Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-13


II run fast, Jabez Honey. but that
there monkey man could run faster,
sir. and it wasn't long before he caught
up with me, and instead of jumping on
me and tearing out my eyes and hair
by handfuls, as I've heard tell they
did, he doubled up great hairy fist
and struck me between the eyes
didn't see him for awhile after that
because my head ached and I was ly-
ing down on the sand and it was very
dark.
When I opened my eyes this mon
key man sat beside me, watching me
with sly grin on bis homely face.
Well. matey, I guess you'll look
twice before you heave another stone
at me- he muttered in English.
"T thought it was a cocoanut,' ex-
planned.
That's a poor excuse for attacking
an innocent man he said, with an ugly
look coming into his little eyes.
IA manY l asked.
"Why not? be growled. doubling
his fist again.
Excuse me, mister, but guess
you'll have to tell me about it. said
as humble as 1 could muster, for I
could see he was easily riled, and I
wanted to hear the story.
"'Got any 'baccy, mater he asked
coolly.
Eyes. and a pipe I says, and gave
him all I had. As soon as he was
smoking a more peaceful look came
into his face, and he seemed almost
civilized.
"'Pm the last inhabitant.' he said at
last.
last one Of whereT asked.
~This here island. I was born ana
raised here, and twenty years ago an
earthquake came, and most OF the is
land was dumped into the sea, and
was the only human being saved. I've
lived here all alone ever since, and
expect to die right here He put his
head down ON his knees and wept
real tears.
my friend says I, for I was
moved by his emotion, why spend the
rest of your days in this forelorn is
land in the sea? why can't you leave
It and go into the worldT
my yacht Is out of commission
he says, very sarcastic ike.
There's other vessels limited
"'But they don't put In here he
said.
whats the matter with the one
that's in here nowT I asked. and at
that he jumped up and gave me a
queer look.
"Tn heref Oh, Lordp hes yelled.
and began to leap toward that cocoa
nut palm. He was up it like streak,
and once more I saw his brown face
looking like a ripe cocoanut as he
peered out. But the Indus was lying
behind him, and he didn't see her at
first.
when he did he gave vent to one
whoop and came down the tree and
made for the Indus, where the men
/ were going back and forth carrying
water on board without SO much as
looking to see what had become Of
me. 1 expect any one of 'em would
have been glad if I'd never gone back,
for some one would have liked my
| berth.
"Well, SIR, that man-monkey went
down to the boat and persuaded the
sailors to take him out to the Indus,
and Jabez, would you believe it when
tell you that Captain Barnabas Fish
took that heather savage monkey
man on board the Indus and put him
| in the crew and made a man of him?
Now, If it hadn't been for my adven-
turous spirit that heather monkey
man would never have been civilized.
What do you think Of that, eh?''
! Ananlas Slime brushed the crumbs
of the last doughnut from his coat
and reached for his overcoat. Jabez
Honey had listened to the story with
| growing skepticism showing In his
/ face. He had witnessed the disap-
! pearance of so cents worth of food.
and he appeared dissatisfied with the
returns.
what do I think of itT' he asked
unpleasantly. Maybe I'd have en-
joyed it better. Ananias. If Captain
Fish hadn't told that same story here
last night, setting in that very chair.
only the story was different in some
ways"
"How was it differentP' Ananias
was evidently taken aback, for his
face Redeemed even to the lids of his
bullying light blue eyes.
Captain Fish he said he stopped
for water at the Weary islands and
that he sent his first mate the didn't
mention no names) ashore with some
men after fresh water The mate
was missed after awhile. and they
found him, Ananias-they found him
drinking rum with a shipwrecked
Portuguese sailor he'd found on the
island. and Captain Fish took the for
eigner aboard the Indus and let him
work his passage home"
Jabez Honey smiled quizzically at
the abashed story teller.
THAT was good story, Ananias."
he said as he removed the debris of
Mr.. Shines feast. most as good as
Captain Fish's story"
But Ananias had vanished into the
snowstorm. and If he heard the lsst
remark he made no answer.