Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-27
CHAPTER l.
A Bird Of Passage,

TIME night was hot. unbcarably
sticky. e0cryating. Even the
tropical shower, that ratified like
Il the tattoo Of a corps of snare
drums on the galvanized iron
roof Of the bungalow. seemed to have
brcucht With II nothing Of refrcShmcnt.
Seated IN what was obviously COM
hi0aticn Slccping and working room.
rcter Blake leaned negligently back in
his chair. sucking al pipe that was
very black III the bowl and hoprleSSly
6lSrcpUiahle from much Scraping. He
Was very young man. still Ill his early
tWentieS. broad shoulicrcd. feet in
l1et-ht, with 4 moi uHbeComlng shock Of
l.ElIt brown hair and a pair OF pleas
;ncly steady cvav eyes. his white shirt
s,i hat cucaSc6 the upper portion OF
his body. was open Al the neck. display
Ing q vide cN1an>e OF muscular chest
that. Ike his face. was tanned almost
10 tic color q: bronze: for the rest his
attire consisted ot a pair OF canvas
shoes ard 5 pair o. duck trousers,
which latter in lieu of a belt were fas
tened a. the waist with Il coloycd but
somewhat faded kcrchiCf.
Peters eyes yovcd in 4 sort Of whm-
steal appraisal around the room. en-
,racnc II their survey the cot bed
ever against The wall. The native mats
OIL the floor. 4 duplicate o. The cane
easy char in which he loungcd. a shelf
O. two ot books on the wall and 4 writ
;nc desk Uttered With papers, tobacco,
glasses ana a bottle OF Sin, He had
been looking al this room. or ones al
most precisely similar for the last two
wears. ne was wondering al the moment
II what Coa-toySakcn spot he would
Core upon The next one.
- o-.f- - lNMpNar a
tcuch Of individuality which marked II
IS somewhat apart from its fellows that
we're 10 Be found. wherever white men
were. on countless other islands that
dotted the tropical seas. This touch
Of individuality was embodied III 4 safe
which. though Of enormous proportions,
was patiently Of very ancient design.
since huge Key that protrnded from
tie lock proclaimed lis birth 10 have
entcGated the aee Of modern mocha
nls4N
Tetcr's eyes were fixed now on
shaxp-tace5 bearded man OF middle age
who sat On a camp stool before the
open door Of the safe, and Al whose
S.dr on 4 small table, lay numerous
lttlc heaps Of pcarlS--0bNiou III the
process Of being sorted.
The s,,&yp-taced man rose suddenly
from ms stool. stepped across 10 the
writing desk. poured out drink for
l7lu2seif. stared FOR a moment at Peter
ana returned 10 his seat
Wen. ! must say you're the most
amazing sort Of chap that its ever
been my luck 70 run acro>s!" he ex-
claimed .iere YOU insist on leaving on
account 81 that bit OF row this after
rccn. ana vet you do not seem 10 bear
ne the Sis2hteSt animoSitY."
TH.c~'S l,~xS pyN2nTpT q broad Crln
Net III me slightest Mr.. Murchi-
sor he sad geniaily AS a matter Of
f2Ct. ! bear you no end OF good VIII.
You are one Ct the bright spots IN an
Otherwise somewhat hectic career o!
late Coed Lord. any man is likely 10
loSe his temper. anG"--he grinned still
more D-oa6!y-"Iye even been guilty OF
1t myself, ! haven't given that A Sec
crC thought. sir. But YOU know as We'll
a. 90. sine the row occurred in the
presence cf some Of the natives. that
j. viii be all over the island in less than
To time. and my authority viii have re-
ceived a gentle little knock On the head
tia n afraid il won't survive. Its
again"
III risE shat" said Murchison curt
D.. I've toid YOU that's an entirely ex-
sc-eratco Tiew o. Il You'd better
think Il Ger
Tefar shook his head.
NO earthly Use" ne said. with his
engaging grin again. 4 warned YOU
-ne.1 you picked me up in VaYau that
there was nothing permanent about me.
should have been OF again in another
month or 50. anygay The last thing
u want 10 % would be to make ii
aT'k%ard :cr YOU. but you won't have
any trouble IN getting some one 10
carry cn with the biz q job I've been
holding do"1l-and I certainly won t
So until Yag CO."
Nj 1g.chiSon was obviously Of an
tr7sc.b,e positi0n-he thumped the
tso'e suddenly 8th his fist and the
Lite hoops Of pearls ran III rot one
intc another
Damn It." he exclaimed. you don (
sssr1 - gei ne right! Therein be no
trou5.e. not ihe slightest. in filling
your place I'm apparently fool enough
n be thinking about you. When
r.~Ecc YOU up III Vayau you we're
stranded According 10 your own story
= a2fnt the first time You've been.