Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21

aSm. -"
For some moments we smoked in silence.
The ship continued to roll, and the ice lurched
softly in our glasses. He looked up at me once
or twice as if about to say something, but was
too difhdent
"You know" he finally broke out, that idea
Of the two Smiths occurred to me years ago
when was in one of these West Indian islands
which we are headed toward now. That was
the time by the way, when had to drink all
that whisky
did you fall in with another Smith?" I
asked. for the whisky episode began to pique
my interest. I couldn't imagine him a particle
pant in any gay and riotous festivity. He
wasn't the type to be drawn into a convivial
party.
mo indeed" he answered with decision
'The man fell in with was named Donaldson.
In the island of Santa Clara. It's still I'M
touched by tourists. No towns no roads to
speak Of. It's mostly mountainous-volcanic
formation. With deep ravines-great clefts
that seem to reach right up to the sky, filled
with the most gorgeous tropical vegetation you
ever saw. Stupendous hanging gardens. Ferns,
growing as large AS trees. And, naturally, a
paradise for birds.
1T was the birds that had come to interest
this man Donaldson. Why he stayed marooned
in that lonely place could never understand.
He lived by himself, in a shack over on the
farther coast. Time must have hung heavy on
his hands. Perhaps that's why he began to
notice the birds and study their habits"
Mr.. Smith paused and looked at me un-
certainly. Shall I go on and tell you about
him?"
by all means" urged.
0WELL, to start at the beginning. One
day there came to the Smithsonian a
letter Nf
aldson. and he wanted to know this and that
about certain birds he had been observing.
The letter was a little shaky as to spelling
but the questions were pertinent. It looked
as If the fellow had got hold of at least two
species We didn't know anything about. So
I answered the letter, told him what he wanted
to know. and after a while he wrote again. A
sort OF correspondence developed between us.
He joked me about my name being Smith;
asked If reSembled any of the other Smiths.
So inclosed a snapshot Of myself and said
I'd be pleased to have picture of him.
AFTER a long while he replied. He said in
his queer, jocular way that the only photo
graph of himself was kept where he couldn't
lay hands on it or he would have destroyed it
long ago. but if would shave of my beard
might easily pass for him in the dark Then
he asked If by any chance was a Smith from
Ripton Valley in Vermont, which amazed me
completely, for my family happened to come
from that district. could only figure it out
that he had lived there once himself, and,
having known a lot of Smiths in Ripton VAL
ley, he had spotted family likeness in that
picture of me. He was a sharp one. His
observations of birds had proved that.
We'll, naturally. I grew interested in the
fellow, and I decided to look him up If my
duties ever took me down to that part of the
Caribbean. And couple of years later the
chance came. The only port in Santa Clara
was a struggling Negro village, set among the
usual coconut palms, in a little bay on the
west coast. But there was resident commits
sioner. to whom I presented my credentials,
and he offered very kindly to put me up. There
was really no other place to stay. Then I
asked about Donaldson"
"'Oh, that chap! said the commissioner.
He was very correct British official, and his
eyebrows went UP at my question. I believe
he keeps pretty much to himself on the other
side of the Is nd You know him?' And then
I explained about our pathological correspond
ence. Fancy was his sole comment. I'll give
you a note to the keeper Of the lighthouse at
Cap Indienne. He'll show you where Donald
son lives near by. And have him show you
through the Cap Indienne light. It's the most
powerful light for navigation in these waters
south of Saint Lucia.
well, a week or so later worked over to
the other side of the island and met Donald
son. had written him from Washington about
my trip, but he didn't know just when would
turn up. So gave him quite a start. He
had come to the door of his shack for some
purpose, not hearing my footsteps and there
We were suddenly face to face.
"He fairly jumped at the sight of me- as If
had given him the fright of his life Sud-
denly he remembered. You're Smith! he ex-