and get some
rest under. the breezy awnings.
what sort of craven image do you
think your sisters boy is, uncle?" Con-
stable inquired. I'm get you folks out
of the war zone, or stay here until Pelee
is cool-or billion tons lighter.
"But don't you overestimate the chance
of an eruption, Peter?
81 haven't finished my mathematical
calculations, my dear relative. Holy nup-
tials and capitals of hell Five been all
over this before Take my word for it,
and get set for start when the mails
come in tomorrow morning. You are all
foolish virgins. I'm going down below
to see how yonr city fourishes in this
furnace of a day. Who is the SNUG au-
thority on Les Colonies, who undertakes
to tell Saint Pierre editorially that there
is no danger?"
m. Mondet is the editor"
II should relish considerably the pleas
ure of calking up the throat of M. Mondet
with several sheets Of his political con-
spiracies., I believe l shall call upon
him."
1--WE look up to Les Colonies here, Pc
ter. Remember this is not Montana"
1.-THE tropics have enervated you. I'M
Gle. You need to be born again"
The hottest morning Saint Pierre had
known for years The porteuses were
gone from the highways. Rue Victor Hugo,
the principal thoroughfare, was deserted
at ten in the morning. Shop doors were
closed, the street vendors silent. Vol
canic ash lay in all the crevices, and min
gled with the turf. Behind the shut
doors children wailed.< The tough little
mules, some in their panniers and with
no one to lead them, Rugged the east
walls for shade. From the byways came
family the smell of death. In the Offices
of Les Colonies Constable found breath
of GOODNESS, for the outer air was admit
ted as little as possible. NJ. Mondet well
coined the caller. Constable explained
his purpose, proffered card, and apollo
gized for his French.
NJ Mondet was tubby little man. His
hands were white, soft, tapering, ringed.
If you saw them alone, you would
promptly uncover, as is customary in the
proximity of a woman. M. Mondet did
not forget his hands.
'Pelee has bad look, monsieur" Con-
stable began. II believe you could clear
the city of ten thousand people if you
printed vigorous warning against the
mountain; if you ordered the natives to
take no chances, but to flee, regardless of
their coats, chickens, Goals, coins, or their
next city fathers. To be instrumental in
saving the lives of ten thousand people
is not service given to all men, mon
sieur."
Constable spoke slowly, and was anger
ed by the reply of the editor:
But, my dear NJ. Constable, there is
no danger danger, assure you -
''Sir, this is tragedy-black, rumbling.
naked tragedy! / say there is need for
giant here, who would paint the possible
ties of that monster in living fire. A man
might die in the foulest gutter, cursed by
the demons of drink and disease, but with
chant on his lips and vine leaves in
his hair if the memory of such service
as may be yours were with him at the
last -
The French editor found himself look
ing into lean, tanned face that flushed
and paled in turn. Moreover, he was
-
tanned hands which lay lightly and rest
lessly upon the knees of the man before
him. These hands seemed to be the POI
tent embodiments of hate and swiftness.
The manner of their low leaping created
the impression that their leashes were in
secure, and the immaculate cravat of NJ.
Mondet felt tight upon his throbbing
throat.
Perhaps 1t is well that you called"
he said with haste, leading out his caller
with the delicacy bred Of the fear Of
dynamite.
Constable left, unsatis6ed. The clock
in the Hospital rMilitaire struck the
hour of eleven. Constable slowly made
his way to the water front and back to
the Sugar Landing. His launch was still
WoAtAu& lACAS a. lie ctOAS PlCIs nc udU
sent out word to Captain Negley for
steam to be kept up night and day. A
small crowd was gathering on the shore,
slightly to the north Of the Sugar Land
ing. Constable hurrle- thither. A black
woman had fallen, from the sun. Her
burdens lay together on the burning sand
"a tray Of cakes from her head, naked
babe from her arms. Constable had the
stricken creature placed in the launch and
taken out to his ship for care, sending
native doctor after her. The negroes
regarded him with curious adulation. The
water front would know him when he
came again.
"Oh, ! say. friends Of mine,r be an
nounced in French, .'if. any Of you have
sick wives or little ones, send them out
to the ship yonder, and they will be cared
for. No, It is not hospital. where fees
are charged just temporary refuge
from the heat for the women and little
ones. Tell your neighbors. Here Is money
to hire boats. ! can crowd two hundred
babes and mothers on board.
<l<sxxv1k s.rx,. - <,s.<,l,&1n~.s.