The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-07-09

cliff.
Have you ever known such beauti-
full afternoon, Charles?" l asked my man
at supper.
Never, Mr.. Felix, never"
l was sitting so that l could look out
of the window at the sea.
at was unusually glorious, even for
Alastair, wasn't it?' | pursued.
"Yes. sir, it certainly was, sir, even
for Alastair, sir"
After supper l had my coffee on the
balcony and sat there and smoked and
wondered how long it had been since a
petticoat had boarded the Ship.
CHAPTER III.
The weather next morning was just
right for ride and sending for my
horse, | made a great circuit of the
woods. coming back by the marshes
about noon. AS l galloped past the up
per end of the lowlands l heard a voice
calling to me- and, drawing rein, waited
until the voices owner appeared. This
proved to be an extremely sunburned
young man dressed in very loud tweeds.
He carried a fshing-rod over his arm,
and basket dangled from his shout
| der.
Il say, do you know the country here
abouts?" he inquired. 1--WE lost my
way, and I'm Internally hot and tired"
He looked it: his lips were almost as
mutinous as those of a spoiled child, and
| even the tilt of his soft felt had had a
detected aid.
| Where do you want to go?" 1 asked
in return. 'The Penguin club lies about
three miles off TO the east"
Eyes, that't it, he said. I'm Pen
guinite, worse luck He dropped the
fshing-rod and tried to kick some of the
mud from his boots. Il came out to get
some fishing at 5 this morning. and not
bite have l had, nor a morsel of food
tasted since. My legs ache at the thought
of that three miles yet to go. Isn't there
farmhouse somewhere near where
could get something to eat?"
The appeal in his eyes was so plaintive
| that l could not help smiling. Thereat
he smiled back.
''It's a beastly pickle, isn't it?" he
said. ''The next time I'll arrange to
have a man follow me with lunch"
1t was only a quarter of mile to my
\ i III.
''I'll fix you up"
| He grinned gratefully, and trudged
along beside me until we came 10 the cot
tage. 1 called for Charles and sent him
off with the horse. By the time he re-
turned, my guest was feeling consider
ably better, having postponed famine by
the aid of whisky and soda. He sat
down to dinner with the air of king
come into his own. For a time he ate
silently but strenuously, then he looked
up at me.
''They don't give us such food at the
club, no. Stree and as for the wines,
they can't compare with your claret.
Funny to think of finding such things
down here in the country, away of at the
end of an empty beach. l didn't know
there was civilized man within fifty
miles of here. Do you happen to come
from New York;
''Originally," 1 made answer. "But it
was some time ago."
Funny thing, New York." said my
guest. when I'm back there I think I'd
like to be out in the open country, but
as soon as l have my wish I'm crazy
for the old burg. I've been down at the
Penguin now for more than two weeks,
and l don't suppose an hour of the day
passes when 1 don't long for the scenery
of Broadway. The worst time is at
night. can sit on the club porch and
fairly hear the Elevated sizzle by. Some
times it seems as if l really couldn't
stand it any longer"
"Why do your" asked.
There are reasons, good and sufi-
cient reasons" he answered, with a slow
smile. Reasons for which l might be
living in Kamchatka as we'll as any
where else"
He looked at me intently for a few
seconds, then lighted cigarette.
You're not inquisitive, are you? First
rule to success in any business affair.
| However, there are certain facts you are
entitled to have: my name is Rodney
Islip. and I'm broker, offices at 81 Wall
Street, where I'd be glad to execute any
orders for you at any time of year
though between you and me the present
is a particularly bad time to invest in
anything. not even including British con-
soils or government bonds. This recent
French smash put lots of people out of
business. You've heard of it. l suppose
| -lHc IuOSl outrageous SWluule Slice
Whitaker Wright"
Il read of it in the papers. 1t seems
this man Etienne induced half the poor
of Paris to trust their savings to him,
and then played one company into the
hands of another until the bubble burst
isn't that about it?"
The man in tweeds nodded. He threw
back his head and blew a cloud of smoke
in an upward spiral. $50 little differ
ence," said he, between absolute triumph
and absolute defeat. A jerk of the tick
er may convert the greatest benefactor
| into the deepest villain. For Etienne-
though l think that's only a pseudonyn
of his-is undoubtedly villain when
you think of the numberless lifetime saw
I ings he has swept away. Why will peo-
pie trust promoter? Haven't they all
of history to judge by?"
History teaches that people are al