The Washington times., 1934-07-07

to amputate it at the wrist"
Jerome then told him then
about the visit of Captain Mori'
arty and his crew. The doctor
frowned.
II don't know who that could
have been. Everybody on this
part Of the coast knows about
me and this island, and respects
my privacy. These rascals must
have drifted through from some
distant part of the littoral and
heard of your presumed loss.
However, they seem to have
learned their lesson. By the
way, have you young people
breakfasted?"
Not yet" Linda said. IF
you'll excuse me I'll get. ."
He interrupted: Nothing Of
the sort. We shall breakfast on
my cruiser yacht. ran out
here merely to satisfy my mind
about you two. We can be in
st. CriStobal in four hours and
relieve the anxiety Of your
friends"
He stepped across the front
door and looked inside the
house, then entered. Jerome
followed with some misgiving.
Doctor Van Dieman was ex.
amining the dory. He looked at
Jerome and laughed.
my word, but you are q
master craftsman. This Is .
beautiful boat. Light and strong
and seaworthy. 70 but the
workmanship is of the best.
But If you were as good .
house architect as you are .
naval one, you and your SinlesS
Eve would not have had to SUI.
fer for lack of the conventional
creature comforts"
"How is that, sir ?"
"You should have noticed
that the empty room where I
do my writing during my
sojourns here on San Diego
Island is not rectangular, but
has a corner cut off on the
front, thus leaving q large
triangular space unaccounted
for. Look here. :"
Hidden Room
He stepped to the corner OF
the room between it and the
barely furnished study. A long
mirror was fastened there
against the mahogany sheath
ing. DR.. Van Dieman pressed
against the butt of one Of these
planks. It sank in a little.
thruSting out the frame OF the
mirror that reached to within
two feet of the floor.
A large closet was revealed.
It appeared to be filled with
tropical clothes OF different
sorts that were on hangers and
neatly folded on shelves. A
light mattress was rolled and
secured in one of the closet
corners, and there was an array
of shoes. A pungent spicy
smell of camphor and sandal
and eucalyptus emerged.
THAT is where I stow my
wearing gear" said the doctor.
"You see, young friends, this
island is for me like one Of the
camps of you American mil"
lionaires. run out here for a
week, a month, as my affairs
permit. I am direktor-super"
intendent whatever you
choose to call it Of our
shipping agencies all round the
Caribbean. make tours Of in
spection in my express cruiser
yacht. Now that trade Is dull
I am trying to work out some
old.fashioned scheme OF barter
to revive it. AS soon as I can
find the right man to replace
me for the next year or two I
shall return to Holland and
take up the plan with my com"
pany."
Linda, behind him and beside
Jerome, asked smoothly: Just
what sort Of a man do you
need, DR.. Van Dieman"
"What Sort?" He turned and
his cobalt eyes looked deeply
into her cool grey ones. 40,
I need a man who knows ships
and port conditions and trade
and WHO knows not only the
Spanish language but Spanish
methods, and who can trans
late Llanana into P. D. Q. I
need a man who knows how
to give orders as well as to
obey them, and who may be
able to combine high-preSSure
activity with reasonable pa
tience. Most Of all, he must be
a man of principles that are
backed by tradition-in other
words, a gentleman. But his
principles must still be Of an
elasticity that may enable him
to function honestly and at the
same time not giving offense to
people whose ideas Of honesty
are tel-.peramental, and whose
code of honor is curiously com"
plicated with what is felt to
be their just ard proper per-
quiSite."