The Shadow of the East - Edith Maude Hull

E. M. Hull

The Shadow of the East

CHAPTER I

The American yacht lying off the harbour at Yokohama was brilliantly lit from stem to stern. Between it and the shore the reflection of the full moon glittered on the water up to the steps of the big black landing-stage. The glamour of the eastern night and the moonlight combined to lend enchantment to a scene that by day is blatant and tawdry, and the countless coloured lamps twinkling along the sea wall and dotted over the Bluff transformed the Japanese town into fairyland.

The night was warm and still, and there was barely a ripple on the water. The Bay was full of craftliners, tramps, and yachts swinging slowly with the tide, and hurrying to and fro sampans and electric launches jostled indiscriminately.

On board the yacht three men were lying in long chairs on the deck. Jermyn Atherton, the millionaire owner, a tall thin American whose keen, clever face looked singularly youthful under a thick crop of iron-grey hair, sat forward in his chair to light a fresh cigar, and then turned to the man on his right. I guess Ive had every official in Japan hunting for you these last two days, Barry. If I hadnt had your wire from Tokio this morning I should have gone to our Consul and churned up the whole Japanese Secret Service and made an international affair of it, he laughed. Where in all creation were you? I should hardly have thought it possible to get out of touch in this little old island. The authorities, too, knew all about you, and reckoned they could lay their hands on you in twelve hours. I rattled them up some, he added, with evident satisfaction.

The Englishman smiled.

You seem to have done, he said dryly. When I got into Tokio this morning I was fallen on by a hysterical inspector of police who implored me with tears to communicate immediately with an infuriated American who was raising Cain in Yokohama over my disappearance. As a matter of fact I was in a little village twenty miles inland from Tokioquite off the beaten track. Theres an old Shinto temple there that I have been wanting to sketch for a long time.

Athertons luck! commented the American complacently. It generally holds good. I couldnt leave Japan without seeing you, and I must sail tonight.

Whats your hurryWall Street going to the dogs without you?

No. Ive cut out from Wall Street. Ive made all the money I want, and Im only concerned with spending it now. No, the fact is IerI left home rather suddenly.

A soft chuckle came from the recumbent occupant of the third chair, but Atherton ignored it and hurried on, twirling rapidly, as he spoke, a single eyeglass attached to a thin black cord.

Ever since Nina and I were married last year weve been going the devil of a pace. We had to entertain every one who had entertained usand a few more folk besides. There was something doing all day and every day until at last it seemed to me that I never saw my wife except at the other end of a dining table with a crowd of silly fools in between us. I reckoned Id just about had enough of it. Came on me just like a flash sitting in my office down town one morning, so I buzzed home right away in the auto and told her I was sick of the whole thing and that I wanted her to come away with me and see what real life was likeout West or anywhere else on earth away from that durned society crowd. Ill admit I lost my temper and did some shouting. Nina couldnt see it from my point of view.

My God, Jermyn! I should think not, drawled a sleepy voice from the third chair, and a short, immensely stout man struggled up into a sitting position, mopping his forehead vigorously. Youve the instincts of a Turk rather than of an enlightened American citizen. Youve not seen my sister-in-law yet, Mr. Craven, he turned to the Englishman. Shes a peach! Smartest little girl in NYork. Leader of societydollars no objectsmall wonder she didnt fall in with Jermyns prehistoric notions. Youre a cave man, elder brotherI put my money on Nina every time. Hell! isnt it hot? He sank down again full length, flapping his handkerchief feebly at a persistent mosquito.

We argued for a week, resumed Jermyn Atherton when his brothers sleepy drawl subsided, and didnt seem to get any further on. At last I lost my temper completely and decided to clear out alone if Nina wouldnt come with me. Leslie was not doing anything at the time, so I persuaded him to come along too.

Leslie Atherton sat up again with a jerk.

Persuaded! he exploded, A dam queer notion of persuasion. Shanghaied, I call it. Ran me to earth at the club at five oclock, and we sailed at eight. If my man hadnt been fond of the sea and keen on the trip himself, I should have left America for a cruise round the world in the clothes I stood up inand Jermyns duds would be about as useful to me as a suit of reach-me-downs off the line. Persuasion? Shucks! Jermyn thought it was kind of funny to start right off on an ocean trip at a moments notice and show Nina he didnt care a durn. Crazy notion of humour. He lay back languidly and covered his face with a large silk handkerchief.

Barry Craven turned toward his host with amused curiosity in his grey eyes.

Well? He asked at length.

Atherton returned his look with a slightly embarrassed smile.

It hasnt been so blamed funny after all, he said quietly. A Chinese coffin-ship from Frisco would be hilarious compared with this trip, rapped a sarcastic voice from behind the silk handkerchief.

Ive felt a brute ever since we lost sight of Sandy Hook, continued Atherton, looking away toward the twinkling lights on shore, and as soon as we put in here I couldnt stand it any longer, so I cabled to Nina that I was returning at once. Im quite prepared to eat humble pie and all the rest of itin fact I shall relish it, with a sudden shy laugh.

His brother heaved his vast bulk clear of the deck chair with a mighty effort.

Humble pie! Huh! he snorted contemptuously. Shell kill the fatted calf and put a halo of glory round your head and invite in all the neighbours for this my prodigal husband has returned to me! He ducked with surprising swiftness to avoid a book that Atherton hurled at his head and shook a chubby forefinger at him reprovingly.

Dont assault the only guide, philosopher and friend youve got who has the courage to tell you a few home truths. Say, Jermyn, dyknow why I finally consented to come on this crazy cruise, anyway? Because Nina got me on the phone while you were hammering away at me at the club and ordered me to go right along with you and see you didnt do any dam foolishness. Oh, shes got me to heel right enough. Well! I guess Ill turn in and get to sleep before those fool engines start chump-chumping under my pillow. You boys will want a pow-wow to your two selves; there are times when three is a crowd. Good-bye, Mr. Craven, pleased to have met you. Hope to see you in the Adirondacks next summera bit more crowded than the Rockies, which are Jermyns Mecca, but more home comfortsappeal to a man of my build. He slipped away with the noiseless tread that is habitual to heavy men.

Jermyn Atherton looked after his retreating figure and laughed uproariously.

Isnt he the darndest? A clam is communicative compared with Leslie. Fancy him having that card up his sleeve all the while. Ninas had the bulge on me right straight along.

He pushed a cigar-box across the wicker table between them.

No, thanks, said Craven, taking a case from his pocket. Ill have a cigarette, if you dont mind.

The American settled himself in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head, staring at the harbour lights, his thoughts very obviously some thousands of miles away. Craven watched him speculatively. Atherton the big game-hunter, Atherton the mine-owner, he knew perfectlybut Atherton the New York broker, Atherton married, he was unacquainted with and he was trying to adjust and consolidate the two personalities.

It was the same Athertonbut more human, more humble, if such a word could be applied to an American millionaire. He felt a sudden curiosity to see the woman who had brought that new look into his old friends keen blue eyes. He was conscious of an odd feeling of envy. Atherton became aware at last of his attentive gaze and grinned sheepishly.

Must seem a bit of a fool to you, old man, but I feel like a boy going home for the holidays and thats the truth. But Ive been yapping about my own affair all evening. What about youstaying on in Japan? Been here quite a while now, havent you?

Just over a year.

Like it?

Yes, Japan has got into my bones.

Lazy kind of life, isnt it?

There was no apparent change in Athertons drawl, but Craven turned his head quickly and looked at him before answering.

Im a lazy kind of fellow, he replied quietly.

You werent lazy in the Rockies, said Atherton sharply.

Oh, yes I was. There are grades of laziness.

Atherton flung the stub of his cigar overboard and selecting a fresh one, cut the end off carefully.

Still got that Jap boy who was with you in America?

Yoshio? Yes. I picked him up in San Francisco ten years ago. Hell never leave me now.

Saved his life, didnt you? He spun me a great yarn one day in camp.

Craven laughed and shrugged. Yoshio has an Oriental imagination and quite a flair for romance. I did pull him out of a hole in Frisco but he was putting up a very tidy little show on his own account. Hes the toughest little beggar Ive ever come across and doesnt know the meaning of fear. If Im ever in a big scrap I hope I shall have Yoshio behind me.

You seem to be pretty well known over yonder, said Atherton with a vague movement of his head toward the shore.

It is not a big town and the foreign population is not vast. Besides, there are traditions. I am the second Barry Craven to live in Yokohamamy father lived several years and finally died here. He was obsessed with Japan.

And with the Japanese?

And with the Japanese.

Atherton frowned at the glowing end of his cigar.

Nina and I ran down to see Craven Towers when we were on our wedding trip in England last year, he said at length with seeming irrelevance. Your agent, Mr. Peters, ran us round.

Good old Peters, murmured Craven lazily. The place would have gone to the bow-wows long ago if it hadnt been for him. He adored my mother and has the worst possible opinion of me. But hes a loyal old bird, he probably endowed me with all the virtues for your benefit.

But Atherton ignored the comment. He polished his eyeglass vigorously and screwed it firmly into position.

If I was an Englishman with a place like Craven Towers that had been in my family for generations, he said soberly, I should go home and marry a nice girl and settle down on my estate.

Thats precisely Peters opinion, replied Craven promptly with a good-tempered laugh. I get reams from him to that effect nearly every mailwith detailed descriptions of all the eligible debutantes whom he thinks suitable. I often wonder whether he runs the estate on the same lines and keeps a matrimonial agency for the tenants.

Atherton laughed with him but persisted.

If your own countrywomen dont appeal to you, take a run out to the States and see what we can do for you.

The laugh died out of Cravens eyes and he moved restlessly in his chair.

Its no good, Jermyn. Im not a marrying man, he said shortly.

Atherton smiled grimly at the recollection of a similar remark emphatically uttered by himself at their last meeting.

For a time neither spoke. Each was conscious of a vague difference in the other, developed during the years that had elapsed since their last meetingan intangible barrier checking the open confidence of earlier days.

It was growing late. The sampans had nearly all disappeared and only an occasional launch skimmed across the harbour.

A neighbouring yachts band that had been silent for the last hour began to play againappropriately to the vicinityPuccinis well-known opera. The strains came subdued but clear across the water on the scent-laden air. Craven sat forward in his chair, his heels on the ground, his hands loosely clasped between his knees, whistling softly the Consuls solo in the first act. From behind a cloud of cigar smoke Atherton watched him keenly, and as he watched he was thinking rapidly. He was used to making decisions quicklyhe was accustomed to accepting risks at which others shied, but the risk he was now contemplating meant the taking of an unwarranted liberty that might be resented and might result in the loss of a friendship that he valued. But he was going to take the riskas he had taken many anotherhe had known that from the first. He screwed his eyeglass firmer into his eye, a characteristic gesture well-known on the New York stock market.

Ever see Madame Butterfly? he asked abruptly.

Yes.

Atherton blew another big cloud of smoke.

Damn fool, Pinkerton, he said gruffly, Never could see the attraction myselfdancing girlsalmond eyesand all that sort of thing.

Craven made no answer but his whistling stopped suddenly and the knuckles of his clasped hands whitened. Atherton looked away quickly and his eyeglass fell with a little tinkle against a waistcoat button. There was another long pause. Finally the music died away and the stillness was broken only by the soft slap-slap of the water against the ships side.

Atherton scowled at his immaculate deck shoes and then seized his eyeglass again decisively.

Say, Barry, you saved my life in the Rockies that trip and I guess a fellow whose life youve saved has a pull on you no one else has. Anyhow Ill chance it, and if Im a damned interfering meddler its up to you to say so and Ill apologisehandsomely. Are you in a hole?

Craven got up, walked away to the side of the yacht and leaning on the rail stared down into the water. A solitary sampan was passing the broad streak of moonlight and he watched it intently until it passed and merged into the shadows beyond.

Ive been the usual fool, he said at last quietly.

Oh, hell! came softly from behind him. Chuck it, Barry. Clear out right nowwith us. Ill put off sailing until tomorrow.

Icant.

Atherton rose and joined him, and for a moment his hand rested on the younger mans shoulder.

Im sorrydashed sorry, he murmured. Gee! he added with a half shy, half humorous glance, wiping his forehead frankly, Id rather face a grizzly than do that again. Leslie keeps telling me that my habit of butting in will land me in the family vault before my time.

Craven smiled wryly.

Its all right. Im gratefulreally. But I must hoe my own row.

The American swung irresolutely on his heels.