The independent-reporter., 1909-10-28

/ thanks to Britt And ] must not for.
get Browne. All. what a consolation II
IL to know that there are Americans
wherever one goes. Sellm! Selim"
! He was standing as straight us a cor
| pOral and his eyes were glistening with
| the fire of battle when Selim came up
| and forgo< to salute. so great was bis
wonder ut the transformation. "Get
word to the men that want every
mothers son Of 'em to attend q meet
Ing In the market place tonight at O.
Very important. tell 'em. Tell Won
| Blitz that he's got to be there. I'm
going to show him and my picturesque
friend. Rasula, that am here to stay.
And, Selim. tell that messenger to wait.
| There's an answer
Long before 9 O'Clock the men of
Japat began to gather in the market
and trading place. Hollingsworth
Chase, attended by selim, came down
from his mountain retreat. He heard
the sibilant hiss of the scorned Per-
slams as he passed among them on the
the threatening attitude OF the men
who waited and watched. He saw the
white, ugly face of Won Blitz CULVER
ing with triumph. He felt the breath
of disaster upon his cheek. And yet
he walked among them without fear.
his head erect, his eyes defiant
The market place was large open
tract in the extreme west end Of the
town, some distance removed from the
business street and the pier. Through
break in the foothills the chateau
was plainly discernible, the sea being
obscured from view by the dense for
est that crowned the cliffs.
Chase made his way boldly to the
nearest platform, exchanging bows
with the surprised Won BlitZ and the
saturnine Rasula, who stood quite
near. The men Of Japat slowly drew
close In as he mounted the platform.
From where he stood looking out over
those bronze faces he could pick out
the scowling husbands who hated him
because their wives hated them. Afar
or stood the group of women who had
inspired this hatred and distrust. Be
hind them, despised and uncounte-
nanced by the oriental elect. were
crowded the native women, who down
In their hearts loathed the usurpers.
1t was Chase's hope that the husbands
Of these simple women would ulti-
mately stand at his side In the fight
for supremacy. and they were vastly
In the majority. If he could convince
these men that bis dealings with them
were honest, Won Blitz could go hang.
He faced the crowd, knowing that
all there were against him. "Von
Blitzr he called suddenly. The Ger
man started and stepped back invol-
unfairly, as If he had been reprimand-
ed.
'I've called this meeting In order to
give you a chance to say to my face
some Of the things you are saying be-
hind my back Thank God, all Of you
men understand English | want you
to hear what Won Blitz has to say In
public, and then want you to hear
what I say to him. Won Blltz and
Rasula and others, I hear, have un-
dertaken to discredit my motives as
the agent of your London advisers.
Let me say right here that the man
who says that have played you false
In the slighteEt degree is a LARA
Liar, II you prefer It that way.
You have been told that I am selling
you out to the lawyers for the opposi-
ton. That Is lie No. 1. You have
been led to believe that I make false
reports to your London solicitors. Lie
No. 2. You have been poisoned with
the story that l covet certain women
In this town, too numerous to men,
ton, / believe. That Is lie No. 3.
They are all beautiful, my friends, but
I wouldn't have one Of 'em as gift.
"For the past few nights my home
has been watched. want to an
nounce to you that If see anybody
hanging around the bungalow after to-
day I'm going to put bullet through
him, just as would through dog.
Now, to come down to Won Blitz. You
can't drive me out Of this island. old
man. You have lied about me ever
since I beat you up that night. You
are sacrificing the best interests Of
these people in order to crafty per-
sonal spite. in order to wreak a per-
sonal vengeance. YOU
Won Blitz. foaming with rage, broke
In: II suppose you will call out der
warshipsI We are not fools! You can
fool some Of
"Now, see here, Won Blitz. I'll show
whether l can call out warship when
ever l need one. I have never intend
ed to ask naval help except In case of
an attack by our enemies up at the
chateau. You can't believe that seek
to turn those big guns against my own
clients-the clients l came out here to
serve with my life's blood II necessa-
ry. But, hear me, you Dutch lobster,
con have n Rrjttsh man-of-yy war here