St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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30 THE IGNA TIAN the city with a look of determination upon his face. The call of his people had been drowned out by another call, and he was going backfback to her and l1HPPll'1C5S- No, madam is not inf, replied the maid to his inquiry. ll-ut you will find her at the cafe with Mr. Phillips. He summoned a taxi and sped toward her favorite dining place. It was nice of Gordon to be watching out for her. he reflected, as he was carried noiselessly through the darkened streets. liut oh, how glad she would be to see him! The machine dashed up to the curb and stopped. He leaped out, and entering the restaurant, sought the head waiter. Yes, Miss VVorth was there-in box 24. He hurried nervously upstairs and down the passageway to box 24. He could hear their voices. Suddenly he stopped. Mildred was laughing gayly. Certainly she could not be feeling very sad over his absence. He advanced a few steps further, and then hesitated before the portiere that hid the couple within from view, Gordon was speaking. 'AI must congratulate you on the way you handled him. You are certainly a wonder. Hllut he was so easy. Mildred replied. too easy in fact to make it interesting. 'il wonder how he will act when he returns and linds that I have gotten away with all of his money. Like the fool that he is. llut don't let that worry you, You should worry how he acts as long as you have his little wad tucked safely away. By this time Strong was all but overcome with rage. The realization that these two had played with him as a spider plays with a fly, pierced him like a knife. And he had been caught in the web! His brow was knit, his lists were clenched, his blood coursed through his veins like mad. XYith one slash of his arm he swept the portieres from their fastenings. and stood before the couple in the YOOIU. They stared hlankly at him in amazement, their

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A SON OF TWO IVORLDS 29 Mildred, he whispered, there is one thing that money cannot buy. lt is as priceless as the stars of the heavens. Vlfe all strive to obtain it, and I will promise to return to my people if you will be mine when I return. Then followed days of happy planning, days in which he realized as he never had before the joy of living. Mildred arranged a meeting with Gordon Phillips, the out- come of which was that the latter was given full charge of his business interests. All too soon came the day of his departure. He had made Phillips promise to entertain Mildred in his absence, but the thought of his own loneliness depressed him. HI have a wonderful message for my people, he said to her as they waited for the train to pull out. America and the American life are wonderful. They must not cut themselves off from the outside world. Since I have been here, l have realized that every one has a definite, active part to play in the great scheme of life. that there is no room for idle onlookers. The bell rang, and with a fervent promise to return as soon as possible. he left her. San Francisco and the end of the hrst lap of his journey found him still more depressed. Hoping that the fresh sea breeze would revive his spirits, he took a trip to the beach. As he stood on the esplanade, gazing out at the white-capped billows rushing fiercely in and breaking harmlessly on the glistening sand, he felt even more the desire to abandon his trip and return to Chicago. lt was as if some powerful magnetic force was exerting an in- fluence over him, drawing him back to the girl of his dreams. lN l1y should I leave happiness behind me, he re- flected, when this mission was thrust upon me? A picture of his island home drifted before him. There was his father. waiting nervously for his return. Then sud- denly this vision faded away. He turned, and walked toward

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llfr llxvfher Q E .. 1 - ' illlllfx i inf i' - X. I il A SON OF TWO WORLDS 31 faces paling, their breath coming with difficulty. For several seconds no one moved. Finally Phillips recovered somewhat, and made a leap for the door. Quick as a beast of the forest John was upon him, and flung him back into the room. For a moment he allowed him to lie where he had fallen, but then, rushing at him, he grabbed for his throat, and caught it in his vice-like grip. Realizing that he had met his master, Gordon made no attempt to offer resistance, but instead, endeavored to beg for mercy. Mercy! Mercy! hissed John, 'LVVho are you that you should seek mercy at my hands? You who have tricked me, you who have played me for the fool and robbed me. now come whining to me for mercy. He laughed fiendishly. The snares that were meant for me have caught you. you cur, and you will pay the penalty. His fingers tightened slowly, and as they did so the muscles of the defeated man's forehead stood out like knots of iron. The end would come soon, Strong bent over the prostrate form of his foe. a queer smile playing about his lips. As he waited for the last Hicker of life to die out, the sound of music came to his ears from the Hoor below. He listened. It was an Hawaiian orchestra playing the soft. soothing strains of the islands. The plaintive tone of the steel guitar, quivering like a leaf in the breeze, stood out above the rest. His thoughts went back to his home, to his people who were waiting for his return. For a moment he gazed into space. Then, allowing the all but lifeless form to fall to the Hoor, he turned, and trembling, left the room. The tribal meeting place was thronged with eager, re- joicing natives. Not a sound could be heard, save the swishing of the waters against the nearby shore, as the king rose and stood before his assembled people. . AQ..a