Trask

“ Now, Trask was one of those men—of whom there are plenty, and women too—who are entirely different when there is no gallery to play to; in a word, Trask alone with one was entirely different to Trask showing off before a crowd, and in fact might have been taken for an ordinarily decent fellow, before you became alive to a little trick he had of engaging you in what would seem at the time quite an interesting conversation or discussion, only to reproduce with variations any idea you might so have expressed, in order to turn you into ridicule when he should next get an audience. ”

“ Am I such an object of pity as that, Trask?”
Philip forgot his New England insularity for a moment and put his hand on the play-boy’s knee.
“It was angelic pity, Bromley. Surely that needn’t hurt your pride.”
“Angels,” was the half-musing reply. “They can rise so much, so infinitely much, higher than a man when they hold on, and sink so much lower when they let go. This angel you speak of—is she yours, Trask?” ”

“ So hidebound was the self-complacency of Trask that even George found it profitless to cheek him with any effect, although in justice to George I am bound to say he tried his level best.
“What stay are you making, Holt?” brought out Trask, by way of varying the conversation.
Now this sort of query propounded to a guest right in the eye of his entertainers has always struck me as the very acme of idiotic tactlessness, and about on a par with asking an acquaintance of twenty minutes’ standing whether he’s married. Yet nothing is more common to encounter than both forms of foolishness. ”

“ He wondered if this fact might not well account for the formless fears he had felt about Peth and the crew. Like a person who wakes in the night, to find the windows where they shouldn't be, his judgment, too, might be at fault, and affairs far better than he thought them.
Trask had no worries for himself. The pursuit of gold in untrammelled parts of the world was his business, and at times danger was but the thrill which [133] went with the game. He knew that if he were the only passenger in the schooner he would very likely be in his bunk asleep instead of hunting trouble. ”

“ CHAPTER XII Trask Makes a Discovery
"The crazy fools!" exclaimed Trask, as he saw Jarrow being hustled into the jungle by the crew. "What sort of game do you suppose this is? Have they all gone mad?"
"Mutiny!" said Marjorie. "Why should they mutiny?"
"Search me," said her father, disgustedly. "We seem to have brought a fine pack of maniacs with us."
They could see Dinshaw exploring the beach, apparently oblivious of what had happened, or careless of the quarrels which Jarrow and Peth might have, so long as he was on his beloved island. ”

“ I want you to understand that even you can't cast aspersions——”
He stopped me with a ghastly smile and a gesture with a hand trembled visibly. “For Heaven's sake, Trask, don't jump at conclusions!” he protested. “You care something about my sister, don't you?” ”

“ Trask’s disgust on finding Pentridge already in the field was quite comical. He could no longer monopolise the conversation, and when he started in to be funny, Pentridge, without seeming to do so, would invariably cap his would-be wit, and effectually turn it against himself. In short, to use a homely metaphor, Trask’s nose was put clean out of joint.
“Who the deuce is that bounder Pentridge, Holt?” he said to me one day when we were alone together.
“First, I don’t know. Second, he’s rather a good chap.”
“Eh? Rather a good chap? Man alive! ”

“ Considering these matters, Trask undressed and put on his pajamas. Then he opened the door of his room, and rolled into his bunk, purposely accentuating the creaking of the boards under his mattress so that any listener might be assured he had turned in for the night.
The hole cut in the upper part of Jarrow's door was open and dark. The captain, to all appearances, had gone to sleep, but Trask had plans for the night and did not care to take chances at having them upset. ”

“ This wild project of taking a young woman in a schooner, with a crew of men who had all the outer aspects of rascals, and a mild madman, to hunt an island, was largely his own fault and Trask now realized it.
Locke was far too credulous, or rather incredulous. Like most Americans who have lived quiet lives and attended to their own business, he lacked imagination for dangerous possibilities in the motives of others. ”

“ Just aware of loving Lockwood, just learning to know what love meant and how sweet it could be, just realizing, too, the awfulness of her own position, the dire necessity for secrecy, the terrible result of Trask’s revelations, should they be made, altogether Miss Mystery faced a dangerous crisis.
[260]
“You say you’ll give me a week?” she said, at last, grasping at a hope of reprieve.
Trask looked at her with curiosity.
“What good’ll that do you? Better put yourself under my protection at once. Every day you lose is that much nearer discovery.” ”

“ Then he smiled toothlessly and swung off his bowl of a hat with a grand air.
"Aye, sir," he said, in a weak but shrill voice. "Cap'n Dinshaw, late of the bark, James B. Wetherall, lost in a typhoon an' Lord ha' mercy on us!"
"This is a shame!" said Locke, in a cautious whisper to Trask, as he leaned back in his grass chair to light a cigar. "I hate to see a white man like that in this country."
"He looks hungry," said Marjorie. "Dad, call the boy!"
"It's an interesting case," said Trask. "I want you to hear him. Wilkins had him up so I could talk to him. He's got an island." ”

“ Marjorie, who had slept after midnight, leaned [230] against the taffrail with Trask, watching Shope and Pennock trimming the sails. Bevins had the wheel but Locke was asleep below, having remained up all night.
"Poor old Captain Dinshaw," said Marjorie. "He'll never have his big house with good soup for supper."
"Perhaps it's just as well," replied Trask. "He was too old and pitifully crazy ever to enjoy anything. It's likely he would have suffered more if he'd never come to his island. And he might have killed somebody not so deserving of the fate he meted out to Jarrow." ”

“ Harkaman reproved, "the conversation was between Lord Trask and myself. And when somebody makes a statement you don't understand, don't tell him he's crazy. Ask him what he means. What do you mean, Lord Trask?" ”

“ Jarrow went into his room for the paper, and they heard him fumbling in the little bulkhead desk.
"No use arguing with a man when he's got the drop on you," said Locke. "If it wasn't for Miss Trinkets, here, it might be different. But I'd rather pay up than see anybody hurt."
Trask sat with his empty pistol across his knees, thoroughly dejected, staring out over the blood-red sea. Already a star, close to the horizon, had popped out, and the top of the island was gathering gloom. ”

“ The voice at the other end was easily recognizable, though it sounded more agitated than even I had learned to expect from Charles Armand Latisse.
“I have need of seeing you right away, Trask,” he said. “Something of a private nature. I can't explain over the wire, and I don't want to mention my name for fear some one else is listening. You know who I am, don't you?”
“Surely,” I replied. “Can't you come up here?”
"No!” he cried with emphasis. “Impossible! I must not be seen with you now. Get a taxi and come, but be sure no one is following you from the hotel!” ”

“ Mrs. Trask turned back to the window. "There's something rather wonderful going on out here," she called. "I wish you'd all come and look."
Just outside the club window the steel-workers pursued their dangerous task with leisurely and indifferent competence, while over their head a great derrick served their needs with uncanny intelligence. It dropped its chain and picked a girder from the floor. As it rose into space two figures sprang astride either end of it. The long arm swung up and out; the two "bronco-busters of the sky" were black against the flame of the sunset. ”

“ We don't want it," said Trask.
"There ain't no gold," said Peth.
"I know it," said Trask. "Could have told you in fifteen minutes, if you hadn't wanted to cheat Dinshaw out of it."
"We wouldn't a-come if we'd knowed this was a sell," said Peth.
"Weren't you paid to come?"
"He ain't got no gun," yelled Doc. "The island is full o' gold, cap'n. Yo' got to cook it an'——"
Trask turned to see the steward waving his hands at the rail, and ran toward him in rage, telling him to be still.
"Don' you lay han's on me!" yelled Doc, backing away to where Shanghai Tom stood. Behind the pair was Marjorie. ”

“ Trask hastened to say.
"Hong Kong for mine," said Locke.
"Dad! Come here, please," called Marjorie. "Captain Dinshaw wants to go to his island. It seems to me that you men who are looking for something to do might help him out."
"I'll give him ten pesos for one of those pictures," said Locke.
"The other for me at the same price," said Trask.
"Stingies!" cried Marjorie. "If I were a man, I'd go find his island." ”

“ Finally, after a conference with Locke and Marjorie, Trask put before the captain the matter of bringing Dinshaw back. But Jarrow was inclined to be sulky about it. He objected to having "it put up to him to bring the fool aboard," as he expressed it.
"None of us will leave the schooner under the circumstances," declared Trask.
"But I want the cook," said Jarrow. Trask had joined him on the forecastle and the others remained [204] in the cabin.
"The cook stays right here with us," said Trask. "I don't intend to take a chance at losing another man." ”

“ When I went back to the observation car he had decided upon a smoke at the same time. When I dropped the name of Tarrant I flattered myself that I did a good job of it, for I saw him no more.
“Mr. Trask! Mr. Selwyn Trask!” A boy in uniform passed near my table, and I beckoned to him. “Your car is waiting, sir,” said the page, “at the south entrance.”
I thanked him, and made my way up the single flight and out onto Jackson Boulevard. A single large limousine was at the curb, and in spite of the fact that I was prepared for any development, the big car gave me a thrill to my finger tips. ”

“ Don't tell anybody!"
"I'm a clam, sir, a clam," said Dinshaw, solemnly, and blinking his eyes at the sun which assailed him from the bare Luneta, he hurried down the steps and hastened away.
"Poor old duffer," said Trask.
"We've got to help him find his island," said Marjorie. "I'll tell you what to do. Dad wants to get up to Hong Kong because there's a man at the King Edward he can beat at billiards."
"What's that got to do with it?" asked Trask, [32] vaguely.
"You're a regular man!" she retorted. "Can't you see? Can you play billiards?"
"A little," admitted Trask. ”

“ He was the son of John Waring’s cousin, and though the two men had never met, the credentials and records brought by Maurice Trask left no possible doubt as to his heirship.
Trask was not prepossessing of appearance, though he was well-mannered and moderately well-dressed. His lack was that of sophistication, and he seemed ignorant of the finer conventions of life. He was what is known as a self-made man, and men of home manufacture require some sterling qualities to start with if they are to turn out a satisfactory product. ”

“ He could not manipulate the lock to get the bag open, and Trask reached down and showed him how it was done.
"Then you consider Mr. Peth a dangerous man?"
"He sho' is."
"How is he dangerous?"
"Well, Mr. Trask, I don' lak' to go an' say nothin' [95] agin a man, 'specially when he's matin' round a boat what I'm in."
"Oh, I suppose he's rough with a sailor if it suits his fancy," said Trask, convinced now that Doc was merely making talk, and telling a yarn simply to impress him.
"He wouldn't look twice to hang somethin' on a man's haid, Mr. Peth wouldn't. ”

“ It'll take a little time, but we might as well set out to see who's who in this crowd."
"That gang ashore'll try to get back here," said Locke, looking over at the island. "They can't live on sand and water."
"Come to breakfast," said Trask. "Just leave things to me, and talk about our guns. We've got to give the impression that we're a young arsenal."
They passed into the cabin, and Trask took the occasion to slip into the galley while Doc and Tom were absent, and lifting out an old rat-tail file, which the cook used to sharpen his knives on, slipped it up the sleeve of his jacket. ”

“ Mrs. Trask said: "I know, Mrs. Marston, you will be perfectly shocked when I tell you. Why, it's all the talk of the town; just think of it; a man getting up in the pulpit and telling the people that boys and girls should appear before each other naked, and that they all should be brought up as if they were one sex."
Mrs. Marston said: "It's perfectly awful to think about such a thing. Why, it would be dreadful. The preacher must have come from Paris with French ideas. ”

“ Just the same, I am going to take [181] you home,” Philip insisted. “I owe it to my own self-respect, if I don’t owe it to you. Do we walk or ride?”
“It is only a little way; and, really, Mr. Trask, I wish you wouldn’t!”
“It is ‘Mr. Trask’ now, but it was ‘Philip’ last spring,” he reminded her.
“Well, then—Philip, won’t you let me run away by myself this time? We mustn’t stand here cluttering up Mr. Charpiot’s sidewalk. Please!” ”

“ It was a wild idea, this going out in the night to hunt gold. But it was plain that the cupidity of the crew had been aroused by the prospect of a shining, yellow beach. But what was to Trask far more important, and fraught with danger to Marjorie, Locke, Dinshaw, Jarrow, and himself, was the knowledge that Peth, if [141] not the leader of the enterprise, at least must be aware of what was taking place. ”