New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-09


James Narney's bungalow was 6
landmark. 1t stood on the summit
OF a hill at the foot OF which the
turbid Tembakut riyer-sweepine
from some mysterious point of origin
In the Borneo hinterland-swerved
abruptly and, leaving in its wake a
muddy delta infested with crocodiles
continued its onward course to the
sea.
Narney knew that river and had
charted 1t as accurately as 1t was
possible to chart anything in the
lesser-known regions of a perplexing
Orient. He understood the habits
and customs of the Dyak villagers
whose dwellings, clustered along the
palm-girt banks. 1t was possibly for
these reasons that a discriminating
syndicate in l.ondon-that exploited
the coconut from its outer husk to the
oil that lurked beneath its hard ex-
tertor--had seen fit to entrust him
with their interests.
Varney was thirty-seven. He was
short, moreover, and stockily built
with a rugged, kindly countenance
upon which the tropical sun had set
its unmistakable sign and super
scription. He had a dog--a sham
bling, friendly animal of unknown
breed-an extensive library of faded,
cloth bound books, and marked
preference for Dutch tobacco. VAR
ney-who despised all other forms of
personal adornment-had from time
to time solicited the aid of the most
skilled tatooer on the island-one
Zara-Kahn-and, excepting for
space the size of a dinner-plate on his
broad chest with corresponding va
cancy between his shoulders, his body
was covered with the grim MASTER
pieces OF Zara-Khan.
Before the cyclone came, Varney
had been worrying over those two
blank spaces. ara-Kahn-a tall
slim, brown-slxinned scoundrel, with
an ingratiating smile, gaudy turban,
and a sui t Of white ducks-had
looked In on one of his periodical
visits to Varney's area. He had
passed on to a neighboring rubber
estate, hoping on the return journey
to md his lucrative client less ex-
ercised in mind. Coming swiftly on
the heels Of q perfect tropic after
noon. the storm fiend had spread its
cloak over the entire heavens.
1t seemed that nothing short of
miracle could have spared VWney's
house; but, as luck would have it, the
frenzy of the gale had merely lifted
the sago-thatch until 1t stood on end,
the ensuing deluge to pour
in; had deposited Varney's dog in the
river a couple, of hundred yards away,
and left half the crockery in the
bungalow intact. The more sheltered
buildings-offices, clerks quarters,
and the like, had crum-
pied like pack of cards.
Chang-the dog-had crawled back |
TO the veranda and crouched in cor
ner oyer chunk of raw meat pill |
aged from ruined store. varney. |
returned from a preliminary investi-
cation of damage, was greeting the
imminent fall of darkness through a |
lumber of amber fluid wherein |
countless silver bubbles scurried |
nerrily upward. A half-dazed Chi
1ese boy-bare to the waist-en-
1eavored from a complete packet of !
to discover one that would
serve to ignite the wick of the oil
amp. Something sputtered feeby, |
hen leaped into fame and the servant
emitted grunt of satisfaction.
The Chinaman shuffled beyond the
avs of the lamp; the dog growled
With sudden fierceness and bounded
Intercepted it skilfully-and, as if
ossed by an unseen hand over the
feranda rail, a piece of pasteboard
uttered through the crowd of hum
ming insects that encircled the lamp