The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1910-09-04

accented the intimation of his rudeness
bowed. and we passed in, Jourjon lead
ING the way among the flowers with
unctuous hospitality.
But here Jourion : momentarv triumph
ended The table was spread in the
shadow length of the lanai, resplend-
ent with naperv. silver and glass. At
the head of it sat Flora; opposite her
sat Michael \ kanaka girl murmured
historically behind her mistress : chair
and the old man glowered at brown
man who gibbered in fear. clatterlng
plates in his shaking hands. AS we
came in. Flora glanced up carelessly,
waved me to seat at her left and told
Winthrop to take the chair to her right.
Jourion dropped hesitatingly into the
other seat hastily showed under him by
the terror-stricken servant.
Kanakas know but one master. The
two serving. and the others shutting
on the outskirts, recognized that then
old master and mistress were come back
and thereby their enforced allegiance tt
Jourion was swept away. He knew 1t
and his thin brOWs contracted wlckedly.
The meal was one Of constant interplay
of chat. laughter. and yelled innuendo
Winthrop. naturally, lost the meaning
of il all. To him it merely presented
an inexplicable and revolving associa-
ton Of murderer and two adventur
ers. He gazed dumblv at his hostess
and her radiance. gave monosvllables
in return for Jourion s cold, polite re
marks SO the conversation lay be
tween us three mostly. Flora. .Iourion
II 10 h
to say.
| remember one interchange between
Flora and Jourion. He said:
~ am very glad that You are here
at this time. / was at a loss to know
how to amuse my friends who are com
ing up from Papeete. You relieve me
of responsibility. mademoiselle. -
"And I shall be glad to welcome any
of your friends, Just as ] shall make
YOU welcome. she said simply.
"And the good Mr.. Winthrop. will
he assis. rous'' he want on. cutting his
pear with a deft knife
"Mr Winthrop. | fear, is disappoint-
ed in the entertainment we provide, -
she returned.
Jourion slvlv eyed her. "Eh7 He
expected the tragedv9 And he finds
supper? Sometimes il is supper. made
moiselle. when we await tragedy-or
DEATH
She smiled at him. Everything
comes to him who waits
"And he. he is waiting?'
Here Michael looked up. and said in
a harsh voice. owe are all waiting.'
Recalling that evening and the set
&c wi I cd
GOODNESS of the Frenchman. He was
quite alone AS ! found out after
wards. he had sent his schooner back
for reenforc ements, not yet arrived.
The kanakas. who at first might have
fought for him. were gone wholly back
to his enemies He faced three white
men across the tablecloth. The girl
alone was a trife distracted from the
object of our visit which was. as he
knew. to kill him. to put an end to his
domination of Godfrey Island. Yet he
dallied with his pear. drawing his thin
eyebrows up occasionally with an air
of amusement. amusement which po-
likeness (his manner gave US to under
stand) forbade him to express other
wise.
When the meal was finished. Flora
called the maid and said in the native
tongue, els my room readv9'
The girl terrified face drew the at
tention of us all. Even Winthrop in
CURED. ''What is the matters'
"Mr Jourion has seen fit to install
himself in my ROOM Flora answered
with blush
Gan intrusion,'' .Tourion declared
hastily "But justified. 7 hope. II was
eloquent of beauty and 7 always rejoice
in loneliness. even in its ABSENCE
Queer. what things will stir up the
otherwise unstirrable Winthrop got it
into his head that the Frenchman had
trespassed upon Miss Tunbridge s priv
acv. His face flushed and his lips
opened. But he found nothing to say.
] suppose, for he closed his mouth again
with a determined and resolute air. We
rose from the table.
Keeping things in her own hands,
Flora dismissed us all, saying that she
would retire. Michael sat grimlv
back against the rail of the lanai and
interrogated native who answered him
in hoarse barkings of fear Winthrop
and / strolled ont upon the little lawn
toward the beach of the lagoon. And
.lourion. seemingly erestfallen. followed
US a a short distance. afterwards dis
appearing into the shadows.
On the beach. Winthrop demanded an
accounting. He said he had been
grossly misinformed: that he had IN,
derstood from me, from Michael. and
from Flora. that this was merely
voyage of discovery, possibly of occu
patton. of an island already discovered
but never taken under the flag. He
admitted that he had come along in
hopes Of seeing new things: he denied
that he" had intended to eat with
murderer, or with man so lost to ali
sense Of propriety as to seize young
woman s room in her absence
I was provoked. Winthrop had had
plenty Of opportunity 70 acQuaint him
self with the expedition and its purpose.
He had willfullv withdrawn himself.
| had told Michael that the Young man
might ''come IN handy" and on that
understanding Tunbridge had welcomed
him. ] fore saw that this calm ignorant.
Young philosopher might easily make A
mess Of the whole business. 7 did nv
best. I referred him to Flora.
But she has retired.'' he remon.
strated. II must know tonight. -
Iourjon strolled out of the shadows
at this moment, somking a cigarette
I : Ii