Evening star., 1936-08-30

There was something about the as
pect of the island. under full day;
something in the silence of the enorm-
GUS dusky waringin trees, the malig-
nant shine of the innumerable, eye
Bright mangrove leaflets, that even
Greed, that toughened wanderer, felt
to be oppressive. In Brisbane City,
he thought, you don't believe in devils,
in people and places possessed by evil
spirits. Here you - almost - do.
Richilda greeted him on the marble
steps of the terrace. Her dazzling fair
ness was set off by a frock of pale green
silk. her wondrous hair srnoothed and
plated in long braids about her head.
There were bracelets on her arms, and
a necklace of pearls about her neck
that caused Greed to gasp not once,
but twice - first because the neck
was almost the exact color of the
pearls. and second, because the pearls
were priceless. Kept some of her
clothes and jewels here, did she?
Not the first time she had been to the
island but the first time she had been
caught.
She now stood before him, saying,
'How are you?" and. Twill you have
coffee?' and other words that were
just words and didn't matter; nothing
mattered but the flowing. fragrant
beauty of her, the look of her that was
like a magic flower. Soft, soft as a
flower. he thought; maybe as easily
plucked - but sweet. :.
He was answering her. saying that
yes, thanks. he would like coffee, and
all the time he was thinking - the
Islands, the Islands; the enchanted
world of Insulinde; there's no time
here; it is as if I had known her a CEN
tury. She doesn't know it, he thought,
but when she forgets Joris, who is
dead, and the husband who isn't, she
might we'll love me.
They had finished their coffee. The
sun was getting high, and now there
came, on the flags of the stoop, the
humping of Barrett's heavy feet; the
sound Of his voice through the door:
Breakfast? I'm as hungry as
pardon me, Madame, l didn't see
YOU"
He seemed dispirited; with diff
Guilty he reused himself enough to
turn the pretty phrases that. evidently
he considered to be Richilda's due.
Seen anyone?" Greed asked him.
delivering at the same time warning
with his eyes, lest Barrett should talk
too much
THE Malay girl" Barrett bluntly
said. ''is gone"
"Lilin?'' said Richilda on a high
note Of dismay.
THAT her name? You know herr"
II do not know her," Richilda said
proudly. 81 have heard the name. She
is a wife of - plantation jonees, and
a bad girl. Where have you seen her?
"In a canoe. Getting into it and
making hell-for-leather to somewhere
else"
'.She has been here?"
''You have it. Slept in the swamp, I
reckon, and -" Creed's toe came
down on Barrett's foot, and silenced
him.
81 suppose" Creed said quickly,
not looking at Barrett, ''the crocodile
frightened her away. That must have
been what frightened you"
The woman's long hands played
nervously with the palm-leaf fan they
held. "Lilin is very beautiful, for a
Malay" she said. But -"
my OATH" Barrett broke in. "She's
a bonzerl''
Bonner, I do not know. She is a
sorceress. She has been known to kill.
And she has made spells - on white
men, white men far above her,"
Richilda's silver-blonde head was
carried very high, as she spoke.
1t came upon Creed then, with utter
certaintv- that whatever the intentions