earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第9节

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　After　a　time；　he　sought　the　smoking…room。　It　was　deserted；　but　on　one　of　the　tables　lay　a　copy　of　the　Boston　Transcript。　Delighted；　John　Quincy　pounced　upon　it；　as　Robinson　Crusoe　might　have　pounced　on　news　from　home。
　The　issue　was　ten　days　old；　but　no　matter。　He　turned　at　once　to　the　financial　pages。　There　it　was；　like　the　face　of　a　well…beloved　friend；　the　record　of　one　day's　trading　on　the　Stock　Exchange。　And　up　in　one　corner；　the　advertisement　of　his　own　banking　house；　offering　an　issue　of　preferred　stock　in　a　Berkshire　cotton　mill。　He　read　eagerly；　but　with　an　odd　detached　feeling。　He　was　gone；　gone　from　that　world；　away　out　here　on　a　black　ocean　bound　for　picture…book　islands。　Islands　where；　not　so　long　ago；　brown　tribes　had　battled；　brown　kings　ruled。　There　seemed　no　link　with　that　world　back　home；　those　gay…colored　streamers　of　confetti　breaking　so　readily　had　been　a　symbol。　He　was　adrift。　What　sort　of　port　would　claim　him　in　the　end？
　He　threw　the　paper　down。　The　Reverend　Mr。　Upton　entered　the　smoking…room。
　〃I　left　my　newspaper　here；〃　he　explained。　〃Ah　…　did　you　care　to　look　at　it？〃
　〃Thank　you；　I　have；〃　John　Quincy　told　him。
　The　old　man　picked　it　up　in　a　great　bony　hand。　〃I　always　buy　a　Transcript　when　I　get　the　chance；〃　he　said。　〃It　carries　me　back。　You　know；　I　was　born　in　Salem；　over　seventy　years　ago。〃
　John　Quincy　stared　at　him。　〃You've　been　a　long　time　out　here？〃　he　asked。
　〃More　than　fifty　years　in　the　foreign　field；〃　answered　the　old　man。　〃I　was　one　of　the　first　to　go　to　the　South　Seas。　One　of　the　first　to　carry　the　torch　down　there　…　and　a　dim　torch　it　was；　I'm　afraid。　Afterward　I　was　transferred　to　China。〃　John　Quincy　regarded　him　with　a　new　interest。　〃By　the　way；　sir；〃　the　missionary　continued；　〃I　once　met　another　gentleman　named　Winterslip。　Mr。　Daniel　Winterslip。〃
　〃Really？〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃He's　a　cousin　of　mine。　I'm　to　visit　him　in　Honolulu。〃
　〃Yes？　I　heard　he　had　returned　to　Hawaii；　and　prospered。　I　met　him　just　once　…　in　the　'eighties；　it　was；　on　a　lonely　island　in　the　Gilbert　group。　It　was　…　rather　a　turning　point　in　his　life；　and　I　have　never　forgotten。〃　John　Quincy　waited　to　hear　more；　but　the　old　missionary　moved　away。　〃I'll　go　and　enjoy　my　Transcript；〃　he　smiled。　〃The　church　news　is　very　petently　handled。〃
　John　Quincy　rose　and　went　aimlessly　outside。　A　dreary　scene；　the　swish　of　turbulent　waters；　dim　figures　aimless　as　himself；　an　occasional　ship's　officer　hurrying　by。　His　stateroom　opened　directly　on　the　deck　and　he　sank　into　a　steamer　chair　just　outside　the　door。
　In　the　distance　he　saw　his　room　steward；　weaving　his　way　in　and　out　of　the　cabins　under　his　care。　The　man　was　busy　with　his　last　duties　for　the　night；　refilling　water　carafes；　laying　out　towels；　putting　things　generally　to　rights。
　〃Evening；　sir；〃　he　said　as　he　entered　John　Quincy's　room。　Presently　he　came　and　stood　in　the　door；　the　cabin　light　at　his　back。　He　was　a　small　man　with　gold…rimmed　eye…glasses　and　a　fierce　gray　pompadour。
　〃Everything　O。K。；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Yes；　Bowker；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃Everything's　fine。〃
　〃That's　good；〃　said　Bowker。　He　switched　off　the　cabin　light　and　stepped　out　on　to　the　deck。　〃I　aim　to　take　particular　care　of　you；　sir。　Saw　your　home　town　on　the　sailing　list。　I'm　an　old　Boston　man　myself。〃
　〃Is　that　so？〃　said　John　Quincy　cordially。　Evidently　the　Pacific　was　a　Boston　suburb。
　〃Not　born　there；　I　don't　mean；〃　the　man　went　on。　〃But　a　newspaper　man　there　for　ten　years。　It　was　just　after　I　left　the　University。〃
　John　Quincy　started　through　the　dark。　〃Harvard？〃　he　asked。
　〃Dublin；〃　said　the　steward。　〃Yes；　sir　…〃　He　laughed　an　embarrassed　little　laugh。　〃You　might　not　think　it　now；　but　the　University　of　Dublin；　Class　of　1901。　And　after　that；　for　ten　years；　working　in　Boston　on　the　Gazette　…　reporting；　copy　desk；　managing　editor　for　a　time。　Maybe　I　bumped　into　you　there　…　at　the　Adams　House　bar；　say；　on　a　night　before　a　football　game。〃
　〃Quite　possible；〃　admitted　John　Quincy。　〃One　bumped　into　so　many　people　on　such　occasions。〃
　〃Don't　I　know　it？〃　Mr。　Bowker　leaned　on　the　rail；　in　reminiscent　mood。　〃Great　times；　sir。　Those　were　the　good　old　days　when　a　newspaper　man　who　wasn't　tanked　up　was　a　reproach　to　a　grand　profession。　The　Gazette　was　edited　mostly　from　a　place　called　the　Arch　Inn。　We'd　bring　our　copy　to　the　city　editor　there　…　he　had　a　regular　table　…　a　bit　sloppy　on　top；　but　his　desk。　If　we　had　a　good　story；　maybe　he'd　stand　us　a　cocktail。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。
　〃Happy　days；〃　continued　the　Dublin　graduate；　with　a　sigh。　〃I　knew　every　bartender　in　Boston　well　enough　to　borrow　money。　Were　you　ever　in　that　place　in　the　alley　back　of　the　Tremont　Theater　…　？〃
　〃Tim's　place；〃　suggested　John　Quincy；　recalling　an　incident　of　college　days。
　〃Yeah；　bo。　Now　you're　talking。　I　wonder　what　became　of　Tim。　Say；　and　there　was　that　place　on　Boylston　…　but　they're　all　gone　now；　of　course。　An　old　pal　I　met　in　'Frisco　was　telling　me　it　would　break　your　heart　to　see　the　cobwebs　on　the　mirrors　back　in　Beantown。　Gone　to　the　devil；　just　like　my　profession。　The　newspapers　go　on　consolidating；　doubling　up；　bining　the　best　features　of　both；　and　an　army　of　good　men　go　on　the　town。　Good　men　and　true；　moaning　about　the　vanished　days　and　maybe　landing　in　jobs　like　this　one　of　mine。〃　He　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃Well；　sir；　anything　I　can　do　for　you　…　as　a　mutual　friend　of　Tim's　…〃
　〃As　a　friend　of　Tim's；〃　smiled　John　Quincy；　〃I'll　not　hesitate　to　mention　it。〃
　Sadly　Bowker　went　on　down　the　deck。　John　Quincy　sat　lonely　again。　A　couple　passed；　walking　close；　talking　in　low　tones。　He　recognized　Jennison　and　his　cousin。　〃Between　us　we　ought　to　be　able　to　keep　this　young　woman　entertained；〃　Jennison　had　said。　Well；　John　Quincy　reflected；　his　portion　of　the　entertainment　promised　to　be　small。
　
　CHAPTER　V　
　The　Blood　Of　The　Winterslips
　
　THE　DAYS　that　followed　proved　that　he　was　right。　He　seldom　had　a　moment　alone　with　Barbara。　When　he　did；　Jennison　seemed　always　to　be　hovering　near　by；　and　he　did　not　long　delay　making　the　group　a　threesome。　At　first　John　Quincy　resented　this；　but　gradually　he　began　to　feel　that　it　didn't　matter。
　Nothing　appeared　to　matter　any　more。　A　great　calm　had　settled　over　the　waters　and　over　John　Quincy's　soul。　The　Pacific　was　one　vast　sheet　of　glass；　growing　a　deeper　blue　with　every　passing　hour。　They　seemed　to　be　floating　in　space　in　a　world　where　nothing　ever　happened；　nothing　could　happen。　Quiet　restful　days　gave　way　to　long　brilliant　nights。　A　little　walk；　a　little　talk；　and　that　was　life。
　Sometimes　John　Quincy　chatted　with　Madame　Maynard　on　the　deck。　She　who　had　known　the　Islands　so　many　years　had　fascinating　tales　to　tell；　tales　of　the　monarchy　and　the　missionaries。　The　boy　liked　her　immensely；　she　was　a　New　Englander　at　heart　despite　her　glamourous　lifetime　in　Hawaii。
　Bowker；　too；　he　found　excellent　pany。　The　steward　was　that　rarity　even　among　college　graduates；　an　educated　man；　there　was　no　topic　upon　which　he　could　not　discourse　at　length　and　brilliantly。　In　John　Quincy's　steamer　trunk　were　a　number　of　huge　imposing　volumes　…　books　he　had　been　meaning　to　tackle　long　ago；　but　it　was　Bowker　who　read　them；　not　John　Quincy。
　As　the　days　slipped　by；　the　blue　of　the　water　deepened　to　ultramarine；　the　air　grew　heavier　and　warmer。　Underfoot　throbbed　the　engines　that　were　doing　their　best　for　Barbara　and　an　early　landing。　The　captain　was　optimistic；　he　predicted　they　would　make　port　late　Monday　afternoon。　But　Sunday　night　a　fierce　sudden　storm　swept　down　upon　them；　and　lashed　the　ship　with　a　wet　fury　until　dawn。　When　the　captain　appeared　at　luncheon　Monday　noon；　worn　by　a　night　on　the　bridge；　he　shook　his　head。
　〃We've　lost　our　bet；　Miss　Barbara；〃　he　said。　〃I　can't　possibly　arrive　off　Honolulu　before　midnight。〃
　Barbara　frowned。　〃But　ships　sail　at　any　hour；〃　she　reminded　him。　〃I　don't　see　why　…　if　we　sent　radios　ahead　…〃
　〃No　use；〃　he　told　her。　〃The　Quarantine　people　keep　early　hours。　No；　I'll　have　to　lay　by　near　the　channel　entrance　until　official　sunrise　…　about　six。　We'll　get　in　ahead　of　the　Matsonia　in　the　morning。　That's　the　best　I　can　offer　you。〃
　〃You're　a　dear；　anyhow；〃　Barbara　smiled。　〃That　old　storm　wasn't　your　fault。　We'll　drown　our　sorrow　to…night　with　one　last　glorious　dance　…　a　costume　party。〃　She　turned　to　Jennison。　〃I've　got　the　loveliest　fancy　dress　…　Marie　Antoinette　…　I　wore　it　at　college。　What　do　you　say；　Harry？〃
　〃Fine！〃　Jennison　answered。　〃We　can　all　dig　up　some　sort　of　costume。　Let's　go。〃
　Barbara　hurtled　off　to　spread　the　news。　After　dinner　that　evening　she　appeared；　a　blonde　vision　straight　from　the　French　Court；　avid　for　dancing。　Jennison　had　rigged　up　an　impromptu　pirate　dress；　and　was　a　striking　figure。　Most　of　the　other　passengers　had　donned　weird　outfits；　on　the　Pacific　boats　a　fancy　dress　party　is　warmly　weled　and　amusingly　carried　out。
　John　Quincy　took　small　part　in　the　gaiety；　for　he　still　suffered　from　New　England　inhibitions。　At　a　little　past　eleven　he　drifted　into　the　main　saloon　and　found　Madame　Maynard　seated　there　alone。
　〃Hello；〃　she　said。　〃e　to　keep　me　pany。　I've　sworn　not　to　go　to　bed　until　I　see　the　light　on　Diamond　Head。〃
　〃I'm　with　you；〃　John　Quincy　smiled。
　〃But　you