Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-02-01
CHAPTER xn.


the few chairs of rattan or rush was
one. large rocking chair. partially
constructed of two small anchors, the
1ukes forming the rockers. In cor
her over comfortable lounge was a
canopy made of piece of sail can
spears and decorated with leather
shields. warclubs. boomerangs and
| other native weapons. together with
necklaces and various ornaments of
sharks teeth. Covering the walls
were stuffed fishes of weird shape
Over the entrance door was ships
wheel and on the mantel a model Of
an old time trading schooner with all
sails set. Among other objects on the
mantel also was faded daguerreo-
type showing Captain Williams as a
young man. in uniform. On each side
Of the capstan was a dirty cuspidor.
The carpet also was dirty and spotted.
and dust had settled thickly every
where. In this queer abode Williams
lived alone. save for Sato, Japanese
valet. who had served him for many
| years
| The massive form of the captain
himself. minus his coat. might have
been deserted in the light Of the lamp
through the cloud of tobacco smoke
! that enveloped him as he sat reading
| a magazine some time after his de-
| parture from the home of Mr.. and
| Mrs Brooks. He was rather annoyed
when the telephone bell rang and had
he not been expecting Smith would
not have troubled to answer it. AS II
was. he swore little and rose lazily
to respond.
Hello! Yes, this is Captain VII
liams." he said in his usual stentorian
voice. "Wlst. Brooks? l won't talk
with you over the phone-no-what?
Mrs Brooks? What. here? Well,
well! Yes, I'm at home-yes. Right
away. you say? Yes, III watt
Williams could hardly believe what
he had heard. He turned it over in his
mind for fully three minutes figuring
out just what 1t could mean.
Going to send his wife here! What
a skunk he is!' he grunted.
He ambled to the telephone again
and instructed the hotel clerk that If
any visitors called to see him they
were to be shown right up. From
there he went to the door of an adj
joining room and roared for his valet.
ANY beer on ice?" he demanded
when the Japanese. who evidently had
been asleep. presented himself.
"Yes. saar."
Got lines and rum : the kind
brought up from the West Indies?"
Yes, saar."
"Plenty ice?"
Yes, saar'
"That's ALL"
He could not get over the wonder
Brooks telephone communication had
caused him
Told her he'd got raise Of pay. chi
What skunk he is! And what fine
girl she ISL
He gazed abstractedly at the mode
of the schooner on the mantel opposite
to him and became buried in thought
so deep that he actually stopped smok
ing and let his pipe go out Presently
he reused himself. fished sheet o.
writing paper from among the reading
matter on the capstan table and wrote
something upon 1t. after which ht
folded the paper carefully and hid i
between the leaves Of magazine
Then he shouted again for his valet
"Sato." he ordered. "bring my slip
pers and smoking jacket. There's |
lady coming to see me-"
The man grinned knowingly.
"You might as well take a walk
Sato."
"Yes, saar."
"And you needn't come back RICH
away"
mo, saar."
Here's a couple Of dollars for you
Take 'em and get to blazes out Of here
Sabe?"
Eyes, saar."
"And stay out" he recommended a
the Japanese prepared to obey.
When the valet had vanished tn
captain took survey Of his domai
rather anxiously.
Its little dirty-a little dirty
but it'll have to do" he muttered
There was knock at the door. WI
liams wreathed his physiognomy In tn
most amiable smile Of which 1t wa
capable, felt his tie to assure himsel
that 1t had not slipped round towar
his left ear. as it had bad habit Q
doing when not hauled taut and CLAMP
ed in place. and went to let his viz
itor in.
The caller. however, was only Smitl
"Come in. but make your bushes
short" was Williams blunt greetin,
I'm expecting an important visitor"
All right. captain" responde
Smith TRANQUILITY. entering and helpin
himself to chair.
"Have pipe?" invited the hos
pushing the tobacco tin toward him.
100 hot" was the laconic declinatio
"Well. how did you leave the Brool
family?"
"She knows"
"You tell her?'