The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-02-06

OF tneSe lSianuS yours hHNeM.
1--WE don't know that" Karen
said. 81 don't believe he ever even
heard was alive. Oh, what shock
ing deprivation!"
''EIe undoubtedly did not know you
were alive, = Colt agreed. "If he
had known 1t, he would never have
let them get his island away from
him. He would have saved it for you.
A lonely old man, with no kin left
80 far as he knew-it's reasonable
that he should be reckless with his
property; and undoubtedly he was
very hard beset when he sold Ala
koa. But il Garrett Waterson had
known he had a granddaughter,
things would be different now"
She looked at him gratefully. It
was hard to imagine John Colt fall
ing in anything; and this, rather
than his smile, with its easy, super
fetal warmth, conveyed certain
reinsurance to Karen.
81 have been very fortunate in
finding out what we needed to
know" John Colt said now. "Some
Of it has cost little money, but not
too much. I'm glad to say that all
reports are extremely favorable. We
have dug up more witnesses, and
more conclusive testimony that we
could possibly have hoped. And
when it comes to the present condi-
ton Of your island"
SIT isn't my island yet"
"You simply have to hold in mind
that it is rightfully yours. And it's
going to be yours in actuality. Your
claim has wealth of legal prece-
dent here, principally because of the
white mans habit of separating the
natives from their things. What
started to say is that the Alakoa
plantations are in wonderful shape
II don't see how they can possibly
net less than forty or fifty thousand
year. There will be no trouble at
all in financing continuance Of ac-
tivity, without any hitch, as soon as
you take over. Old James Wayne
has evidently been an excellent
manager. After you have taken pos
session, it may prove wise to en-
ploy him as such. That would be
feasible with some men-I don't
know whether or not it will be pos
sible with James Wayne"
The driving energy behind John
Colt never caused him to hurry, nor
to stumble. He knew how to attack
swiftly, but his plan of attack was
always thorough to the last detail.
81 have not the least doubt" he
told Karen,x ''that we'll win your
case. OF course there will be sew
eral appeals. But ! am now con-
WINGED that in the end Alakoa will
be yours, just as inevitably as sum
rise. Very little is left to be DONE"
Karen drew a deep breath, trying
to contemplate nationally this in
credible dream in which she, UNI
accountably, found herself playing
living part. re
''The one thing I would like to
know now is just what this Richard
Wayne, this so-called Tonga Dick,
is doing here"
"He's one of the brothers, isn't
he? Isn't it natural that he should
come back under the-the circum-
stances?"
Possibly; but not necessarily.
Richard Wayne may or may not ex-
pect to inherit part interest in the
island of Alakoa. Certainly he has
been at outs with his whole family
for some time. ] would like to know
exactly why he is here"
"But if our case is complete"
"One thing could beat us, and
break our case completely, and lose
you Alakoa forever. One thing, and
only one thing"
"And that?" KS
"If you don't mind, I'd rather not
discuss that angle of it, even with
YOU"
His eyes did not avoid her as he
said that; his practiced air of can
dor remained imperturbable. Never
theless, small unwelcome chill
touched Karen. A shadow of some
thing very like unpleasant mystery
was beginning to creep into situa-
ton that was already disturbing.
SIT must be something pretty poi
sonous," she said.
ION the contrary, it is contin-
gency that think improbable in the
extreme. I think it is impossible
that we lose. But I still would like
to know more about Richard
Wayne"
'Why wouldn't it be a dandy
idea," Karen said hopefully, 'for me
to talk it over with Tonga Richard
himself?"
"For you to--what?"
"Ask him why he's here"
'Are you being funny?"
"Well, isn't he the only one who
knows?"
"Ha-ha," said John Colt dutifully.
mistaking his cue.
ST mean it, john" Karen said. Il
suppose Richard Wayne's brothers
know what look like, by this time.
Ra,f TONGA Dick has lust arrived: