The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-03-27

MANY tNlugS tudt actually nap"
pen are difficult to imagine. Who
would have imagined, for example,
that the granddaughter Of Garrett
Waterson would turn up on my boat
wearing false whiskers? Yet I give
you my word, John, that is exactly
what she did,"
Neither Karen nor John Colt
seemed entertained.
81 see the American ambassador
to Japan" Dick said; land some
tobacco company boys, going out to
their stations in China; and quite a
sprinkling of movie stars from Hol-
lywood; and gentleman who cut
a throat in Singapore, to my posi-
tive knowledge"
"You are pretty well acquainted"
John Colt inquired suavely, "among
cutthroats?"
"Only among those indigenous to
the Pacific. l also see here half
dozen gentlemen that / cannot quite
place. A few years ago would
have said that they were American
financiers of the hit-loot-and-run
type. I had understood that condi-
tons on the mainland were no long
er favorable to those types"
sYou seem well informed"
ssThis is crossroads" Dick said.
"You get perspective upon both
sides of the Pacific from here. But
/ still can't make out those wan
dering financiers. OIL get it now.
Since they have been smoked out
of the mainland, naturally quite a
few of them would come here, Of
course. Fugitive empire builders,
by Godl John, see you are not
alone"
sI?"
Naturally" Dick said pleasantly,
stquite a few Of your type are here
already, looking around to see If
anything is lying loose. I must say,
John, that your plans seem better
thought out than most. I'm afraid
that you are the type that thinks
things through. Your prospects look
excellent, John, from the outside"
"I'm inclined to think so myself, :"
John Colt said.
Would you say that your chances
are worth one hundred thousand dol
lars, John?"
Only the faintest suggestion Of
contempt showed in John Colts eyes
as he smiled. ''Have your brothers
authorized you to make that offer?"
81 haven't seen them," Dick ad-
mitted; ''they have already gone
back to Alakoa. However, think
you will find it necessary to deal
with me. I'm afraid I can't let you
dicker with my brothers. They're
much too easy to cheat"
''And am afraid" John Colt said,
his voice so modulated that in the
general din of the lanai Dick had al
most to read his lips, 'that I'm not
interested in dickering with either
you or your brothers"
''You definitely refuse one hundred
thousand?"
..I'm sorry"
Perhaps you'd care to make q
counter offer?" ss
'sI'm sorry" Colt said again.
< Tonga Dick Wayne looked at Kar-
en- Waterson for full minute, and
his frivolous manner dropped away.
Twice Karen met his eyes, but both
times dropped hers again. Dick
Wayne was looking at her with a
real and unaffected regret.
Zone proposition more, Colt" he
said, "and this is my last. One
hundred thousand dollars to you, and
one-third share in Alakoa to Miss
Waterson."
Miss Waterson," Colt said, sis
not interested in any proposition at
all"
.'Karen," Tonga Dick said, s.you
have just heard the end Of your Pa
ciic adventure"
John Colts face was hard and Sc
rious, but there was q CLINT of in
tense satisfaction in his eyes which
he could not repress.
Don't let him worry you," he
said softly to Karen. He's shown
his hand-and. it's just as I said.
The Waynes haven't hope in the
world. That's exactly why there
has never been any reason for COM
promise, from the first. Unless they
knew they were beaten, they would
offer no compromise at ALL"
Dick Wayne emptied his glass,
snapped it down upon the table, and
pushed back his chair. I'm see you
in q couple Of days." he said to Kar-
en-, con Alakoa."
That surprised an answer out Of
her. "Alakoa? We're not coming to
Alakoa."
ssOh, yes, you are. Or at least he
is. He'll probably want to bring you
along" He turned to John Colt. 1.-THE
offers made, I made on my own
hook. |" be said. ''They are now with
drawn. But I'll tell you why ] made
them--it may interest you very
much