Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-25
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

Sx1o1 GN 4V"SOAIAAoSNs
eff you don't mind enduring my COM
pany as far as Portsmouth. 1 propose to
in1ict 1t on YOU" he explained good
humoredly. circumstances compel me
to visit London today. Chris is now wait
ing at the station with my bag. I would
have left the island by the first train had
I not been lucky enough to see you earlier
and interpret your signal correctly"
Il only intended to tell you"
1.-The time you would come ashore. Ex-
actly. Why are you vexed because we
are fellow-travelers till midday"
Il am not veXed. 1 am delighted
You expressed your delight with the
warmth of an iceberg
Now you are angry with me-
Furious. But please give me your
we'll balanced opinion. If peaches are
good in the afternoon should they not be
better in the morning."
Il could eat a peach" she admitted.
Figuero. who did not fail to pick up the
newspaper thrown aside by Warden. fol-
lowed them without any difficulty. When
they stopped at shop In the main street
he took the opportunity to buy copy of
the torn newspaper. Mingling with
crowd at the station. he saw them enter
"a first-class carriage. His acquaintance
with the English language was practi-
cally confined to the traders tongue
spoken all along the West African coast.
and he had little knowledge of English
ways. But he was shrewd and tactful.
and his keen wits were at their utmost
tension Hence he was not at loss
how to act when he found that ticket
examiner was visiting each compartment.
Selling chance that presented itself, he
asked the man if he could inform him
where the pretty girl in blue and the tall
gentleman in the yachtsman's clothes
were going. and tip of five shillings un-
locked the official lips.
The lady has return ticket to Lang
ton. in Oxfordshire. and the gentleman
single to London" said the man.
Figuero did not trust his memory He
asked the name of the tirst-named town
again and how to spell it. Then he wrote
something in notebook and hurried back
to the harbOr. 1t was essential that he
should find out what vessels these two
people came from, for the presence OF
Southern Nigeria deputy commissioner in
COWeS was not a coincidence to be treated
lightly.
Seated in tiny boat in the harbor was
rotund. jolly looking parsonage of sea-
faring aspect. He and the boat were
there when the larger craft which brought
the girl ashore came to the quay. but
Figuero had taken no notice of Evelyn
then, because he had not the least notion
that Warden was awaiting her. Possibly
the sailorlike individual In the small boat
could Stake his thirst for knowledge.
So he hailed him.
You lib for know Capt'n Varden?" he
asked, with an ingratiating smile and a
hand suggestively feeling for a form
Il wot?" said the stout man. poking
out a wooden leg as he swung round to
face his queStiOner.
You savvy-you know Capt'n Warden,
a mister who walk here one tiIne-just
now-fo- long minutes.
There's no one of that name in these
parts. replied Peter. who thought lie
identified this swarthy-faced inquirer.
Den praps you tell name of young
lady-very beautiful young lady-who lib
for here in shipboat not much time past?
She wear blue dress an brown hat an
brown boots"
Peter Shes Miss Polly Perkins of Pad
dington Green"
"You write i'm name an / dash you
two shillin.'' said Figuero, eagerly.
Peter was about to reply that if any
dashing was to be done he could take a
hand in the game himself. but he thought
better of il. Taking the proffered note
book and pencil he wrote the words Ia
boriously, and pocketed his reward with
an easy conscience.
When Chris heaves in sight I'll send
him back for two pounds of steak he
comnunod. 1T was honestly earned. an
| figure tie captain bein' arr tickled
TO death when | tell i'm how the Porty
gee played me for a sucker.
Figuero FASTENED to the hotel. saw that
his sable friends were well supplied with
gin and cigarettes. bade them lie perdu
till he came back and made his way to
the quay again. Peter was still there. APP
parently without occupation.
You lib for take me to yacht Sans
Souci an | dash you five shillin?' he
said.
'.Risht-o jump In" cried Peter. but he
added. under his breath, Sink me if he
don't use 2 queer lingo. but money talks.
lie used all his articles TO get tlSuero
to discuss his business In Co"es, put ne
met a man who could turn aside such
conversational arrows without effort AT
any rate, Peter was now sure ne was
not mistaken in believing that his rare
was the Portuguese slave-trader ana GIN
runner spoken OF by Warden, and he
had not failed to notice the hotel which
Figuero had visited hurriedy.
There a check at the yacht, MI.
Baumgartner had gone ashore, but would