earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第1部分

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　Kona　Weather　
　
　MISS　MINERVA　WINTERSLIP　was　a　Bostonian　in　good　standing；　and　long　past　the　romantic　age。　Yet　beauty　thrilled　her　still；　even　the　semi…barbaric　beauty　of　a　Pacific　island。　As　she　walked　slowly　along　the　beach　she　felt　the　little　catch　in　her　throat　that　sometimes　she　had　known　in　Symphony　Hall；　Boston；　when　her　favorite　orchestra　rose　to　some　new　and　unexpected　height　of　loveliness。
　It　was　the　hour　at　which　she　liked　Waikiki　best；　the　hour　just　preceding　dinner　and　the　quick　tropic　darkness。　The　shadows　cast　by　the　tall　cocoanut　palms　lengthened　and　deepened；　the　light　of　the　falling　sun　flamed　on　Diamond　Head　and　tinted　with　gold　the　rollers　sweeping　in　from　the　coral　reef。　A　few　late　swimmers；　reluctant　to　depart；　dotted　those　waters　whose　touch　is　like　the　caress　of　a　lover。　On　the　springboard　of　the　nearest　float　a　slim　brown　girl　poised　for　one　delectable　instant。　What　a　figure！　Miss　Minerva；　well　over　fifty　herself；　felt　a　mild　twinge　of　envy　…　youth；　youth　like　an　arrow；　straight　and　sure　and　flying。　Like　an　arrow　the　slender　figure　rose；　then　fell；　the　perfect　dive；　silent　and　clean。
　Miss　Minerva　glanced　at　the　face　of　the　man　who　walked　beside　her。　But　Amos　Winterslip　was　oblivious　to　beauty；　he　had　made　that　the　first　rule　of　his　life。　Born　in　the　Islands；　he　had　never　known　the　mainland　beyond　San　Francisco。　Yet　there　could　be　no　doubt　about　it；　he　was　the　New　England　conscience　personified　…　the　New　England　conscience　in　a　white　duck　suit。
　〃Better　turn　back；　Amos；〃　suggested　Miss　Minerva。　〃Your　dinner's　waiting。　Thank　you　so　much。〃
　〃I'll　walk　as　far　as　the　fence；〃　he　said。　〃When　you　get　tired　of　Dan　and　his　carryings…on；　e　to　us　again。　We'll　be　glad　to　have　you。〃
　〃That's　kind　of　you；〃　she　answered；　in　her　sharp　crisp　way。　〃But　I　really　must　go　home。　Grace　is　worried　about　me。　Of　course；　she　can't　understand。　And　my　conduct　is　scandalous；　I　admit。　I　came　over　to　Honolulu　for　six　weeks；　and　I've　been　wandering　about　these　islands　for　ten　months。〃
　〃As　long　as　that？〃
　She　nodded。　〃I　can't　explain　it。　Every　day　I　make　a　solemn　vow　I'll　start　packing　my　trunks　…　to…morrow。〃
　〃And　to…morrow　never　es；〃　said　Amos。　〃You've　been　taken　in　by　the　tropics。　Some　people　are。〃
　〃Weak　people；　I　presume　you　mean；〃　snapped　Miss　Minerva。　〃Well；　I've　never　been　weak。　Ask　anybody　on　Beacon　Street。〃
　He　smiled　wanly。　〃It's　a　strain　in　the　Winterslips；〃　he　said。　〃Supposed　to　be　Puritans；　but　always　sort　of　yearning　toward　the　lazy　latitudes。〃
　〃I　know；〃　answered　Miss　Minerva；　her　eyes　on　that　exotic　shore　line。　〃It's　what　sent　so　many　of　them　adventuring　out　of　Salem　harbor。　Those　who　stayed　behind　felt　that　the　travelers　were　seeing　things　no　Winterslip　should　look　at。　But　they　envied　them　just　the　same　…　or　maybe　for　that　very　reason。〃　She　nodded。　〃A　sort　of　gypsy　strain。　It's　what　sent　your　father　over　here　to　set　up　as　a　whaler；　and　got　you　born　so　far　from　home。　You　know　you　don't　belong　here；　Amos。　You　should　be　living　in　Milton　or　Roxbury；　carrying　a　little　green　bag　and　popping　into　a　Boston　office　every　morning。〃
　〃I've　often　thought　it；〃　he　admitted。　〃And　who　knows　…　I　might　have　made　something　of　my　life　…〃
　They　had　e　to　a　barbed…wire　fence；　an　unaccustomed　barrier　on　that　friendly　shore。　It　extended　well　down　on　to　the　beach；　a　wave　rushed　up　and　lapped　the　final　post；　then　receded。
　Miss　Minerva　smiled。　〃Well；　this　is　where　Amos　leaves　off　and　Dan　begins；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　watch　my　chance　and　run　around　the　end。　Lucky　you　couldn't　build　it　so　it　moved　with　the　tide。〃
　〃You'll　find　your　luggage　in　your　room　at　Dan's；　I　guess；〃　Amos　told　her。　〃Remember　what　I　said　about　…〃　He　broke　off　suddenly。　A　stocky；　white…clad　man　had　appeared　in　the　garden　beyond　the　barrier；　and　was　moving　rapidly　toward　them。　Amos　Winterslip　stood　rigid　for　a　moment；　an　angry　light　flaming　in　his　usually　dull　eyes。　〃Good…by；〃　he　said；　and　turned。
　〃Amos！〃　cried　Miss　Minerva　sharply。　He　moved　on；　and　she　followed。　〃Amos；　what　nonsense！　How　long　has　it　been　since　you　spoke　to　Dan？〃
　He　paused　under　an　algaroba　tree。　〃Thirty…one　years；〃　he　said。　〃Thirty…one　years　the　tenth　of　last　August。〃
　〃That's　long　enough；〃　she　told　him。　〃Now；　e　around　that　foolish　fence　of　yours；　and　hold　out　your　hand　to　him。〃
　〃Not　me；〃　said　Amos。　〃I　guess　you　don't　know　Dan；　Minerva；　and　the　sort　of　life　he's　led。　Time　and　again　he's　dishonored　us　all　…〃
　〃Why；　Dan's　regarded　as　a　big　man；〃　she　protested。　〃He's　respected　…〃
　〃And　rich；〃　added　Amos　bitterly。　〃And　I'm　poor。　Yes；　that's　the　way　it　often　goes　in　this　world。　But　there's　a　world　to　e；　and　over　there　I　reckon　Dan's　going　to　get　his。〃
　Hardy　soul　though　she　was；　Miss　Minerva　was　somewhat　frightened　by　the　look　of　hate　on　his　thin　face。　She　saw　the　uselessness　of　further　argument。　〃Good…by；　Amos；〃　she　said。　〃I　wish　I　might　persuade　you　to　e　East　some　day　…〃　He　gave　no　sign　of　hearing；　but　hurried　along　the　white　stretch　of　sand。
　When　Miss　Minerva　turned；　Dan　Winterslip　was　smiling　at　her　from　beyond　the　fence。　〃Hello；　there；〃　he　cried。　〃e　this　side　of　the　wire　and　enjoy　life　again。　You're　mighty　wele。〃
　〃How　are　you；　Dan？〃　She　watched　her　chance　with　the　waves　and　joined　him。　He　took　both　her　hands　in　his。
　〃Glad　to　see　you；〃　he　said；　and　his　eyes　backed　him　up。　Yes；　he　did　have　a　way　with　women。　〃It's　a　bit　lonely　at　the　old　homestead　these　days。　Need　a　young　girl　about　to　brighten　things　up。〃
　Miss　Minerva　sniffed。　〃I've　tramped　Boston　in　galoshes　too　many　winters；〃　she　reminded　him；　〃to　lose　my　head　over　talk　like　that。〃
　〃Forget　Boston；〃　he　urged。　〃We're　all　young　in　Hawaii。　Look　at　me。〃
　She　did　look　at　him；　wonderingly。　He　was　sixty…three；　she　knew；　but　only　the　mass　of　wavy　white　hair　overhanging　his　temples　betrayed　his　age。　His　face；　burned　to　the　deepest　bronze　by　long　years　of　wandering　under　the　Polynesian　sun；　was　without　a　line　or　wrinkle。　Deep…chested　and　muscular；　he　could　have　passed　on　the　mainland　for　a　man　of　forty。
　〃I　see　my　precious　brother　brought　you　as　far　as　the　dead…line；〃　he　remarked　as　they　moved　on　through　the　garden。　〃Sent　me　his　love；　I　presume？〃
　〃I　tried　to　get　him　to　e　round　and　shake　hands；〃　Miss　Minerva　said。
　Dan　Winterslip　laughed。　〃Don't　deprive　poor　Amos　of　his　hate　for　me；〃　he　urged。　〃It's　about　all　he　lives　for　now。　es　over　every　night　and　stands　under　that　algaroba　tree　of　his；　smoking　cigarettes　and　staring　at　my　house。　Know　what　he's　waiting　for？　He's　waiting　for　the　Lord　to　strike　me　down　for　my　sins。　Well；　he's　a　patient　waiter；　I'll　say　that　for　him。〃
　Miss　Minerva　did　not　reply。　Dan's　great　rambling　house　of　many　rooms　was　set　in　beauty　almost　too　poignant　to　be　borne。　She　stood；　drinking　it　all　in　again；　the　poinciana　trees　like　big　crimson　umbrellas；　the　stately　golden　glow；　the　gigantic　banyans　casting　purple　shadows；　her　favorite　hau　tree；　seemingly　old　as　time　itself；　covered　with　a　profusion　of　yellow　blossoms。　Loveliest　of　all　were　the　flowering　vines；　the　bougainvillea　burying　everything　it　touched　in　brick…red　splendor。　Miss　Minerva　wondered　what　her　friends　who　every　spring　went　into　sedate　ecstasies　over　the　Boston　Public　Gardens　would　say　if　they　could　see　what　she　saw　now。　They　would　be　a　bit　shocked；　perhaps；　for　this　was　too　lurid　to　be　quite　respectable。　A　scarlet　background　…　and　a　fitting　one；　no　doubt；　for　Cousin　Dan。
　They　reached　the　door　at　the　side　of　the　house　that　led　directly　into　the　living…room。　Glancing　to　her　right；　Miss　Minerva　caught　through　the　lush　foliage　glimpses　of　the　iron　fence　and　tall　gates　that　fronted　on　Kalia　Road。　Dan　opened　the　door　for　her；　and　she　stepped　inside。　Like　most　apartments　of　its　sort　in　the　Islands；　the　living…room　was　walled　on　but　three　sides；　the　fourth　was　a　vast　expanse　of　wire　screening。　They　crossed　the　polished　floor　and　entered　the　big　hall　beyond。　Near　the　front　door　a　Hawaiian　woman　of　uncertain　age　rose　slowly　from　her　chair。　She　was　a　huge；　high…breasted；　dignified　specimen　of　that　vanishing　race。
　〃Well；　Kamaikui；　I'm　back；〃　Miss　Minerva　smiled。
　〃I　make　you　wele；〃　the　woman　said。　She　was　only　a　servant；　but　she　spoke　with　the　gracious　manner　of　a　hostess。
　〃Same　room　you　had　when　you　first　came　over；　Minerva；〃　Dan　Winterslip　announced。　〃Your　luggage　is　there　…　and　a　bit　of　mail　that　came　in　on　the　boat　this　morning。　I　didn't　trouble　to　send　it　up　to　Amos's。　We　dine　when　you're　ready。〃
　〃I'll　not　keep　you　long；〃　she　answered；　and　hurried　up　the　stairs。
　Dan　Winterslip　strolled　back　to　his　living…room。　He　sat　down　in　a　rattan　chair　that　had　been　made　especially　for　him　in　Hong…Kong；　and　glanced　placently　about　at　the　many　evidences　of　his　prosperity。　His　butler　entered；　bearing　a　tray　with　cocktails。
　〃Two；　Haku？〃　smiled　Winterslip。　〃The　lady　is　from　Boston。〃
　〃Yes…s；〃　hissed　Haku；　and　retired　soundlessly。
　In　a　moment　Miss　Minerva　came　again　into　the　room。　She　carried　a　letter　in　her　hand；　and　she　was　laughing。
　〃Dan；　this　is　too　absurd；〃　she　said。
　〃What　is？〃
　〃I　may　have　told　you　that　they　are　getting　worried　about　me　at　home。　Because　I　haven't　been　able　to　tear　myself　away　from　Honolulu；　I　mean。　Well；　they're　sending　a　policeman　for　me。〃
　〃A　policeman？〃　He　lifted　his　bushy　eyebrows。
　〃Yes；