Among Lunatics.

Their Practical Joke.

Trader Who Thought He Was Among Lunatics.

By “Zeitgeist."

A GOOD deal of interest has been manifested in the Solomon Islands of late regarding the identity and purpose in these waters of a Japanese mystery ship.

It is stated by those who have seen this ship that it is about 50 tons capacity, low in the water, has collapse able masts, carries a powerful search light and is exceptionally fast —its speed being no less than 20 m.p.h. with silent engines.

At first it was assumed that the ship was being used for the purpose of shell piracy, but after much consideration on the part of authority the conclusion is that some ulterior motive is connected with its presence here.

An amusing episode connected with the above was enacted in Tulagi a few days ago.

Two young Government officials de cided to have a joke with a new Gov ernment arrival. They entered a Chinese restaurant here for a meal, knowing that the new official would be along shortly. They had not long to wait. When all were eating, the matter of the Japanese ship was dis cussed, and one of the jokers said that a certain trader had actually obtained a distinct photograph of the ship. Up pricked the ears of the new Govern ment official; but he was told to say nothing about the matter. The next morning he had told his superior officer about the photograph, and the name of the trader. The result was that an urgent letter was immediately despatched to the trader, who was in port at the time, requesting his im mediate presence at the ‘‘top office."

He was received like a long-lost brother, and after much talk about patriotism, piracy, pratique, espionage, etc., he was firmly requested to hand over the photograph of the Japanese ship.

The trader, being quite ignorant of the whole thing, naturally concluded he had fallen among lunatics, and the explanations that followed were pain ful and embarrassing.

The newly-arrived official is believed to be planning a dark and dirty re venge.