The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-09-04
THINGS AS THEY ARE
h
BY John Fleming Wilson, in Hamptons Magazine.

Sd" YOUR schooner coming into INT
pass he said. in a smooth tone. ..St
| hurried the boys with supper. May
have the honor of your presence at
at my house?'
Old Michael stuck his revolver into
his jacket pocket and cursed violently
under his breath. ''You NAV fool ava,
tonight with all that fine small talk
he snarled aloud. But tomorrow
we II have a settlement. If Won think
for moment that | m going to let {
blasted Frenchman come and steal my
island. YOU re mistaken
"Till tomorrow. came the reply
But supper is waiting. Is Miss Flora
very hungrv?'
We had reached the shore with oul
eyes straining for the first sight of the
enemy. We had crept up the crinklina
sand with our hands on our hips. like
prowling burglars. And the whole
tragedy had turned farce. We were
going to supper. But Flora emphasized
the situation: I'D better warn YOU
not to approach the schooner till dav.
light she laughed. '.There's man
ont there who intends to shoot any.
body that tries to board the vessel. .
"'Why does he refuse my hospital
itv7''. Jourion demanded.
"Papa said he was coming ashore to
kill vou,' she replied "And that ap-
peared TO him an embarrassing situa
ton. You see, he had never been in.
troduced to YOU
promptly. "You know the way, do YOU
nots Please 60 and make yourselves
at home. / must greet this polite gen
tleman.' He stood aside, and we pass
ed on in the darkness.
But we did not go far. With one
accord, we stopped, watching the dim
shadow of Jourjon travel down to the
shore and the boat. Once there, he
leaped in and showed off, leaving the
kanakas sitting up by the margin of
the lagoon. We heard the powerful
sweep of the oar that he used as a
scull. saw the flash of the sea fire. and
heard a hail from the schooner's deck.
q am Mr.. Jourjon, the proprietor
of the island,' the internal scoundrel
answered in a high voice. 81 have
come to invite you to dinner with me,
my dear sir
We heard a muffled confab on the
schooner and Winthrop's voice cut the
darkness. Il m armed,'' he said.
"But | invite you to dinner Jour
jon replied. thrusting the boat boldly
up to the Mariana's side. Other words
followed. and then a silence. We seem
ed to discern the small boat returning.
Later we saw that two men were in it.
Jourjon helped Winthrop out on the
sand with exaggerated courtesy.
"Now,'' said our host, "let US 90
and see what supper the natives have
provided for us. He turned to
Winthrop with a polite sweep of the
hand. 81 cant tell you how difficult
it is to impress on these kanakas the
nicer rules of cuisine. In fact his
tone became vibrant with annoyance
81 had to kill one this afternoon
Flora took a quick step aside and
faced him in the darkness, a glimmer
of fire in her eyes. ''How dared you
she breathed "Who was it?''
Jourion s deprecating shrug was al
most audible q am so sorry,' he
said. "But discipline must be main
tanned. 1t was John Ii.
AS the name passed his lips. we step
ped upon the lanai of the Tunbridge
house and the light streamed out on
us, showing Winthrop's perplexed. thin
face. Michael s moody visage. and the
exchange of defiance between Flora
and the Frenchman. Really. it was
amazing to see the Sudden stiffness
that seemed to have absorbed her out
of her hot anger. Defiant she was; but
it was a strange, obscure kind Of de
fiance, as though she had confronted an
unexpected strength in her opponent.
Across Jourion s features fitted an ex-
preston of solicitude.
Winthrop dragged me back. as Flora
passed on ahead of her bowling host,
great anxiety plainly written in his
manner. "This is very absurd.' he
said. Il presume these people are
Joking Such jokes are in bad taste
don't You think? We are in an awk-
ward position. What shall we do?'
eco in and GET some SUPPER I
answered.
"With these-these monstrrs,' he
brought the last word out emphaticaIlv
"I-T refuse'
His voice rose so sharply that Jour
ion heard and turned back els there
anything | can do for YOU. Mr. Win
throp?' he asked. II regret the poor
accommodations. but I didnt expect
you, Won see.
Winthrop glanced at me. and then
said TO his self-appointed host. "But
you killed somebody's
Jourion s air was one of perfect
desolation. ''And I didn't know Won