earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第7部分

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t　here。　Different！
　Beyond　shone　the　harbor　lights。　That　other　girl　…　wonderful　eyes　she　had。　Just　because　she　had　laughed　at　him；　his　treasured　hat　box　floated　now　forlorn　on　those　dark　waters。　He　yawned　again。　Better　be　careful。　Mustn't　be　so　easily　influenced。　No　telling　where　it　would　end。
　
　CHAPTER　IV　　
　A　Friend　Of　Tim's
　
　IT　WAS　another　of　those　mornings　on　which　the　fog　maybe　did　not　e。　Roger　and　his　guests　were　in　the　limousine　again；　it　seemed　to　John　Quincy　that　they　had　left　it　only　a　few　minutes　before。　So　it　must　have　seemed　to　the　chauffeur　too　as；　sleepy…eyed；　he　hurried　them　toward　the　water…front。
　〃By　the　way；　John　Quincy；〃　Roger　said；　〃you'll　want　to　change　your　money　before　you　go　aboard。〃
　John　Quincy　gathered　his　wandering　thoughts。　〃Oh；　yes；　of　course；〃　he　answered。
　Roger　smiled。　〃Just　what　sort　of　money　would　you　like　to　change　it　for？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Why　…〃　began　John　Quincy。　He　stopped。　〃Why；　I　always　thought　…〃
　〃Don't　pay　any　attention　to　Roger；〃　Barbara　laughed。　〃He's　spoofing　you。〃　She　was　fresh　and　blooming；　a　little　matter　like　three　A。M。　made　no　difference　to　her。　〃Only　about　one　person　out　of　a　thousand　in　this　country　knows　that　Hawaii　is　a　part　of　the　United　States；　and　the　fact　annoys　us　deeply　over　in　the　Islands。　Dear　old　Roger　was　trying　to　get　you　in　wrong　with　me　by　enrolling　you　among　the　nine　hundred　and　ninety…nine。〃
　〃Almost　did　it；　too；〃　chuckled　Roger。
　〃Nonsense；〃　said　Barbara。　〃John　Quincy　is　too　intelligent。　He's　not　like　that　congressman　who　wrote　a　letter　to　the　American　Consul　at　Honolulu。〃
　〃Did　one　of　them　do　that？〃　smiled　John　Quincy。
　〃He　certainly　did。　We　almost　gave　up　the　struggle　after　that。　Then　there　was　the　senator　who　came　out　on　a　junket；　and　began　a　speech　with：　'When　I　get　home　to　my　country　…'　Some　one　in　the　audience　shouted：　'You're　there　now；　you　big　stiff！'　It　wasn't　elegant；　of　course；　but　it　expressed　our　feeling　perfectly。　Oh；　we're　touchy；　John　Quincy。〃
　〃Don't　blame　you　a　bit；〃　he　told　her。　〃I'll　very　careful　what　I　say。〃
　They　had　reached　the　Embarcadero；　and　the　car　halted　before　one　of　the　piers。　The　chauffeur　descended　and　began　to　gather　up　the　baggage。　Roger　and　John　Quincy　took　a　share　of　it；　and　they　traversed　the　pier…shed　to　the　gangplank。
　〃Get　along　to　your　office；　Roger；〃　Barbara　said。
　〃No　hurry；〃　he　answered。　〃I'll　go　aboard　with　you；　of　course。〃
　Amid　the　confusion　of　the　deck；　a　party　of　girls　swept　down　on　Barbara；　pretty　lively　girls　of　the　California　brand。　John　Quincy　learned　with　some　regret　that　they　were　there　only　to　see　Barbara　off。　A　big　broad…shouldered　man　in　white　pushed　his　way　through　the　crowd。
　〃Hello　there！〃　he　called　to　Barbara。
　〃Hello；　Harry；〃　she　answered。　〃You　know　Roger；　don't　you？　John　Quincy；　this　is　an　old　friend　of　mine；　Harry　Jennison。〃
　Mr。　Jennison　was　extremely　good…looking；　his　face　was　deeply　tanned　by　the　Island　sun；　his　hair　blond　and　wavy；　his　gray　eyes　amused　and　cynical。　Altogether；　he　was　the　type　of　man　women　look　at　twice　and　never　forget；　John　Quincy　felt　himself　at　once　supplanted　in　the　eyes　of　Barbara's　friends。
　Jennison　seized　the　boy's　hand　in　a　firm　grip。　〃Sailing　too；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃　he　inquired。　〃That's　good。　Between　us　we　ought　to　be　able　to　keep　this　young　woman　entertained。〃
　The　shore　call　sounded；　and　the　confusion　increased。　Along　the　deck　came　a　little　old　lady；　followed　by　a　Chinese　woman　servant。　They　walked　briskly；　and　the　crowd　gave　way　before　them。
　〃Hello　…　this　is　luck；〃　cried　Roger。　〃Madame　Maynard　…　just　a　moment。　I　want　you　to　meet　a　cousin　of　mine　from　Boston。〃　He　introduced　John　Quincy。　〃I　give　him　into　your　charge。　Couldn't　find　a　better　guide；　philosopher　and　friend　for　him　if　I　bed　the　Islands。〃
　The　old　lady　glanced　at　John　Quincy。　Her　black　eyes　snapped。　〃Another　Winterslip；　eh？〃　she　said。　〃Hawaii's　all　cluttered　up　with　'em　now。　Well；　the　more　the　merrier。　I　know　your　aunt。〃
　〃Stick　close　to　her；　John　Quincy；〃　Roger　admonished。
　She　shook　her　head。　〃I'm　a　million　years　old；〃　she　protested。　〃The　boys　don't　stick　so　close　any　more。　They　like　'em　younger。　However；　I'll　keep　my　eye　on　him。　My　good　eye。　Well；　Roger；　run　over　some　time。〃　And　she　moved　away。
　〃A　grand　soul；〃　said　Roger；　smiling　after　her。　〃You'll　like　her。　Old　missionary　family；　and　her　word's　law　over　there。〃
　〃Who's　this　Jennison？〃　asked　John　Quincy。
　〃Him？〃　Roger　glanced　over　to　where　Mr。　Jennison　stood；　the　center　of　an　admiring　feminine　group。　〃Oh；　he's　Dan's　lawyer。　One　of　the　leading　citizens　of　Honolulu；　I　believe。　John　J。　Adonis　himself；　isn't　he？〃　An　officer　appeared；　herding　the　reluctant　throng　toward　the　gangplank。　〃I'll　have　to　leave　you；　John　Quincy。　A　pleasant　journey。　When　you　e　through　on　your　way　home；　give　me　a　few　more　days　to　try　to　convince　you　on　my　San　Francisco　offer。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃You've　been　mighty　kind。〃
　〃Not　at　all。〃　Roger　shook　his　hand　warmly。　〃Take　care　of　yourself　over　there。　Hawaii's　a　little　too　much　like　Heaven　to　be　altogether　safe。　So　long；　my　boy；　so　long。〃
　He　moved　away。　John　Quincy　saw　him　kiss　Barbara　affectionately　and　with　her　friends　join　the　slow　procession　ashore。
　The　young　man　from　Boston　stepped　to　the　rail。　Several　hundred　voices　were　calling　admonitions；　promises；　farewells。　With　that　holiday　spirit　so　alien　to　John　Quincy's　experience；　those　ashore　were　throwing　confetti。　The　streamers　grew　in　number；　making　a　tangle　of　color；　a　last　frail　bond　with　the　land。　The　gangplank　was　taken　up；　clumsily　the　President　Tyler　began　to　draw　away　from　the　pier。　On　the　topmost　deck　a　band　was　playing　…　Aloha…oe；　the　sweetest；　most　melancholy　song　of　good…by　ever　written。　John　Quincy　was　amazed　to　feel　a　lump　rising　in　his　throat。
　The　frail；　gay…colored　bond　was　breaking　now。　A　thin　veined　hand　at　John　Quincy's　side　waved　a　handkerchief。　He　turned　to　find　Mrs。　Maynard。　There　were　tears　on　her　cheeks。
　〃Silly　old　woman；〃　she　said。　〃Sailed　away　from　this　town　a　hundred　and　twenty…eight　times。　Actual　count　…　I　keep　a　diary。　Cried　every　time。　What　about？　I　don't　know。〃
　The　ship　was　well　out　in　the　harbor　now。　Barbara　came　along；　Jennison　trailing　her。　The　girl's　eyes　were　wet。
　〃An　emotional　lot；　we　Islanders；〃　said　the　old　lady。　She　put　her　arm　about　the　girl's　slim　waist。　〃Here's　another　one　of　'em。　Living　way　off　the　way　we　do；　any　good…by　at　all　…　it　saddens　us。〃　She　and　Barbara　moved　on　down　the　deck。
　Jennison　stopped。　His　eyes　were　quite　dry。　〃First　trip　out？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　replied　John　Quincy。
　〃Hope　you'll　like　us；〃　Jennison　said。　〃Not　Massachusetts；　of　course；　but　we'll　do　our　best　to　make　you　feel　at　home。　It's　a　way　we　have　with　strangers。〃
　〃I'm　sure　I　shall　have　a　bully　time；〃　John　Quincy　remarked。　But　he　felt　somewhat　depressed。　Three　thousand　miles　from　Beacon　Street　…　and　moving　on！　He　waved　to　some　one　he　fancied　might　be　Roger　on　the　dock；　and　went　to　find　his　stateroom。
　He　learned　that　he　was　to　share　his　cabin　with　two　missionaries。　One　was　a　tall；　gloomy　old　man　with　a　lemon…colored　face　…　an　honored　veteran　of　the　foreign　field　named　Upton。　The　other　was　a　ruddy…cheeked　boy　whose　martyrdom　was　still　before　him。　John　Quincy　suggested　drawing　lots　for　a　choice　of　berths；　but　even　this　mild　form　of　gambling　appeared　distasteful　to　those　emissaries　of　the　church。
　〃You　boys　take　the　berths；〃　said　Upton。　〃Leave　me　the　couch。　I　don't　sleep　well　anyhow。〃　His　tone　was　that　of　one　who　prefers　to　suffer。
　John　Quincy　politely　objected。　After　further　discussion　it　was　settled　that　he　was　to　have　the　upper　berth；　the　old　man　the　lower；　and　the　boy　the　couch。　The　Reverend　Mr。　Upton　seemed　disappointed。　He　had　played　the　role　of　martyr　so　long　he　resented　seeing　any　one　else　in　the　part。
　The　Pacific　was　behaving　in　a　most　unfriendly　manner；　tossing　the　great　ship　about　as　though　it　were　a　piece　of　driftwood。　John　Quincy　decided　to　dispense　with　lunch；　and　spent　the　afternoon　reading　in　his　berth。　By　evening　he　felt　better；　and　under　the　watchful　and　somewhat　disapproving　eyes　of　the　missionaries；　arrayed　himself　carefully　for　dinner。
　His　name　being　Winterslip；　he　had　been　invited　to　sit　at　the　captain's　table。　He　found　Madame　Maynard；　serene　and　twinkling；　at　the　captain's　right；　Barbara　at　his　left；　and　Jennison　at　Barbara's　side。　It　appeared　that　oddly　enough　there　was　an　aristocracy　of　the　Islands；　and　John　Quincy；　while　he　thought　it　quaint　there　should　be　such　distinctions　in　an　outpost　like　Hawaii；　took　his　proper　place　as　a　matter　of　course。
　Mrs。　Maynard　chatted　brightly　of　her　many　trips　over　this　route。　Suddenly　she　turned　to　Barbara。　〃How　does　it　happen；　my　dear；〃　she　asked；　〃that　you're　not　on　the　college　boat？〃
　〃All　booked　up；〃　Barbara　explained。
　〃Nonsense；〃　said　the　frank　old　lady。　〃You　could　have　got　on。　But　then〃　…　she　looked　meaningly　toward　Jennison　…　〃I　presume　this　ship　was　not　without　its　attractions。〃
　The　girl　flushed　slightly　and　made　no　reply。
　〃What；〃　John　Quincy　inquired；　〃is　the　college　boat？〃
　〃So　many　children　from　Hawaii　at　school　on　the　mainland；〃　the　old　lady　explained；　〃that　every　June　around　this　time　they　practically　fill　a　ship。　We　call　it　the　college　boat。　This　year　it's　the　Matsonia。　She　left　San　Francisco　to…day　at　noon。〃
　〃I've　got　a　lot　of　friends　aboard　her；〃　Barbara　said。　〃I　do　wish　we　could　beat　her　in。　Captain；　what　are　the　chances？〃
　〃Well；　that　depends；〃　replied　the　captain　cautiously。
　〃She　isn't　due　until　Tuesday　morning；〃　Barbara　persisted。　〃Wouldn't　it　be　a　lark　if　you　could　land　us　the　night　before？　As　a　favor　to　me；　Captain。〃
　〃When　you　look　at　me　like　that；〃　smiled　the　officer；　〃I　can　only　say　that　I'll　make　a　supreme　effort。　I'm　just　as　eager　as　you　to　make　port　on　Monday　…　it　would　mean　I　could　get　off　to　the　Orient　that　much　sooner。〃
　〃Then　it's　settled；〃　Barbara　beamed。
　〃It's　settled　that　we'll　try；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course；　if　I　speed　up　there's　always　the　chance　I　may　arrive　off　Honolulu　after　sundown；　and　be　pelled　to　lay　by　until　morning。　That　would　be　torture　for　you。〃
　〃I'll　risk　it；〃　Barbara　smiled。　〃Wouldn't　dear　old　dad　be　pleased　if　I　should　burst　upon　his　vision　Monday　evening？〃
　〃My　dear　girl；〃　the　captain　said　gallantly；　〃any　man　would　be　plea