him in
unflattering amazement.

"But you said, when you wired, you wanted the extra room to work in," he
objected, "and you'll remember, Mr. Blair, that you were pretty emphatic
about it, too, at the time. We went to all kinds of trouble to fix that
up for you."

"I can get along all right without it, though," coolly observed his
changeable guest, "and I'd rather she'd have it. It's possible to split
suites here, isn't it?" he persisted. "They do at most hotels."

"It's possible, of course." Across the desk the eyes of the two men met
squarely. "That part of it's easy enough. But why? and who's going to
pay for it?"

"I'm going to pay for it! What did you suppose?" exploded Blair. "It's
worth that and a lot more to me just now to keep her from getting away.
Oh, I'm in earnest all right. I mean it! Look here! Can't you see how
that woman can be a perfect gold mine to me? You know enough about my
work to understand that I'm really out here after Indians myself, and
she--well, I'll wager a cool thousand there isn't a spot on this whole
island that ever dreamed of seeing an Indian that she doesn't know all
about!"

The clerk nodded. "But--"

"But nothing!" Impatiently Blair brushed aside all objections. "Why, I
hadn't the remotest idea how I was going to get started. It's a rattling
piece of good luck, and we'll fix it up right now!"

"Yes, but--" Still the other man hesitated. "It sounds all right
enough,--from your end of it especially, but you'd better see her first.
She's a proud little piece,--doesn't like obligations of any kind,--and
a stranger,--a man--I'm sorry to discourage you, but I don't believe
she'll have a thing to do with it."

In Blair's eyes impatience threatened to become something more emphatic.

"It's a business proposition pure and simple," he argued. "She gives
me all the information she's been able to get together, and I pay her
expenses while she does it. That gives her a chance to finish her own
work, don't you see? A mighty good proposition for her, too, I should
say, and if she doesn't see it that way herself,--why,--well, she isn't
as intelligent as she looks, that's all!"

"Providing you can persuade her it is just business. I'd advise you to
talk with her first, just the same. And you'll have to be quick about
it, too. She's planning to wait in the village tonight for the morning
boat, and she'll be starting down about now."

Outside was one of those radiant nights intended