earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第15部分

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e　and　there　by　the　top　of　a　modest　skyscraper。　Back　of　the　city　a　range　of　mountains　stood　on　guard；　peaks　of　crystal　blue　against　the　azure　sky。
　A　trim　little　launch　from　Quarantine　chugged　importantly　up　to　the　big　liner's　side；　and　a　doctor　in　a　khaki　uniform　ran　briskly　up　the　acmodation　ladder　to　the　deck　not　far　from　where　the　boy　stood。　John　Quincy　wondered　at　the　man's　vitality。　He　felt　like　a　spent　force　himself。　The　air　was　moist　and　heavy；　the　breeze　the　ship　had　stirred　in　moving　gone　for　ever。　The　flood　of　energy　that　had　swept　over　him　in　San　Francisco　was　but　a　happy　memory　now。　He　leaned　wearily　on　the　rail；　staring　at　the　bright　tropical　landscape　before　him　…　and　not　seeing　it　at　all。
　He　saw　instead　a　quiet；　well…furnished　Boston　office　where　at　this　very　moment　the　typewriters　were　clicking　amiably　and　the　stock　ticker　was　busily　writing　the　story　of　another　day。　In　a　few　hours　…　there　was　a　considerable　difference　of　time　…　the　market　would　close　and　the　men　he　knew　would　be　piling　into　automobiles　and　heading　for　the　nearest　country　club。　A　round　of　golf；　then　a　calm；　perfectly　served　dinner；　and　after　that　a　quiet　evening　with　a　book。　Life　running　along　as　it　was　meant　to　go；　without　rude　interruption　or　disturbing　incident；　life　devoid　of　ohia　wood　boxes；　attic　encounters；　unwillingly…witnessed　love　scenes；　cousins　with　blackbirding　pasts。　Suddenly　John　Quincy　remembered；　this　was　the　morning　when　he　must　look　Dan　Winterslip　in　the　eye　and　tell　him　he　had　been　a　bit　dilatory　with　his　fists。　Oh；　well　…　he　straightened　resolutely　…　the　sooner　that　was　done；　the　better。
　Harry　Jennison　came　along　the　deck；　smiling　and　vigorous；　clad　in　spotless　white　from　head　to　foot。　〃Here　we　are；〃　he　cried。　〃On　the　threshold　of　paradise！〃
　〃Think　so？〃　said　John　Quincy。
　〃Know　it；〃　Jennison　answered。　〃Only　place　in　the　world；　these　islands。　You　remember　what　Mark　Twain　said　…〃
　〃Ever　visited　Boston？〃　John　Quincy　cut　in。
　〃Once；〃　replied　Jennison　briefly。　〃That's　Punch　Bowl　Hill　back　of　the　town　…　and　Tantalus　beyond。　Take　you　up　to　the　summit　some　day　…　wonderful　view。　See　that　tallest　building？　The　Van　Patten　Trust　pany　…　my　office　is　on　the　top　floor。　Only　drawback　about　getting　home　…　I'll　have　to　go　to　work　again。〃
　〃I　don't　see　how　any　one　can　work　in　this　climate；〃　John　Quincy　said。
　〃Oh；　well；　we　take　it　easy。　Can't　manage　the　pace　of　you　mainland　people。　Every　now　and　then　some　go…getter　from　the　States　es　out　here　and　tries　to　hustle　us。〃　He　laughed。　〃He　dies　of　disgust　and　we　bury　him　in　a　leisurely　way。　Been　down　to　breakfast？〃
　John　Quincy　acpanied　him　to　the　dining　saloon。　Madame　Maynard　and　Barbara　were　at　the　table。　The　old　lady's　cheeks　were　flushed　and　her　eyes　sparkled；　Barbara；　too；　was　in　her　gayest　mood。　The　excitement　of　ing　home　had　made　her　very　happy　…　or　was　her　happiness　all　due　to　that？　John　Quincy　noted　her　smile　of　greeting　for　Jennison；　and　rather　wished　he　knew　less　than　he　did。
　〃Prepare　for　a　thrill；　John　Quincy；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Landing　in　Hawaii　is　like　landing　nowhere　else　on　the　globe。　Of　course；　this　is　a　through　boat；　and　it　isn't　weled　as　the　Matson　liners　are。　But　there'll　be　a　crowd　waiting　for　the　Matsonia　this　morning；　and　we'll　steal　a　little　of　her　aloha。〃
　〃A　little　of　her　what？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。
　〃Aloha　…　meaning　loving　wele。　You　shall　have　all　my　leis；　John　Quincy。　Just　to　show　you　how　glad　Honolulu　is　you've　e　at　last。〃
　The　boy　turned　to　Madame　Maynard。　〃I　suppose　this　is　an　old　story　to　you？〃
　〃Bless　you；　my　boy；〃　she　said。　〃It's　always　new。　A　hundred　and　twenty…eight　times　…　yet　I'm　as　thrilled　as　though　I　were　ing　home　from　college。〃　She　sighed。　〃A　hundred　and　twenty…eight　times。　So　many　of　those　who　once　hung　leis　about　my　neck　are　gone　for　ever　now。　They'll　not　be　waiting　for　me　…　not　on　this　dock。〃
　〃None　of　that；〃　Barbara　chided。　〃Only　happy　thoughts　this　morning。　It's　steamer　day。〃
　Nobody　seemed　hungry；　and　breakfast　was　a　sketchy　affair。　John　Quincy　returned　to　his　cabin　to　find　Bowker　strapping　up　his　luggage。
　〃I　guess　you're　all　ready；　sir；〃　said　the　steward。　〃I　finished　that　book　last　night；　and　you'll　find　it　in　your　suit…case。　We'll　be　moving　on　to　the　dock　shortly。　All　good　luck　to　you　…　and　don't　forget　about　the　okolehau。〃
　〃It's　graven　on　my　memory；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃Here　…　this　is　for　you。〃
　Bowker　glanced　at　the　bank…note　and　pocketed　it。　〃You're　mighty　kind；　sir；〃　he　remarked　feelingly。　〃That　will　sort　of　balance　up　the　dollar　each　I'll　get　from　those　two　missionaries　when　we　reach　China　…　if　I'm　lucky。　Of　course；　it's　rather　distasteful　to　me　to　accept　anything。　From　a　friend　of　Tim's；　you　know。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　for　value　received；〃　said　John　Quincy；　and　followed　Bowker　on　deck。
　〃There　she　is；〃　announced　Bowker；　pausing　by　the　rail。　〃Honolulu。　The　South　Seas　with　a　collar　on；　driving　a　Ford　car。　Polynesia　with　a　private　still　and　all　the　other　benefits　of　the　white　man's　civilization。　We'll　go　out　at　eight　to…night；　thank　heaven。〃
　〃Paradise　doesn't　appeal　to　you；〃　suggested　John　Quincy。
　〃No。　Nor　any　other　of　these　bright…colored　lands　my　poor　old　feet　must　tread。　I'm　getting　fed　up；　sir。〃　He　came　closer。　〃I　want　to　hang　my　hat　somewhere　and　leave　it　there。　I　want　to　buy　a　little　newspaper　in　some　country　town　and　starve　to　death　on　the　proceeds　of　running　it。　What　a　happy　finish！　Well；　maybe　I　can　manage　it；　before　long。〃
　〃I　hope　so；〃　said　John　Quincy。
　〃I　hope　so；　too；〃　said　Bowker。　〃Here's　wishing　you　a　happy　time　in　Honolulu。　And　one　other　word　of　warning　…　don't　linger　there。〃
　〃I　don't　intend　to；〃　John　Quincy　assured　him。
　〃That's　the　talk。　It's　one　of　those　places　…　you　know　…　dangerous。　Lotus　on　the　menu　every　day。　The　first　thing　you　know；　you've　forgot　where　you　put　your　trunk。　So　long；　sir。〃
　With　a　wave　of　the　hand；　Tim's　friend　disappeared　down　the　deck。　Amid　much　confusion；　John　Quincy　took　his　place　in　line　for　the　doctor's　inspection；　passed　the　careful　scrutiny　of　an　immigration　official　who　finally　admitted　that　maybe　Boston　was　in　the　Union；　and　was　then　left　to　his　own　devices　and　his　long；　long　thoughts。
　The　President　Tyler　was　moving　slowly　toward　the　shore。　Excited　figures　scurried　about　her　decks；　pausing　now　and　then　to　stare　through　lifted　glasses　at　the　land。　John　Quincy　perceived　that　early　though　the　hour　was；　the　pier　toward　which　they　were　heading　was　alive　with　people。　Barbara　came　and　stood　by　his　side。
　〃Poor　old　dad；〃　she　said；　〃he's　been　struggling　along　without　me　for　nine　months。　This　will　be　a　big　morning　in　his　life。　You'll　like　dad；　John　Quincy。〃
　〃I'm　sure　I　shall；〃　he　answered　heartily。
　〃Dad's　one　of　the　finest　…〃　Jennison　joined　them。　〃Harry；　I　meant　to　tell　the　steward　to　take　my　luggage　ashore　when　we　land。〃
　〃I　told　him；〃　Jennison　said。　〃I　tipped　him；　too。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　the　girl　replied。　〃I　was　so　excited；　I　forgot。〃
　She　leaned　eagerly　over　the　rail；　peering　at　the　dock。　Her　eyes　were　shining。　〃I　don't　see　him　yet；〃　she　said。　They　were　near　enough　now　to　hear　the　voices　of　those　ashore；　gay　voices　calling　flippant　greetings。　The　big　ship　edged　gingerly　closer。
　〃There's　Aunt　Minerva；〃　cried　John　Quincy　suddenly。　That　little　touch　of　home　in　the　throng　was　very　pleasant。　〃Is　that　your　father　with　her？〃　He　indicated　a　tall　anemic　man　at　Minerva's　side。
　〃I　don't　see　…　where　…〃　Barbara　began。　〃Oh　…　that　…　why；　that's　Uncle　Amos！〃
　〃Oh；　is　that　Amos？〃　remarked　John　Quincy；　without　interest。　But　Barbara　had　gripped　his　arm；　and　as　he　turned　he　saw　a　wild　alarm　in　her　eyes。
　〃What　do　you　suppose　that　means？〃　she　cried。　〃I　don't　see　dad。　I　don't　see　him　anywhere。〃
　〃Oh；　he's　in　that　crowd　somewhere　…〃
　〃No；　no　…　you　don't　understand！　Uncle　Amos！　I'm　…　I'm　frightened。〃
　John　Quincy　didn't　gather　what　it　was　all　about；　and　there　was　no　time　to　find　out。　Jennison　was　pushing　ahead　through　the　crowd；　making　a　path　for　Barbara；　and　the　boy　meekly　brought　up　the　rear。　They　were　among　the　first　down　the　plank。　Miss　Minerva　and　Amos　were　waiting　at　the　foot。
　〃My　dear。〃　Miss　Minerva　put　her　arms　about　the　girl　and　kissed　her　gently。　She　turned　to　John　Quincy。　〃Well；　here　you　are　…〃
　There　was　something　lacking　in　this　wele。　John　Quincy　sensed　it　at　once。
　〃Where's　dad？〃　Barbara　cried。
　〃I'll　explain　in　the　car　…〃　Miss　Minerva　began。
　〃No；　now！　Now！　I　must　know　now！〃
　The　crowd　was　surging　about　them；　calling　happy　greetings；　the　Royal　Hawaiian　Band　was　playing　a　gay　tune；　carnival　was　in　the　air。
　〃Your　father　is　dead；　my　dear；〃　said　Miss　Minerva。
　John　Quincy　saw　the　girl's　slim　figure　sway　gently；　but　it　was　Harry　Jennison's　strong　arm　that　caught　her。
　For　a　moment　she　stood；　with　Jennison's　arm　about　her。　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　ready　to　go　home。〃　And　walked　like　a　true　Winterslip　toward　the　street。
　Amos　melted　away　into　the　crowd；　but　Jennison　acpanied　them　to　the　car。　〃I'll　go　out　with　you；〃　he　said　to　Barbara。　She　did　not　seem　to　hear。　The　four　of　them　entered　the　limousine；　and　in　another　moment　the　happy　clamor　of　steamer　day　was　left　behind。
　No　one　spoke。　The　curtains　of　the　car　were　drawn；　but　a　warm　streak　of　sunlight　fell　across　John　Quincy's　knees。　He　was　a　little　dazed。　Shocking；　this　news