The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-08-15
CHAPTER I.

Peter Constable sat forward on the
main deck of his own yacht, the Madame
de Stael, which had just been hitched to
the bottom of Saint Pierre's harbor. His
single guest for the cruise, Hayden Breen,
was back in the cabin. with book and
long, thin glass, Three weeks previously,
early in April, Constable had met Breen
for the first time. And Of that meeting
you must hear.
It came about some sixty hours before
the Madame cleared from New York har-
Dor, and a queer night for both men.
Constable had been pacing the deck alone,
when he heard soft step below on the
Brooklyn pier. He bent over the railing,
and perceived that q stranger was about
to throw himself into the water.
Constable called sharply. The figure
at the pier edge stiffened, and face
swung upward. The two parleyed for
moment, and the voice that was borne
to Constable WAS that Of 2 gentleman.
The man below Observation-Disclosures
then accepted with laugh an invitation
to come aboard. Presently in the cabin
tho owner Of the Madame faced an indi-
viduaL, tastefully, even freshly attired,
and one whose manner betrayed NO nav.
The face was pale, imposing; q reckless
face, but not devastated-though the eyes,
perhaps, had a loeky Of having sem: too
much. For two hours the pair talked
about books, pictures, dollars, the tropics,
and suicide. At the end, Constable was
90 strongly impressed that he invited the
stranger to be his guest for the cruise.
Breen glanced at him whimsically. Il
wonder il l really did drop OF the dock,
and this is the astral plane, he unused.
"This is the edge Of Brooklyn, and
am serious" Constable said.
"This is the edge of Brooklyn, and l
am astonished," Breen replied.
$50 far as I know, you would be my
only guest"
HAD you better not wait until to-mor-
row? Think again"
81 should prefer that you say yes
now"
Better hear more about me first.
have spoken only in generalities. My past
is at your disposal" Breen warned.
II should like to hear much about you,
but not in the light of your decision. Will
you 60 with me?"
"Yes"
"Where do you intend to stay to-
night?"
you altered my only plan, you will
remember, Mr.. Constable"
"I'll have a berth made up for you
at once. I'm glad you have found it pos
sible to look up the tropics again." the
owner finished.
Breen appeared content, and accepted
the various offices from his host with a
fine, half-humorous appreciation. Con-
stable found, in their early intercourse.
not the slightest cause to regret his i'm
pulsive invitation. That the other did
not harry him with references to his kind
ness was, to Constable's way of thinking,
the severest test of a thoroughbred. Breen
di0 not leave the ship, and seldom the
cabin, during the entire period of prepare
ton. He sat in a reclining chair and
read the essayists, mildly spirited. What
ever had been his attitude before, he ac-
cepted what life offered him now in calm
ness. He still had the jaded humans
last resource, when this unexpected but
pleasant portion Of life was at an end.
Such seemed to be the philosophy Of this
creature who had passed the death SEN
tence upon himself.
Constable slept aboard the last night
before sailing, and was at breakfast with
his guest about eight In the morning,
when q servant entered the saloon to an