Part 21 (2/2)

Her eyes were big and frightened as she looked at Mr. Bill.

”I don't believe it!” declared Mr. Bill quickly. ”I don't believe a word of it! Such things aren't done now! Maybe in the Dark Ages, but not now!

Take it from me! It sounds like a rank movie!” he insisted.

Tessie smiled wanly. It was cheering to hear Mr. Bill declare with so much warm emphasis that he did not believe the Suns.h.i.+ne Islanders kept up their ancient customs. ”It made me want to sell the islands right away,” she faltered.

”Sell the islands!” He was shocked. ”You can't do that!” he exclaimed.

”Dad wouldn't let you!”

Tessie looked at him quickly, almost suspiciously. ”What do you mean?

What has your father and the Evergreen to do with my islands?”

Mr. Bill flushed and stammered. ”Nothing of course,” he said. ”Only he is awfully interested! He's tried to help you in every way, given you unlimited credit and advice and everything. And he wouldn't like you to do anything without his per--I mean without talking to him. I wouldn't want you to sell your islands, either. I like to think of you as a queen! You are such a peach! You should be a queen!” And his hand shot out again, and it would have found her fingers if she had not moved away from him.

”I think,” she said with a quick catch of her breath, ”you had better go. It must be Ka-kee-ta's bedtime!” she insisted, when he showed no sign of going.

”Darn Ka-kee-ta!” he exclaimed somewhat rudely.

But he had to go away, and when he had reluctantly said good night and disappeared down the corridor, Tessie turned impatiently to her bodyguard, who was yawning beside the door.

”You see, Ka-kee-ta,” she said slowly and distinctly so that he would be sure to understand her, ”nothing happened to me when I went away without you. I think I shall leave you at home often.”

Ka-kee-ta shook his frizzled head and waved his ax. ”The Tear of G.o.d!”

he rumbled. ”The king's jewel!”

Tessie looked at him, and her eyes widened. ”If I leave the Tear of G.o.d with you will it be all right?” she guessed. ”You aren't looking after me, are you, Ka-kee-ta? It's the king's jewel you are taking care of.”

And when he said never a word, but just stood and gaped at her, she plucked courage to ask him in a frightened whisper; ”Ka-kee-ta, did you ever see any one boiled in oil?”

The words were scarcely across her lips before she discovered that she did not want to hear what Ka-kee-ta had seen. She did not want to know how savage her people could be. She shut the door and went to her own room, the most puzzled little queen in the world.

There were many questions to puzzle her, questions concerning the islands and Joe Cary, who was so anxious for her to abandon the islands, and Mr. Bill, and old Mr. Kingley, who was so eager for her to keep her inheritance. What difference did it make to old Mr. Kingley whether she was a queen or not? She could understand why Joe Cary wanted her to abdicate. Joe didn't believe in queens nor in kings. But Mr. Kingley-- What business was it of his? And Mr. Bill! He had said he didn't believe the Suns.h.i.+ne Islanders were savage or cannibal. She would believe Mr.

Bill, she decided with a fluttering heart. Of course he knew. And he was right! So long as she remained in Waloo the Suns.h.i.+ne Islanders--even the revolutionary Sons of Suns.h.i.+ne--could not harm her. But she couldn't remain in Waloo forever and be the queen of the Suns.h.i.+ne Islands, too!

That wouldn't be fair. Joe Cary said it wouldn't be fair. She would ask Mr. Bill the very first thing in the morning. Mr. Bill really knew more about kings and queens than Joe Cary anyway. He had seen some of them.

Mr. Bill's own mother had told her that he had seen Queen Mary of England. Oh, dear! Wouldn't she ever go to sleep?

It was a long time before her busy little brain would let her go to sleep, and it seemed no time at all after she was asleep before she was wakened by Granny, who handed her a letter. The sun was streaming through the open window with a dash and a vigor which made Tessie's sleepy eyes blink. So she had slept after all, for it was black night when she had closed her eyes and now it was bright day. She looked at the letter.

”What is it?” she asked sleepily.

”It was just sent up from the office. And it's marked important.” Granny sounded important as she showed Tessie the word scrawled on the envelope. ”I thought perhaps it might be something about that special representative. Maybe he has escaped from those rebels!” suggested Granny, eager to know what was inside the letter which was so important on the outside. ”Really, Tessie, when I think of those Sons of Suns.h.i.+ne I wish Johnny was here instead of at that Boy Scout camp. I've got more confidence in a good strong American boy than I have in all the frizzle-headed, tattooed natives in the world! Even if they do carry axes in their hand.”

Tessie scarcely heard Granny. She had opened the letter, but something in the black writing made her face turn white.

”What is it, Tessie?” Granny caught her shoulder. ”Tell Granny what it is? Drat that Pete!” she murmured under her breath. ”I wish he had run away with a circus, instead of to sea to be washed up on that island and make trouble for us all.”

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