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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1922)
The Sunday Dee rMAGAZINE SECTION! VOL. 52—NO. 28. OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 24, 1922. FIVE CENTS Love Island By Owen Oliver Castaway Island, Population Eight Souls, Had Three Republics at Odds With One Another; Then Came Christmas. CASTAWAY Island, as they called It, was barely a mile and a half lung, by three-quarters of a mile broad, but it was divided into three republics, although its in habitants only numbered eight. They were nine originally, but now there was a mound by the bushes at the back if Mercy beach, where they had landed after the shipwreck. The division of the little state into three lesser states grew out of that. The first republic consisted of three sailor men: Tom Rich ardson, Dave Carter and Harry Lane. They w?rc three The internal condition of all three republics was peace ful. Richardson commanded the sailors. The ladies were a good-tempered, chattering anarchy. The third republic was really a dual monarchy. The Millionaire ruled the Flapper nnd the Flapper ruled the Millionaire. Their be havior to each other was most proper and very creditable; but this was exactly what the others did not believe! There had been no diplomatic relations betw-een them and the other states since they had departed carrying (upon two journeys) as much as they could take consistently with the Millionaire having a free revolver hand and (upon the second occasion) the Flapper—she was a big, fair creature— carrying a gnarled club. They did not admit that they had received their due allotment, and this was a second reason for the breach; the first reason being the mistaken belief of the rest as to their Internal policy. A third reason was their suspicion as to the nature of the relations between the other states. This suspicion was also erroneous. The relations of the The elder women sided with them and cried over the big brute who was lying silent and still. “Of course,” one said, "he was a common man, and did it coarsely, but he had been drinking, and to kill him, Just for kissing, a girl under the mistletoe-" “He smelt so!" the Flapper sobbed. “And-and—he said . . . oh!" "It was horrid.” another lady owned. “But people of hlg kind do think they can kiss a girl under the mistletoe." “If you talk like that," the Millionaire told the women grimly, “you’ll soon be well kissed, with the mistletoe or without! You’d better look facts in the face. You're three good looking women on a lonely island with three hearty young men-” “Four." cried Ruby Green, "if you reckon yourself onel Shooting him down like a dog, Just for kissing a child—an impudent child, who-" “I’ll shoot down any one else Just for that," the Million aire Interrupted. “You’d better all understand lb I warned sturdy young fellows between 25 and 30, and very like other sailor men of the more respectable class. They had the middle of the island, from the south shore (where they dwelt) to the north shore. On the west their boundary was a line from Toad rook to, but just outside, Flatfish creek. On the east their limits were the ravine that ran from Mercy beach to the big hollow and the bush from there to North cove. They held most of the material resources of the Island—salvage from the wreck of the Anna Jones—and kept them stored In a cave in Toad rock. Originally this had been a bed chamber for the women castaways, but when these seceded the sailors filled it with the stores, which they considered more perishable than themselves, and continued to sleep under tarpaulins in the broken boat. They admitted that, within reason, republic No. 2 had equit able claims to a portion of these resources, but held that republic No. 3 was a force in arms and outside equity. Republic No. 2 comprised the three passenger women, who had the east end of the island, Including the stony beach, where shellfish abounded, and the best of the berry bushes. They lived in a tent made of boat sails and kept a smaller stock of stores under a hatch which had floated ashore and was propped up at the corners on largo stones which were stood upon one another. Their names were Ruby Green, Stella Raikes and Molly Brien. They were aged from 23 to 26, and they were very like other young lady passengers. There were diplomatic relations with republic No. 1, but none with republic No. 3. Republic No. 3 consisted of only two persons: the Million aire (before he was cast away) and the Flapper (who had almost outgrown the flapper stage In the year since they landed, three weeks before Christmas). By treaty they held the western end of the Island, which was hilly and well wooded. This included Flatfish buy, where the best fish were caught. Republic No. 1 claimed a right of fishing on the eastern side of the narrow’ bay, but did not exercise it by daylight. Republic No. 3 possessed all the armed re sources of the Island—viz.: The Millionaire’s revolver—and he had announced that he would shoot any one who came there. He and the Flapper had a stronghold on Palm hill, the only access to which was over a deep cleft. They bridged this with a gangway of branches which they drew in r at night. Their residence was a cleft in the top of the hill, which opened into three caves—one for the Millionaire, one for the Flapper and one for the few stores which they had. The Millionaire’s cave was near the entrance. Ho slept lightly and with the revolver under the blanket which he folded for a pillow. , "I’ll shoot anyone—just for that." first republic and the second republic were merely those of international comity. The men had twice repaired the women’s tent, and not Infrequently gave them extra stores. The women mended the men's clothes, and-often gave them shellfish. Three times during the year they had dined to gether. A practice had grown up of calling good night across the ravine, which they considered neutral ground. That was the extent of their intimacy. The international complications of the little Island, there fore, like most of those in the big world, were based upon undue suspicion and censorious misunderstanding. They would never have arisen if their nerves had not all been badly jarred at the time when the division occurred. The way it happened was this: There was a big sailor man named “Black Dick”—with a choice of surnames— among the castaways. He was very conscious of the fact that women were women, and ho kept the fact before the other nailormen, who, left alone, were very decent and honorable young men when sober. Unfortunately, rum float ed ashore. The Millionaire, who knew a good deal about men and women—more probably, than he ought to have known!—warned the elder ladies to bo very careful of the men when In drink. The ladies, however, turned up their noses at him. They could take care of themselves, they said, and they hinted pointedly that they had heard things about him, and that in preference they trusted the sailors, who had, in fact, been very kind to them. The Flapper, however, hadn’t heard things about him, till Ruby Green felt it her duty to tell her, and then she threatened to slap her informant’s face; which, perhaps, was a fourth reason behind the subsequent breach. On Christmas day, three weeks after they had landed, Black Dick drank a great deal of rum, and he found some whitish berries, which, he said, were mistletoe. He seized the Flapper and kissed her ferociously; took her up In his arms and stated that he was going to have her for his Santa Claus.’’ The Millionaire shot him dead; which really was the only thing to do! The other sailors, who had also been drinking, were sobered and alarmed by this. They did not defend Black Dick’s action, and owned that they ought to have been quicker in stopping him, which, they declared, they would have done. But they regarded death as too sever* a pen alty for a chap who ‘‘only kissed a girl when h* was a bit on and the Millionaire as a danger to the community. They demanded the revolver from him and that he should stand trial. you what it would come to. These men”—he nodded at them—“are not like this blackguard." He nodded toward the dead man. “They are very decent men, as men go, when they’re sober, but they've been drinking. When they’ve drunk a little more-! Well, you can take care ot yourselves, you say. I’ll take care of the child.” "Yes," said the Flapper. She held to his disengaged arm. "If you ask me,” Stella R&lkes said, "it’s you whd arc in danger, child; and it Isn't the sailors you’re In danger from!” "I'll chanco it!” the Flapper stated. She squeezed the Millionaire’s arm. The men swore that they wouldn't hurt tlto ladies, and they didn't say that the Millionaire was altogether unjusti fied in his action; but it wasn't right to kill a man for kiss ing a girl under the mistletoe. “And I don’t suppose Missie would have made much fuss if you had done it!" (The ladies applauded this sentiment, and Ruby Green muttered "Fat hussy!”) "Still, he did it in a way it shouldn’t have been done, and hinted at things," Tom Richardson owned. So they didn't want to havo a trial, or make any unpleas antness. But they weren't going to be at the mercy of one man who had a revolver, to be shot just when he pleased, and he must give it up, or they’d "down" him sooner or later. "Don't give it up,” the Flapper advised. “They’ll kill you if you do.” "My girl,” Tom Richardson told her, "we happen to be men. If we give our word not to harm him, wo won’t, and he knows it.” "Yes, Richardson," the Millionaire said, "I know it. Sober, you are men. If you agree to break up the rum casks, and any more that come ashore. I’ll throw the revolver in the sea.” They laughed this proposal to scorn. There was little enough to console them on the island, they declared, with out throwing away what, "in moderation," was a good thing for a man, “and a little wouldn’t hurt a lady at Christ mas time.” So he refused to give up the revolver. They swore they’d havo. "You’ll have to sleep sooner or later," they reminded him. "I’ll have it then,” the Flapper cried, “and watch beside him.” “Likely enough,” Ruby Green sneered; “but you needn't do It here. There’s plenty of room on the Island.” "That’s It," Richardson said. "You take your bit, and the gal, and if you give up tho revolver we’ll swear not to disturb you." "I shan't give up the revolver,the Millionaire told him.