The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 114: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

584 care of himself, he can, you know. What did he say?” And Oakes read: “T have gone ashore to try my luck alone for what we came for. Say nothing to any one about it. I will be back in thirty-six hours. Good luck. . “ HEMINGWAY.” There was not another word, and Oakes, suddenly remembering the warning in the note to say nothing of the errand which had taken Heming- way ashore, crumpled up the paper and thrust it in his pocket as he said “Good night” and, stumbling sleepily down the ladder, found the way to his berth. CHAPTER V. THE musical tinkle of six _ bells from the mast brought Oakes back to consciousness. He lazily verified the time by his watch, and went out upon the deck where he found Marjorie awaiting him. She was dressed for shore, and she was plainly greatly dis- appointed when he said: “T think, Miss Marjorie, that if I were you I would defer my visit to the city until this afternoon—at least do not go this morning—’”’ “Tf you advise me not to go ashore this morning of course I will take your advice, but do you object to telling me why you think I had better not go?”’ “Certainly I will tell you. After all it is a purely selfish reason. You see we have reason to believe that the authorities ashore know that we have had the plague on board. ‘Everything depends upon my get- ting these eight hundred coolies ashore in Chenampho. Apparently the Japanese authorities are helping us all they can because it 1s a government contract that we have. Innes says he is sure there .is some other influence at work. “We know that the labor unions have taken the matter up. You know THE ARGOSY. that Japan has a nominal protectorate over Korea, and of course every one in the East knows that Russia watched Japan in Korea as a cat watches a mouse—in short I am to meet the officials at nine o’clock. Would you mind very much waiting on board till I come for you? I will as soon as I have seen my men.” “Of course I will wait for you. I have plenty of books.”’ So Marjorie ensconced herself in a long deck-chair after breakfast while Innes and Oakes had themselves rowed ashore and went to the Grand Hotel where they sent their names in by the boy. After being left for a long half hour to cool their heels in the hotel, they were taken to an up-stairs office where they found their two visitors of the night before. Colonel Itasura was seated at a flat-topped desk and the other, the smaller of the two Japanese, stood near the window that overlooked the shipping and the bay. ““ Ah—Meester Oakes is it nod? I am ver’ hoppee saar to say that I see you good,’ and the little civilian beamed at him from _ behind his glasses. The soldier half rose from his chair and bowed formally, saying in precise English: | | “Am I right, sir, in assuming that you speak French? ” Oakes bowed. “Then, sir, with your permission, we will transact our business in that language as I do not speak English sufficiently well to carry on a business conversation in that witty and learned language.” Then rapidly shifting his chair and his tone he went on in _French: “How many coolies have you brought on board the steamer, Mr. Oakes? ”’ “We have eight hundred and ten, sir. We shipped eight hundred and nineteen.”’ “Where are the other nine?” “ Died at sea.”’ “Of what?” COMicdoo S CO@