nd scraping
like a nigger, and begging to be allowed to go over there! Enough, I
tell you!"

"Then don't try any more," she indifferently replied, turning to go in;
but he checked her with another threat--and by the way she flinched I
knew that he meant it.

"If you go in that door till I'm through," he bellowed, "that crucifying
comes off in ten minutes--right on this spot where you can hear the
beggar squeal!"

She stopped and looked at him, and I realized that we had come in the
nick of time for some great crisis which was enveloping her.

"Now, see here," he continued, in a calmer voice, "you've kept this up
since yesterday morning, and it's unreasonable. Why don't you let us
come over and have a talk? I've been a good father to you! You've had
everything you want--and just bought six trunks full of clothes in
Havana last week! Why do you keep us--keep me--away?"

While absorbedly listening, I was struck by the oddity of a girl in this
wilderness buying six trunks full of clothes; but it then occurred to me
that Efaw Kotee would encourage extravagant buying of all things, when
the _Orchid_ visited a city, in order that he might get bona fide change
for his spurious bills. At least there was good reason for her gown to
be modern, smart, and becoming, as Havana's best Americanized shops are
quite continental.

"I keep you away," she answered icily, "because you're planning to
marry me to an unprincipled scoundrel."

"A what?" Jess yelled.

"Shut up!" the old one snapped at him.

"An unprincipled scoundrel," she answered evenly, "who's as loathsome as
an ape. And I shan't be married to that kind of thing, or any one else.
You've had my warning. If you, or he, or any of your beastly men come to
this island, you'll get only my dead body. And Echochee, dear soul, is
going with me. What's more, if you start any tortures, we'll die before
witnessing them."

"Then, by God," he screamed, "you and your damned hag'll begin to starve
from this day! With no more provisions sent over we'll see who obeys me!
And in three more days if you don't come to your senses I'll crucify an
offering to your dead body--head down on the spot I stand!" He had been
raving, but now his tone quickly changed to one of whining entreaty, as
he added: "I hope you understand how it pains your dear old father to
threaten you, my child!"

It was so maudlin an exhibition that I wondered if he were sane.

"Dear old father," she repeated, givi