The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-02-13

i
practical objection" he said; 'but
isn't this notion just slightly on the
silly side? You can hardly expect"
He started to say something more,
but let it pass; then bowed with
exasperating courtesy, and walked
away.
When he was gone she sat quietly
a little while, trying to relax. Pres
emily she turned her chair a little so
that she could look into the shadows
where Tonga Dick sat, three tables
away, alone in the obscurity of palm
shadows. She still could not clearly
see his face, but she focused upon
the coal of his cigarette, and waited.
She let her eyes rest there almost
to the limit of endurance; then
smiled family, and returned her at
tention to the dance floor.
Tonga Dick stood up, wound his
way to her table. He laid hand
on the back of the chair where John
Colt had sat.
'May II"
perhaps, if you wish"
Richard Wayne sat down, crossed
his knees comfortably, and took his
time about lighting cigarette. Kar-
en- waited, determined to make him
lead the way; but she watched him
curiously, with a sharp interest that
was partly caused by his name
alone. In the world she knew, you
could no more be called Tonga Dick,
in seriousness, than you could be
called Red-Handed Harry, or Terri
BILE Pete. Had she had no other
relationship to this man than that OF
a casual tourist, she still would have
stared, just because of the name he
was called.
Tonga Dick surveyed her slowly.
with grave eyes. "You wanted to
see me?"
Richard Wayne watched with adj
miration the perfect serenity of Kar-
ems poise as she turned little, and
coolly met his eye.
She was much more interesting to
look at from across table, he de-
cided, than from across a number
of them. Yet he had noticed her in
the first moment in which he had
stepped upon the lanai. That, of
course, was the reason he knew who
she was. He had landed but few
hours before, and had no more than
shaken hands with his brothers;
there were no means by which he
could have identified Karen Water
son, If he had not noticed her and
been interested Of his own accord.
From the shadows of his obscure
table at the edge Of the lanai he had
watched her for some time for no
other reason than that it gave him
pleasure to look at her.
After little while he had signaled
a table captain and asked who the
girl was-and had obtained cor
rect answer.
Knowing who she was, it was odd
to be sitting at the same table with
her now. This was the girl who had
come here from the mainland to lay
claim to the island of Alakoa, the
little stronghold in the sea which no
one but a Wayne had held for more
than two decades.
1t seemed to him that Karen Wa
terson did not look the part. He
couldn't understand how anyone
with face like that, and eyes like
that, could get herself hooked UP
with shenanigan that differed from
a common swindle only in the bold
ness Of its scope.
eff hadn't wanted you here" she
said, you'd hardly be here, would
your"
'tAnd so?"
$50 nothing. I wanted you to
come and sit here because I think
you look romantic. And think you
might introduce yourself, now"
my name is Richard Wayne" he
said. ST belong here in the Islands.
More specifically, am connected
with small privately owned island
called Alakoa."
He watched for her reaction, and
was fooled again; for no reaction
came.
.'That certainly is very interest
ing" Karen Waterson said. II
wish ! were an Islander"
Perhaps" he suggested, ''you
would like to tell me who you are"
my name," Karen improvised,
sis Katie Higgins-something - a
white girl from about four miles
south Of Dubuque. / teach school
some place, and think ! would like
to get In the movies"
81 should have said," Dick conn
mented, ''that you were from San
Francisco" She glanced at him
sharply, but he added, Hawaii is
q kind Of q crossroads; people from
every part of the world come
through here, sooner or later, SO
that If you live in the Islands you get
to recognize infections Of speech"
"Oh."
"They raise very good looking
girls in San Francisco" Dick said.
ut must be q wonderful thing to
own your own island" Karen said.