The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-05-01
A Story Of Seattle and
The South Seas

BY FRED v. WILLIAMS

been penned In behind walls q stone
The great ocean that surrounded
them, dangerous from iia niful
squalls and typhoona was but
temptor who mockCd them In their
helplessncss. Across rs slow-risins
ana falling breast might ne home
their country. their people, but 20
them Il vas chain ~ steel that
hemmed them IN.
Clark held the SRI close and Kissed
her.
Don't he afraid" he said. Her
weakness. her trust Ia him. save
him strength.
II am king" he continued I
hluifed them once, ! can do t
again. go back 60 year cave. iie
brave. | win face them In tho
morning. win fight Il out"
She left him and he watched her
white figuro rccedc In the shadows
and then. alone he know that his
words were merely an Idle boast for
her reinsurance.
What could he do Single handed.
alone. the professor gone. what
chance had be against the tribes
There was hut ono friend. one
ally. Toha. Toba. whom be feared
and who repealed him. and yet
The lure Of her az times was
siill strong. lie could not help
but respond 10 her love for him.
Nes. TohA might save him. save
them both II he pleaded hard
enough. II he made her under.
stand.
And 20 Clark went hack 20 his
throne and day dawncd on his
court. silent. unfriendly.
one By one the natives came into
the circle and among them Tota.
who climbed 10 his side and recline1
there. her brow olouded. her eyes
hroodinE.
Marian PAGE joined the throng
and sat some distance away. alone.
forlorn. hopeful. set fearful.
An onimous silence held the
aSsemblaEc. Clark searched tho
throng for the queen and found
her. her eye~ glittcrinE eyiiIy
upon him. lie looked for Smith.
The old man was nowhere TO be
seen.
''rO6a." said Clark. where Is
SMITH"
she raised her eyes 70 him and
in them he saw n dread forcbodlng
Lord. do not speak OF your
white friend" she Said. ''What
has passed in the night dare
not repeat. Ny sisters out there
would do 10 YOU what they did
10 him hut for me-"
And the white maideng' asked
Clark.
Tota's eyes changed color. They
giittercd like those Of tho old queen
''Tota. said Clark firmly. You
value my love. do your
she nodded.
''If anything would happen 20 ny
white sister ! would hate you"
II would kill you" sho replied
coldly.
You might kill me. but ! would
have ceased 10 lore YOU" no replied.
She subsidized. There was some.
thing plteous about her now. He
knew that she loved him better than
her own life.
II understand, lorl," she re.
piled. II win try and save the
white sister. But you--for your
own safety-must not inquire
about the old white man. You
must SIT here as king. You must
be king"
He understood. Strength. courage
took possession OF him now He sat
there and stared coidly down ON his
subjects. How long would they DO
subjects? He dared not question.
An hour. two hours and still Clark
played the game OF being king. No
one spoke. IL was n battle OF eyes
in which he made himself win. It was
"A battle OF nerves in which he
steeled his own. His heart beat fast.
lie might be afraid but he would not
permit himself 20 admit or show Il.
White man faced brown. White
heart against brown heart. III
those across the sea, his friends,
could have seen him then. Men
might fight In the ring and take
blows. Men might face guns In
battle and smile In the presence