Why Information Systems Fail Henry C Lucas

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HENRY C. LUCAS, JR.
Why
Information Systems
Fail
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
1975

Henry C. Lucas, Jr. is an associate professor in the
Graduate School of Business Administration,
New York University.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Lucas, Henry C
Why information systems fail.
Bibliography: p.
1. Management information systems. I. Title.
T58.6.L83 658.4'03 74-18395
ISBN 0-231-03792-9
Copyright © 1975 by Columbia University Press.
Printed in the United States of America.

preface
•
DURING THE PAST DECADE, organizations have developed large
numbers of computer-based information systems. Unfortunately,
many of these systems must be classified as failures. Some systems
have been withdrawn because they have proved unworkable, and others
continue to operate though no one uses their output.
The design and operation of information systems have long been con-
sidered primarily technical activities. While there are still technical prob-
lems to be solved, we have adequate technology today to develop sophis-
ticated information systems. Because of our concern over technology we
seem to have ignored the fact that almost all information systems exist
within the context of an organization. If we adopt an organizational
perspective, a large number of variables must be added to existing models
of the development and the operation of computer-based information
systems.
The purpose of this book is to present a descriptive model of informa-
tion systems in the context of the organization and to test the model with
empirical data from six studies. These studies, conducted by the author,
involve over 2000 users in 16 organizations. The model and studies are
focused on crucial organizational behavior variables in information sys-
tems activities because they have received so little attention in the litera-
ture. There is a large body of knowledge on technical problems with in-
formation systems; these issues are not discussed at length here.
The book is intended for researchers, students, and practicing man-

viii • P R E F A C E
agers in user departments or the information services department. It could
be used as a text or as supplemental reading in a course on systems
design or information systems; it would be particularly salient in a course
on the management of information systems.
For the researcher or student who is interested in the methodology and
results, data are presented in detail. The more casual reader will probably
want to read the introductory material in Chapters 1 and 2 and the impli-
cations in the last chapter. This reader may also want to examine the
summary tables at the end of Chapters 4 through 6 to see the extent to
which each proposition from the model is supported.
A number of individuals have contributed to the studies presented here.
The support of Keane Associates of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and the
Data Processing Management association were very helpful in the Six-
Company study described in Chapter 3. The research in the Branch Bank
study and Laboratory Experiment was sponsored in part by National
Science Foundation Grant CJ-41257.
Messrs. Rodney Plimpton and Jimmy Sutton made a significant con-
tribution to data collection and analysis in the San Francisco Bay Area
study. Mr. Kenneth Clowes processed many of the data for the Sales
Force and Branch Bank studies; he was assisted in the latter study by Mr.
Pierre Romelaer. Finally, Mr. Robert Gilbertson participated in the re-
search design, reprogrammed the Transportation Management game for
the experiment, conducted the playing sessions, and prepared many of the
data. Dr. Norman Nielsen also contributed to the experiments and com-
mented on earlier versions of the manuscript.
Messrs. Kenneth Clowes, Dennis Colemen, Robert Gilbertson, Robert
Kaplan, Jean Claude Larreche, and Jimmy Sutton reviewed earlier ver-
sions and offered many worthwhile suggestions. My wife Ellen has again
proved to be invaluable in the preparation of the text. She managed to
provide a home environment conducive to writing and made a significant
contribution in reviewing the drafts of the manuscript. Simultaneously,
she has managed to take care of the author and Scott, who, in his second
year of life, is far more interested in the things that can be done with a
piece of paper than in the words it may contain!
June 1974 HENRY C. LUCAS, JR.

contents
CHAPTER ONE • introduction 1
CHAPTER TWO • a descriptive model 15
CHAPTER THREE • the research studies 31
CHAPTER FOUR • user attitudes and perceptions 55
CHAPTER FIVE • the use of information systems 69
CHAPTER SIX • performance and information systems 89
CHAPTER SEVEN • implications for successful systems 105
APPENDIX • statistical analysis 117
references 125
index 129

CHAPTER
ONE
Introduction
THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS FIELD
•
IN THE LAST TWO DECADES a new and dynamic activity has devel-
oped within organizations: the design and operation of computer-
based information systems. The information services department, a new
organizational subunit, has been created and made responsible for the
design and operation of information systems for the organization. The na-
ture of information systems activities and the large number of individ-
uals involved in them create challenging problems for management and
the organization.
In the last ten years the field of information systems has also begun to
develop academically; business schools in particular are creating informa-
tion system courses and programs (Ashenhurst, 1972). The development
of an academic field has resulted in research on some of the important
problems in information systems design and operation. The purpose of
this book is to present a descriptive model and research results which
should help to improve the probability of developing and operating suc-
cessful information systems in organizations.
Information systems exist to support decisionmaking (Lucas, 1973a).
Information itself is some tangible or intangible entity which reduces un-
certainty about a future state or event. For example, a weather forecast
for "clear and sunny" reduces our uncertainty about whether a baseball
game scheduled for tomorrow will be played. Information systems ex-
isted long before computers were invented. However, the advent of high

2 D I N T R O D U C T I O N
speed electronic computers has made the manipulation of large amounts
of data fast and relatively inexpensive. Because of the computational abil-
ities and speed of computer systems the development of more sophis-
ticated and larger scale information systems within organizations is pos-
sible. We are primarily concerned with computer-based information
systems here, though much of the discussion is pertinent to all types of
information systems.
Information systems have the potential for drastically improving man-
agement and decisionmaking in an organization. Unfortunately, the suc-
cess of information systems has been too narrowly defined in the past;
only technical criteria have been considered. The success of an informa-
tion system is highly dependent upon the relationship between users and
the information services department and on the use of the system. Con-
centration on the technical aspects of systems and a tendency to overlook
organizational behavior problems and users are the reasons most informa-
tion systems have failed.
Problem Areas
We have conducted research in a number of organizations which are
described in more detail in subsequent chapters. One of the data collec-
tion techniques employed was the administration of questionnaires to
users of information systems in these organizations. Each of the question-
naires asked for general comments at the end of the structured questions.
An analysis of the user comments indicates that there are crucial prob-
lems of an organizational behavior nature in the design and operation of
information systems. All the difficulties discussed below have been men-
tioned at least once on questionnaires and in interviews, and most of the
problems have been mentioned repeatedly. In the following discussion we
do not want to suggest that every organization has experienced these
problems with all of its systems. However, these problems have occurred
before and the potential exists for them to continue to occur.
According to this research, users do not understand much of the output
they receive; there is duplication of input and output, and changes are
frequently made in systems without consulting users. Because of inac-
curacies, users often discount all of the information provided by a sys-
tem. Many users complain of information overload; massive amounts of
data are provided which cannot be digested by the decisionmaker. There

3 D I N T R O D U C T I O N
are also many complaints about the difficulty of obtaining changes in ex-
isting systems. A number of users report that they do not actually use the
information provided by an information system. Many feel that computer-
based information systems are not worth the time or cost to develop and
that the organization would be better off without them.
To us it appears that many of these information systems would have to
be classified as failures. If a system is not used, it cannot be considered a
success even if it functions well technically. Most of the problems de-
scribed above are organizational behavior problems in nature. Of course,
we recognize that systems can fail for technical reasons related to hard-
ware and software; however, technical problems with information sys-
tems are much better understood today than are organizational behavior
difficulties. Though we have collected a large amount of data through in-
terviews and questionnaires, in view of all the information systems in ex-
istence we have still only sampled a small number of organizations and
information systems. However, all our experience suggests that the pri-
mary cause for system failure has been organizational behavior problems.
We invite the reader to consider his own experience with information sys-
tems and judge for himself whether it is consistent with our conclusions.
In the remainder of this section we discuss some of the problems in the
design and operation of information systems. Our analysis focuses on or-
ganizational behavioral considerations which have often been ignored by
the information services department and users.
Systems Design
One of the major activities of the information services department is
the design of new information systems, which is a time-consuming and
labor-intensive process. A design team is usually formed, and it consists
of personnel from the information services department and from user
groups. Design is a creative task involving behavioral and technical
challenges. User needs must be understood and the specifications for a
system developed. These specifications have to be translated into com-
puter processing requirements which can be executed routinely after the
system becomes operational. Finally, the new system has to be validated
and implemented.
One major design problem which has been consistently overlooked is
how information is used by a decisionmaker. Systems have been designed

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All this time I had not the least assistance from the old
gentleman, who sat in a most dejected attitude on one of the
wooden chairs. I had remained standing since we entered the room.
Now he looked up with dismay on his countenance, and I was well
enough acquainted with him to know that his fear was not for
himself but for his daughter.
“Will you tell the Emperor,” he said, “that we are armed, and that
we demand leave to quit this place as freely as we entered it?”
“I think, Mr. Hemster,” said I, “that we had better conceal the
fact that we have arms,—at least until the Prime Minister returns.
We can keep that as our trump card.”
“Will you please do exactly what my father tells you to,” snapped
the young woman sharply.
“Hush, Gertrude!” said Mr. Hemster. Then, addressing himself to
me: “Sir,” he added, “do whatever you think is best.”
I now turned to the Emperor, and made the speech of my life. I
began by stating that Corea had been face to face with many a crisis
during its history, but never had she been confronted with such a
situation as now presented itself. Mr. Hemster, besides being King, in
his own right, of the provision market in Chicago, was one of the
most valued citizens of the United States, and that formidable
country would spend its last sen and send its last man to avenge any
injury done to Mr. Hemster, or the Princess, his daughter. I asserted
that the United States was infinitely more powerful than Russia,
China, and Japan added together, with each of whom he had
hitherto chiefly dealt. This alone would be bad enough, but the
danger of the situation was augmented by my own presence. His
Majesty might perhaps be good enough to remember that the last
time I had had the pleasure of meeting him I was an Envoy of a
country which had probably fought more successful battles than any
other nation in existence. Great Britain was also in the habit of
avenging the injuries inflicted on her subjects; and so, if the
Emperor was so ill-fated as to incur the displeasure of these mighty

empires, whose united strength was sufficient to overawe all the rest
of the earth, he would thus bring about the extinction of himself and
of his nation.
I regret to say that this eloquence was largely thrown away. His
Majesty paid but scanty attention to my international exposition. His
fishy eyes were fixed continually on Miss Hemster, who now and
then made grimaces at him as if she were a little schoolgirl, once
going so far as to thrust out her tongue, which action seemed to
strike the Emperor as exceedingly comic, for he laughed uproariously
at it.
When I had ceased speaking the Emperor replied in a few
words, but without ever taking his eyes from the girl. I answered
him,—or, rather, was answering him,—when Miss Hemster
interrupted impatiently:
“What are you saying? You must translate as you go on. I wish
you would remember your position, Mr. Tremorne, which is that of
translator. I refuse to be kept in the dark in this way.”
“Gertie, Gertie!” remonstrated her father. “Please do not
interfere. Mr. Tremorne will tell us what is happening all in good
time.”
And now the Emperor himself, as if he understood what was
being said, commanded me to translate to them the terms he had
laid down.
“I shall try to remember my position, Miss Hemster,” I replied;
“and, as his Majesty’s ideas coincide with your own, I have pleasure
in giving you a synopsis of what has passed.”
Then I related my opening speech to the Emperor, which
appeared to commend itself to Mr. Hemster, who nodded several
times in support of my dissertation on the national crisis.
“The Emperor,” I continued, “has made no comment upon what I
have laid before him. He tells us we are free to go,—that is, your
father and myself,—as long as we leave you here. Not to put too fine

a point to it, he offers to buy you, and says he will make you the
White Star of his harem, which he seems to think is rather a poetical
expression.”
“Well, of all the gall!” exclaimed Miss Hemster, raising her hands
and letting them fall helplessly into her lap again, as if this gesture
should define the situation better than any words she had at her
command. “You inform His Nibs that I am no White Star Line, and
you tell this mahogany graven image that my father can buy him
and his one-horse kingdom and give them away without ever feeling
it. When he talks of buying, just inform him that in the States down
South we used to sell better niggers than him every day in the
week.”
I thought it better to tone down this message somewhat, and in
doing so was the innocent cause, as I suspect, of a disaster which
has always troubled my mind since that eventful time. I said to the
Emperor that American customs differed from those of Corea. Miss
Hemster, being a Princess in her own rank, of vast wealth, could not
accept any position short of that of Empress, and, as there was
already an Empress of Corea, the union he proposed was impossible.
I reiterated my request that we be allowed to pass down to the
coast without further molestation.
This statement was received by the Emperor with much hilarity.
He looked upon it merely as an effort on my part to enhance the
price of the girl, and expressed his willingness to turn over to her
half the revenues of the kingdom. He seemed to imagine he was
acting in the most lavishly generous manner, and I realized the
hopelessness of the discussion, because I was face to face with a
man who had never been refused anything he wished for since he
came to the throne. His conceited ignorance regarding the power of
other countries to enforce their demands made the situation all the
more desperate.
At this juncture the crouching Prime Minister returned, made his
way slowly, by means of acute angles, to the foot of the throne, and
informed the Emperor that the guards of the Palace had been

doubled, and had received instructions to allow no living thing to
enter or leave the precincts of the Court. I now repeated to Hun
Woe the warning I had so fruitlessly proffered to the Emperor, but I
doubt if the satellite paid much more attention than his master had
done. While in the presence he seemed incapable of either thought
or action that did not relate to his Imperial chief. He intimated that
the audience was now finished and done with, and added that he
would have the pleasure of accompanying us to our rooms. It
seemed strange, when we returned, to find Miss Stretton sitting in a
chair, placidly reading a book which she had brought with her from
the yacht, and the Japanese boy setting out cups for tea on a small
table near her. Miss Stretton looked up pleasantly as we entered,
closing her book, and putting her finger in it to mark the place.
“What a long time you have been,” she said; “the conference
must have proved very successful.”
Miss Gertrude Hemster paced up and down the room as if
energetic action were necessary to calm the perturbation of her
spirit. As the other finished her remark she clenched her little fist
and cried:
“I’ll make that Emperor sit up before I’ve done with him!”
I thought it more advisable to refrain from threats until we were
out of the tiger’s den; but the reticent example of Mr. Hemster was
upon me, and I said nothing. Nevertheless the young woman was as
good as her word.

T
CHAPTER XIV
he Hemsters had fallen into the English habit of afternoon
tea, and, having finished the refreshing cup, I excused
myself and went outside to learn how strict the cordon
around us was kept. I found that the Prime Minister had done his
work well. The gates were very thoroughly guarded, and short of
force there seemed to be no method of penetrating into the city. I
tried bribery, desiring to get a short note through to the British
Consul-General, and, although my bribe was willingly accepted, I
found later that the missive was never sent.
Rambling around the vast precincts of the Palace, trying to
discover any loophole of escape, I came upon our escort and the
ponies which had brought us from the port to the capital. These had
been gathered up in the city and taken inside. I could not decide at
the moment whether this move on the part of our gaolers
strengthened or weakened our position. The escort was composed
of a very poor set of creatures who would prove utterly valueless if
the crisis developed into a contest. They were all huddled together
under a shed, and were very evidently in a state of hopeless panic.
They knew intuitively that things were going badly with us, and it
needed no prophet to foretell that they would instantly betray us if
they got the chance, or cut our throats if they were ordered to do
so. I deeply regretted now that we had not stayed longer at
Chemulpo until we had gathered together an escort composed
entirely of Japanese. Two Japanese followers were among our
crowd, and they now stood apart with the imperturbable
nonchalance of their race. I was aware that I could depend upon

them to the death; but the rest were the very scum of the East,
cowardly, unstable as water, and as treacherous as quicksand. I
spoke a few words of encouragement to the Japanese, patted the
ponies, and then returned to Mr. Hemster. I told him I had
endeavoured to send a note to the British representative in Seoul,
and to my amazement found that he did not approve of this move.
“The fact is, Mr. Tremorne, we have acted like a parcel of fools,
and if this thing ever gets out we shall be the laughing-stock of the
world. I don’t want either the American or the British Consul to know
anything of our position. God helps those who help themselves. I
don’t want to boast at all, but I may tell you I’m a dead shot with a
revolver, and I have one of the best here with me, together with
plenty of cartridges. This expertness with a gun is a relic of my old
cowboy days on the plains, and if these here Coreans attempt to
interfere with me, somebody is going to get hurt. You have another
revolver, and if you are any good with it I guess we’ll have no
difficulty in forcing our way through this flock of sheep. Have you
learned whether your two Japanese can shoot or not? If they can,
I’ve got revolvers here for them, and it seems to me that four of us
can put up a bluff that will carry us through this tight place. If it
wasn’t that we have women with us, I wouldn’t mind the encounter
in the least. As it is, we’ll have to do the best we can, and I propose
that we start to-morrow as soon as the gates are opened.”
“All right, Mr. Hemster, I believe your diagnosis of the case is
correct. I can trust the Japanese, and I think I may say you can trust
me.”
A little later in the day, the Prime Minister, accompanied by an
imposing following, came to me, and with much circumlocution
made formal proposal of marriage to Miss Hemster on behalf of the
Emperor of Corea. The misguided man appeared to think that this
smoothed away all difficulty, and that the only question now to be
settled was the amount of money the honoured lady’s father would
pay down as dowry. Hun Woe fatuously ventured to hope that it
would be large in proportion to the elevation in station which

awaited the young lady. I replied that Mr. Hemster considered
himself equal in rank, and greatly superior in wealth and power, to
the Emperor of Corea; that he was now practically held prisoner in
the Palace; therefore, if negotiations were to continue, he must be
set free, and allowed to return to his own battleship, in which I
should be happy to carry on the discussion in a manner which I
hoped would prove satisfactory to all parties concerned.
The Prime Minister replied that what I proposed was impossible.
The Emperor was completely infatuated with Miss Hemster, and only
as a great concession,—due, Hun Woe said, to his own pleadings,
which he hoped would be remembered when settlements were
made,—did his Majesty consent to a marriage. The Prime Minister
continued with many professions of friendship for myself, urging me
therefore, as he pretended to have urged the Emperor, to put myself
in a reasonable frame of mind. He had never known the Emperor so
determined in any course of action before, and lack of compliance
on the part of our company would do no good, and might lead to
irretrievable disaster. The Emperor had resolved, if his offer were
refused, to seize the young lady, and to behead her father, myself,
and the whole party who accompanied her. He therefore trusted
humbly that I would not thwart his efforts toward an amicable
understanding.
I said he must surely have mistaken his instructions; the
barbarous programme he had proposed would shock the civilized
world. He answered, with a shrug of his shoulders, that the civilized
world would never hear of it. I averred he was mistaken in this,
telling him I had already communicated with my Consul, and his
reply to this was to pull from his sleeve the hasty note I had written
and bribed the man at the gate to deliver. This man, he said, had at
once brought the communication to him, and he hoped I would
acknowledge the fruitlessness of further opposition.
I quickly saw that we were in a predicament, and that it would
need all my diplomacy to find a means of egress. However, I
determined first to impress upon Hun Woe the dangers of the plan

he had outlined. If the Emperor did what he proposed to do, that
would bring upon Corea the irretrievable disaster of invasion by both
the United States and England. It was not possible to keep
assassinations secret. Mr. Hemster’s great steamship was at this
moment awaiting him at Chemulpo. If no one returned, the captain
of that boat had orders to communicate at once with both the British
and the American authorities. I endeavored to flatter Hun Woe by
telling him that an official of his great learning and intelligence must
realize what the result would be. The good man sighed, but in the
presence of his entourage apparently had not the courage to admit
that Corea would come badly out of the encounter. In fact, he said
that the Emperor could defend his country against the combined
forces of the world; but whether he believed this or not, I should
hesitate to say.
I now changed my tactics, and told the Prime Minister that I was
merely Ambassador for Mr. Hemster, and that I would inform him of
the offer the Emperor had made. It was more than likely, I asserted,
that the proposal would be extremely gratifying to him; so we would
postpone further consideration until he had time to think over the
matter. I further suggested that we should have another interview
with the Emperor at the same hour next day, and with this the Prime
Minister joyously concurred. To assist the negotiations he told me
that the Emperor had referred to my objection of an existing
Empress, but means would be found to divorce that august lady, and
this he wished me to place before Mr. Hemster and his daughter. He
seemed to imagine that thus had been removed the last obstacle to
the proposed union, and I said I would put all this in the most
favourable light before Mr. Hemster. The conference which had
begun so tempestuously therefore ended in a calm that was
extremely gratifying to the Prime Minister, who quite evidently hoped
that everybody would be reasonable, that the flow of gold should
not cease, and that the contest might end happily. So, with many
gestures and expressions of deep regard for myself and my
companions, the distinguished party withdrew.

I was anxious to see Mr. Hemster alone, so that I might
communicate to him the result of my interview with the Prime
Minister, but this intention was frustrated. Gertrude Hemster had
nothing whatever to occupy her mind, and the adage informs us that
mischief is provided for all such persons. She was already aware that
this gorgeous deputation had waited upon me, and it required all her
father’s persuasion to keep her from breaking in upon us and
learning what was going on. The curiosity of woman has before now
wrecked many promising undertakings, and this threatened to be
the fate of Mr. Hemster’s plan. The young lady was frank enough to
say that she believed me to be playing a double game; not
interpreting correctly the message of the Emperor or the sayings of
the Prime Minister. She refused to incur the risk of a forced exit from
the Palace, and was sure that if the Emperor was rightly spoken to
we would all be allowed to march to the port with a royal escort and
the honours of war. She insisted that if I were not a coward I would
myself brave the dangers of the exit, go to the American Consulate,
and there get an interpreter who would be official, and also bring
the Consul himself. She was not going to be frightened out of Seoul
by a mud-colored heathen like the Emperor, and if only we had
treated him as she had done, there would have been no trouble.
I must admit that I agreed with the girl so far as calling in the
aid of the American Consul was concerned, and I told her I was
quite willing to force the gate and make a run for it to the little spot
of the United States which existed in Seoul. But her father could be
a determined man when he liked, and this time he put down his
foot, declaring firmly that he would not have the news of this fiasco
get abroad if he could help it. Curiously enough, Mr. Hemster
seemed to have more fear of the yellow press of America than of the
yellow man of Corea. His daughter, however, feared neither, and
seemed in fact to relish the publicity which this episode might give to
her. Whether it was bravery or recklessness on her part, I could not
get her to see that we were in any serious danger; but this did not
matter, for on appeal to her father to postpone the proposed exodus

he proved adamant, and for once the young lady was forced to
acquiesce.
I took the pair of extra pistols, and, with ample ammunition,
sought out the two Japanese members of our party. I found that
both of them had served in the Japanese army and were quite
capable of handling firearms with effect. I then told them to say
nothing to their Corean comrades, but, as soon as the gates were
open in the morning, to bring ponies for the whole party to our door.
The manner in which they carried out this order showed their
alertness to the exigencies of the situation.
When we all emerged in the morning,—we four white people,
our Chinese cook and Japanese serving-boy,—ten ponies were at our
door, two of them being loaded down with heavy strings of cash
which we had not found occasion to use, because our dealings had
been entirely with higher classes and so we had had to employ silver
and gold. But only one Japanese man was there. When I asked him
where the other fellow was, he replied he was holding a revolver
over the huddled heap of Coreans so that they would not give the
alarm. As soon as we were mounted, he said he would call his
comrade, who would instantly respond.
This proved a very wise precaution, and gave us some valuable
minutes before the Palace was roused. We had arrived at the gates
ere the sleepy guards realized what was upon them, and the first
warning the Palace received of our attempt was the wild firing of the
useless muskets which the guards possessed. We had determined
not to shoot, hoping that the guards would give way when they
found we were resolved to emerge; but their reckless firing, which
luckily did no harm to any of our party, made any further attempt at
silence unnecessary, and lucky it was for us that we were free to
fire, because Mr. Hemster whipped out his revolver at once and
shattered the hand of a man who attempted to close the gates. This
wounded creature set up such a howl that the guards immediately
threw down their arms and fled, leaving the way clear before us.

Now we were in the main street of Seoul, and if it had not been
for Mr. Hemster’s prohibition I would strongly have advised making
directly for the Consulate of either one nation or the other. However,
his orders were to press on to the western gate before the alarm
should extend through the city. This we did. Now that we were clear
of the royal gates, the guards seemed to have resumed their
firearms and were evidently determined to make the Emperor
believe that they had been extremely valorous, for a regular fusillade
greeted our departure down the main street of Seoul. Whatever
commotion the firing may have aroused in the Palace, it certainly
had an extraordinary effect upon the city itself, for it caused the
population to pour in thousands from the narrow lanes with which
this human warren is intersected. There seemed a danger that we
might be stopped by the mere pressure of the crowd, so I gave the
word to whip up our steeds, and we dashed along, regardless of
whom we knocked over.
Just as we reached the gate on the Chemulpo road the great bell
began to ring, the bell which every night at sunset orders the closing
of the gates. The big doors were being slowly closed as we
approached, and here my two Japanese again gave striking proof of
their value. They dashed forward, and, in spite of the ringing of the
bell, ordered the guards to fling wide the portal, but upon the
guards showing some hesitation, the foremost Japanese at once
shot one of them in his tracks, whereupon the rest fled. We
squeezed through, and the Japanese proposed we should close the
gates completely, so that the crowd might be kept in, but this proved
impossible, because they could be fastened only on the inside, and
we had no means of assuring ourselves that the gates would remain
shut. There was therefore nothing for it but a race for Chemulpo,
twenty-six miles away. Before we had gone a dozen yards the
pressure of the crowd opened the gates wide, and the howling mob
poured through like a resistless torrent.
I now re-arranged my party, asking Mr. Hemster to take the lead,
while the two Japanese and myself fought a retreating battle with
the multitude that followed us. The Corean man is a stalwart

individual with sturdy legs that are almost untiring in a race. While
cowards individually, they become dangerous in the mass, and I
continually urged our people to gallop as hard as they could, with
the double purpose of exhausting all but the most strenuous in our
pursuit, and of preventing the outskirts of the mob on either hand
from outflanking us. For the first three miles or so our revolver-shots
kept them at a respectful distance, but after five or six miles had
been accomplished, and the crowd showed no signs of fatigue, while
our ammunition began to run low, I realized that I must do
something to save the rest from capture.
Leaving the two Japanese as an efficient rearguard, I galloped
forward to Mr. Hemster, and gave him details of my plan, which I
had some difficulty in getting him to accept. In fact he did accept it
only on my assurance that there was no real danger to myself.
Bidding a hasty farewell to the ladies, I dropped again to the rear.
Each of the Japanese had tethered to his horse’s bridle a rope
attached to a pony carrying our strings of cash. I untied these
ponies, and attached them to my own mount, ordering the Japanese
to take the van once more; and, as they were residents of
Chemulpo, and therefore knew the road perfectly, I told them to lead
the party as quickly as they could into safety, promising them a large
additional reward for doing so.
The rest now galloped on, leaving me standing in the middle of
the road, with three horses under my charge. The bellowing mob
seemed nonplussed by this movement, and, apparently fearing a
trap of some kind, came to a halt. There was not bravery enough
among them even to attack one man at close quarters, although
they might have overwhelmed him by simply moving in bulk upon
him. Each of the two led-horses carried something like twenty
thousand sek, strung in ropes of five hundred each, so knotted that
the cash is divided into sections of a hundred each. I took my
pocket-knife and cut off the first knot, and, grasping the two ends of
the string, flung it lasso-wise around my head, and then let go the
cut end, causing the hundred cash to shoot into the air like the
bursting of a sky-rocket. These people, after all, were merely like

children with two dominant qualities, a love of cruelty, and an
unlimited avarice,—possibly avarice has the greatest hold upon their
affections, and this belief was the basis of my adventure.
Now ensued the strangest battle that ever was fought by
mankind, a struggle which Mr. Hemster himself should have
appreciated because he had engaged in it time and again in his own
country, a battle in which one man with money stood against the
bulk of the people. When the shower of a hundred cash was flung
above the heads of the mob there ensued one of the wildest
struggles it has ever been my fate to witness. I cut the second knot,
and flung the second lot of cash far to the left, to check the advance
of the crowd that way, which it very effectually did. Then the third
knot was severed, and the third lot of coins went spinning through
the air to the right. Even before the first string was gone, my party
had long since disappeared toward the west. Of course this
congregation of heathens could have availed themselves at once of
my whole available stock by merely pressing forward, but this
thought either never occurred to them, or they were too cowardly to
put it into practice. As soon as the flung cash was secured and the
scattered stock picked up, two and two fighting for the possession of
one miserable coin, a shout arose from them which was the cry of
Oliver Twist for “more.” And so I played David against that Goliath of
a crowd until I began to fear that my arm which whirled the sling
would become helpless through exhaustion.
My idea had been, of course, to put the whip to my horse and
make for the port after my party, but very soon this project proved
to be impossible. I was standing on a slight elevation in the road,
and, in spite of my throwing the coins right and left, the two wings
of this tatterdemalion army gradually enfolded me, and before my
fortune was more than half scattered I found myself completely
outflanked and surrounded. But no one made a dash; there was left
a respectable circular clear space about me, the circumference of
which was never nearer than twenty or thirty feet from where I
stood. Moreover I was thankful to see that even those to the west,
who had a free way toward Chemulpo, did not attempt to break

toward the coast. They were all too eager to get a share of the spoil
to mind what became of the rest of the party, and by the time we
had been an hour or more at this flinging of largesse every individual
of them knew that pursuit was hopeless, and by the same token I
knew also that the least danger threatening me was being carried
back to Seoul. The crowd had become riotously good natured, but I
knew their changeableness too well to consider myself safe on that
account. They were as like as not to take me back to Seoul in a
hundred pieces. I began to think seriously of the future when I came
to the last string of cash on the pony beside me. There was still
twenty thousand on the other nag; but, when that was gone, this
mob, which had no sense of gratitude, were as like to cut my throat
as not. So when I came to the last hundred sek on the first pony,
scattered like grape-shot through the air, I took advantage of the
struggle that ensued to remount my own nag. There was at once a
howl of rage at this, especially from those to the west of me, who
expected me to attempt escape in that direction. They stiffened up,
and shook fists and sticks at this supposed intention on my part to
cheat them of their just dues. Never since the Corean kingdom was
founded had there been such a distribution of wealth as was now
taking place. Heretofore the office-holders had accumulated
everything in sight, and naturally the populace was indignant that
this enchanting scattering of money should cease while there was
still a horseload of it within reach. I raised my right hand for silence,
and then raised my voice and addressed them:
“Gentlemen,” said I, “the next hurling of coin takes place at the
gates of Seoul. If you are good enough to march quietly with me, I
shall relieve the tedium of the way by an occasional contribution. So,
my braves, let us get back to the capital.”
Capital was what they were after, and so with a howl, which was
their nearest approach to a cheer, we set off for Seoul. Tired as my
arm was, I occasionally distributed five hundred cash before and
behind me, also to the right and left, keeping steadily on, however,
until the city was in sight. Then to my dismay, I saw that the great
gate was closed. The mob ahead of me had noticed the barred gate

before I did, and set up a wail like a lot of lost children. Instantly the
cash distribution was forgotten, and panic seized them. They were
locked out, and no one knew what might be happening inside. The
tolling of the big bell still boomed through the air, but only
occasionally, bearing some resemblance to a funeral knell. Because
the gate was shut these people had not reasoning powers enough to
surmise that the other gates were shut also, and in a magic way the
huge mob began to dissolve and disappear, scampering over rocks
and stones to find out whether the whole city was hermetically
sealed or not. There was a group of people on the wall above the
gate, and someone had shouted that the northern port was open.
This statement was undoubtedly false, but the official who cried it
evidently thought it was safer to dismiss the mob as he could. In a
few minutes I found myself practically alone, and then was amazed
beyond measure to hear a voice from above the gate call down to
me:
“For Heaven’s sake, Tremorne, is that you?”

I
CHAPTER XV
looked up, and saw leaning toward me Wallace Carmichel,
the British Consul-General in Seoul, an efficient man whom
I had not met for five years, when he was in the Embassy
at Pekin. At once there flashed through my mind Mr. Hemster’s
desire that I should not mention our plight to the Consuls of either
his country or my own, so I resolved on the instant to keep to
myself, if possible, the mission that had brought me to the capital.
Indeed within the last few minutes the whole situation had changed.
I had no desire to return to Seoul, and only retreated because I was
compelled to do so; but now the way was perfectly clear between
me and Chemulpo on turning my horse around. Yet Carmichel would
think it exceedingly strange if I could not give some excuse for
marching up to the gate of Seoul and marching down again, like the
historical general on the hill. I wished he had remained at his
Consulate, yet there he was, beaming down upon me, so I took
momentary refuge in airy persiflage.
“Hullo, Carmichel, how goes it? Has the early-closing movement
been adopted in Seoul? It isn’t Saturday afternoon, is it?”
“No, it isn’t,” he replied, “and if you’ll take the advice of an old
friend, you’ll turn your horse’s head, and make straight back for
Chemulpo. I think we’re in for a rather nasty time here, if you ask
me.”
“I do ask you. What’s wrong?”
I was anxious to learn whether he knew anything of the escape
of our party in the early morning; but even if he had been told about

it, the Coreans are such unmitigated liars that it is not likely he
would have believed them if he had not himself seen the procession,
and I very much doubted if he had done so, for Carmichel was never
afflicted with the early-rising habit. I was, however, wholly
unprepared for his amazing reply.
“The Empress of Corea was assassinated last night,” he said. “I
imagine they don’t want the news to spread. The Palace is closed,
and all the gates of the city were shut before I was up this morning.
The Court entourage is trying to pretend that the Empress died a
natural death, but I have it on as good authority as anything can be
had in this mendacious place that the Empress was literally cut to
pieces.”
“Good God!” I cried. “Can that be true?”
“Anything may be true in this forsaken hole. I heard you had left
the service. Came into a fortune, eh? Lucky devil! I wish I were in
your shoes! This is worse than China, and that was bad enough. I
suppose you are here on private business. Well, take a friend’s
advice and get back. Nothing can be done here for a while, any
how.”
“I’ll take your advice, Carmichel. Is there any message I can
carry for you to Chemulpo?”
“No, you may tell them what’s happened.”
“Are you in any danger, do you think?”
“I don’t think so. Of course, one can never tell what may turn up
in this beastly place. I’ve got the Consulate well guarded, and we
can stand a siege. I heard that there was a mob approaching the
town, and so came up to see what it was all about. Where are you
stopping at Chemulpo?”
“I have been yachting with a friend of mine, and his craft is in
the harbour there.”
“Well, if you’ve no business in Seoul, I advise you to get back to
the yacht. You’ll be safer on the sea than in Corea.”

“I believe you!”
“How did you come to be in the midst of that Bank Holiday
gang, Tremorne?” asked the Consul, his curiosity evidently rising.
“Oh, they overtook me, so we came along together.”
“It’s a wonder they didn’t rob you of all you possess.”
“I forestalled that by scattering something like twenty thousand
sek among them. I thought I’d be all right when I came to the gate,
but was rather taken aback to find it closed.”
“Twenty thousand sek! And I suppose you don’t mind throwing it
away any more than a handful of ha’ pence! Lucky beggar! And
yachting around the world with a millionaire friend, I expect. Well,
life’s easy for some people,” said the Consul-General with a sigh.
I laughed at him, and wondered what he would have said had
he known the truth.
“Sure you don’t want me to send a guard up from Chemulpo for
you?”
“No, I don’t think our consulate will be the storm-center here. I
rather imagine the tornado will rage around the residence of our
Japanese friends. The Coreans say that a Japanese killed one of the
guards here this morning at the gate, but the Japanese Minister
insists that all of his countrymen in the city are accounted for, and
that this allegation of murder is a lie, which I have not the least
doubt it is. I heard a lot of promiscuous firing this morning before I
was up, but it seemed to me all in the direction of the Palace. They
are eternally raising some shindy here, and blaming it on decent
people. I’m sorry to see you turn back, Tremorne, but a man who
isn’t compelled to stay here is wise to avoid such diggings. If you
return you’ll call on me, won’t you?”
“Oh, certainly,” said I, gathering up the reins. “So long,
Carmichel, and be as good to yourself as you can.”

Saying this I turned toward Chemulpo, and reached it very late
that night. The journey was one of the most disagreeable I had ever
taken, for my right arm—I suppose through the straining of the
muscles—became utterly helpless and very painful. It swelled so,
especially at the shoulder, that I feared I should have to cut the
sleeve of my coat. David was more fortunate than I, because he did
his business with one shot: my giant required continual shooting,
and now I was suffering for it. If I had been attacked, I should have
found myself completely helpless; but fortunately the way was clear,
and with my three steeds I came through without mishap. Before
going on board I searched out my two Japanese, and found, as I
expected, that Mr. Hemster had rewarded them with a liberality that
took their breath away. He had paid them for the three horses,
which he looked upon as lost, and now I turned the nags over to
them, together with the twenty thousand sek that was on one of
them; so the brave, resourceful little men had no complaint to make
regarding lack of recognition.
I had not intended to go aboard the yacht that night, but Mr.
Hemster had made the Japs promise to show a flare if any news
came of me, and in the morning he was going to organize an
expedition for my rescue. As soon as I encountered my Japs one of
them ran for a torch and set it afire. It was at once answered by a
rocket from the yacht, and before I had finished my conversation
with him I heard the measured beat of the oars in the water, and
found that in spite of his fatigue the kindly old man himself had
come ashore for me. He tried to shake hands, but I warded him off
with my left arm, laughing as I did so, and told him my right would
not be in condition for some time yet. As we rowed out to the yacht
I told him all that had happened, and informed him about the
murder of the Empress, which news my Japanese friends were
commissioned to proclaim in Chemulpo, as I had promised the
British Consul. Mr. Hemster was much affected by this news, and I
saw plainly that he considered his ill-fated expedition to have been
the probable cause of this unfortunate lady’s taking off.

I was nearly famished when we reached the steamer, for I had
had nothing since early morning but a ham sandwich I had put in
my pocket. The bag of provisions intended for consumption on the
way had been carried by the Chinese cook, and at the moment of
parting I had thought nothing of the commissariat, which was
extremely poor generalship on my part, and an omission which
caused me sorrow later in the day.
Sitting in the boat after my exertions left me so stiff and
unwieldy that one of the sailors had to help me up the side, and,
stepping on deck, I staggered, and would have fallen if he had not
caught me. The waning moon had risen, but the light was not
strong. I saw a shadowy figure make for the companion-way, then
stop with a little cry, and run forward to where I stood.
“You are wounded, Mr. Tremorne!” she cried.
“No, Miss Stretton, I am all right, except my arm, and its
disablement is rather a joke than otherwise.”
“He is wounded, is he not, Mr. Hemster?” appealed the girl, as
the old man came up the gangway.
“Tut, tut, child! You should have been in bed long ago! He isn’t
wounded, but he’s nearly starved to death through our taking away
all the provisions with us when we deserted him.”
“Oh, dear!” she cried. “Then you didn’t find the bag.”
“What bag?” I asked.
“When we were having lunch Mr. Hemster remembered that you
were unprovided for, so we raised a cairn of stones by the wayside
and left a bag of provisions on top of it, hoping you would recognize
it, for Mr. Hemster felt sure you would win through somehow or
other. You would be extremely flattered, Mr. Tremorne, if you knew
what faith he has in you.”
I laughed and told her I was glad to hear it.

“Tut, tut!” said the old man. “Don’t stand idly chattering here
when there’s a first-rate supper spread out for you down below.
Away you go. I must have a word with the captain, for we are off to
Nagasaki within ten minutes, so I shall bid you both good-night.”
I took it very kindly of the old gentleman to leave us thus alone,
and I have no doubt he thought of his own younger days when he
did so. I wickedly pretended a greater weakness than I actually felt,
and so Miss Stretton kindly supported me with her arm, and thus we
went down the stairway together, where, as the old gentleman had
said, I found one of the most delicious cold collations I had ever
encountered, flanked by a bottle of his very finest champagne. I
persuaded Miss Stretton to sit down opposite me, which, after some
demur about the lateness of the hour, she consented to do, for I told
her my right arm was absolutely helpless, and the left almost equally
awkward.
“So,” I said, “you must prove yourself a ministering angel now.”
“Ah, that,” she said, “is when pain and anguish wring the brow.
As I understand it, pain and anguish wring the arm. Please tell me
how it happened.”
Under the deft manipulation of the Japanese boy, the
champagne cork came out with a pop, and, as if it were a signal-
gun, there immediately followed the rattle of the anchor-chain
coming up, and almost before my story was begun, we heard the
steady throb-throb of the engine, and it sent a vibration of
thankfulness through my aching frame.
“You do look haggard and worn,” she said; “and I think I must
insist on regarding you rather in the light of a hero.”
“Oh, there was nothing heroic in flinging cheap cash about in the
reckless way I did. I was never in any real danger.”
“I think we have all been in danger, more or less, since we
entered those Palace gates. Although I said nothing I could see from
your face what you were thinking.”

“Yes, I know of old your uncanny proclivities in mind-reading.
Now that every pulsation of the engine is carrying us farther away
from that plague-spot of earth, there is no harm in saying that I
spent some days and nights of deep anxiety, and that, I assure you,
not on my own account.”
“I quite believe you,” said the young lady, raising her eyes for a
moment, and gazing down on the tablecloth again. Then she looked
brightly up once more, and said archly:
“I hope it won’t make you conceited, but I walked the deck to-
night with fear tugging at my heart. I don’t think I ever was so glad
in my life as when I saw the flare, as had been arranged, and knew
you were safe. When I heard you talking to Mr. Hemster in the boat,
your voice floated over the water very distinctly, and I think I
breathed a little expression of gratitude.”
“Hilda,” said I, leaning across the table, “it is very kind of you to
say that.”
Here, to my annoyance, the Japanese boy came into the saloon,
although I had told him I had no further need for him that night. He
approached us, and said respectfully, and I am sure somewhat
unwillingly:
“Miss Hemster’s compliments, sir, and she wishes you would stop
chattering here all night long, so that people could get to sleep.”
Miss Stretton sprang to her feet, a crimson flush coming into her
face.
“Thank Miss Hemster for me,” said I to the Japanese, “and
inform her that we will finish our conversation on deck.”
“No, no!” cried Hilda peremptorily; “it is terribly late, and it is too
bad of me keeping you talking here when you should be resting. I
assure you I did not intend to remain on deck after I had learned of
your safe arrival.”
“I know that, Hilda. It was when you saw me stagger that, like
the kind-hearted girl you are, you came forward. Now, do come up

on deck with me, if only for five minutes.”
“No, no,” she repeated in a whisper.
Forgetting the condition of my arm, I made an effort to encircle
her. She whisked herself silently away, but, hearing the groan that
involuntarily escaped me when the helpless arm struck the table and
sent an electric spasm of pain to my shoulder, she turned rapidly
toward me with pity in her face. Then, springing forward, she raised
her lips to mine for one infinitesimal fraction of a second, and almost
before the rest of that moment of bliss was passed I found myself
alone in the empty saloon.

L
CHAPTER XVI
ate as it was, I went up on deck, and it was lucky for me I did
so, for I met our bluff old captain, who, when he learned
of the disablement of my arm, said genially that he had a
Cape Cod liniment good for man or donkey, and I was welcome to it
in either capacity. He ordered me down to my stateroom, and
followed later with the bottle. His own gnarled hands rubbed the
pungent-smelling stuff on my arm, and he told me I’d be next to all
right in the morning, which prophecy came true.
I am sorry that in these voyages to and from Corea we met
absolutely no adventures, picked up no shipwrecked crew, and met
no cyclone, so I am unable to write down any of those vivid
descriptions that I have always admired in Mr. Clark Russell.
Next morning was heavenly in its beauty and its calm. Nagasaki
was the last civilized address which would receive telegrams, letters
or papers for Mr. Hemster, and the old gentleman was anxious to
reach there as soon as possible. As I have remarked before, he was
constantly yearning for a daily paper. The captain informed me that
he had engaged a “heathen Chinee” as pilot, and so was striking
direct from Chemulpo to Nagasaki, letting the islands take care of
themselves, as he remarked.
I walked the deck, watching eagerly for the coming of Hilda
Stretton, but instead there arrived Gertrude Hemster, bright, smiling,
and beautiful. I was just now regretting lack of opportunity to
indulge in Clark-Russellism, yet here was a chance for a descriptive
writer which proved quite beyond my powers. The costume of Miss

Hemster was bewildering in its Parisian completeness. That girl must
have had a storehouse of expensive gowns aboard the yacht. I
suppose this was what a writer in a lady’s paper would call a
confection, or a creation, or something of that sort; but so far as I
am concerned you might as well expect an elucidation of higher
mathematics as an adequate delineation of that sumptuous gown.
All I can say is that the tout ensemble was perfect, and the girl
herself was radiant in her loveliness. She approached me with a
winning smile like that of an angel.
“I want you to know how I appreciate your bravery. I shall never
forget,—no, not if I live to be a thousand years old,—how grand and
noble you looked standing up alone against that horde of savages. I
was just telling Poppa that the very first reporter he meets, he must
give a glowing account to him of your heroism.”
I have always noted that when Miss Hemster was in extreme
good humour she referred to the old gentleman as Poppa; on other
occasions she called him Father. The project of giving away my
adventures to the newspapers did not in the least commend itself to
me.
“Good-morning, Miss Hemster,” I said, “I am extremely pleased
to see you looking so well after a somewhat arduous day.”
“It was rather a trying time, wasn’t it?” she replied sweetly, “and
if I look well it’s because of the dress, I think. How do you like it?”
and she stepped back with a sweeping curtesy that would have done
credit to an actress, and took up an attitude that displayed her
drapery to the very best advantage.
“It is heavenly,” I said; “never in my life have I seen anything to
compare with it,—or with the wearer,” I added.
“How sweet of you to say that!” she murmured, looking up at
me archly, with a winning, bird-like movement. A glorified bird-of-
paradise she seemed, and there was no denying it. With a touching
pathetic note in her voice she continued,—very humbly, if one might

judge,—“You haven’t been a bit nice to me lately. I have wondered
why you were so unkind.”
“Believe me, Miss Hemster,” I said, “I have not intended to be
unkind, and I am very sorry if I have appeared so. You must
remember we have been thrown into very trying circumstances, and
as I was probably better acquainted with the conditions than any
one of our party I always endeavoured to give the best advice I
could, which sometimes, alas, ran counter to your own wishes. It
seemed to me now and then you did not quite appreciate the danger
which threatened us, and you also appeared to have a distrust of
me, which, I may tell you, was entirely unfounded.”
“Of course it was,” she cried contritely, “but nevertheless I
always had the utmost confidence in you, although you see I’m so
impulsive that I always say the first thing that comes into my head,
and that gives people a wrong idea about me. You take everything
so seriously and make no allowances. I think at heart you’re a very
hard man.”
“Oh, I hope not.”
“Yes, you are. You have numerous little rules, and you measure
everybody by them. I seem to feel that you are mentally sizing me
up, and that makes me say horrid things.”
“If that is the case, I must try to improve my character.”
“Oh, I’m not blaming you at all, only telling you the way it strikes
me. Perhaps I’m altogether wrong. Very likely I am, and anyhow I
don’t suppose it does any good to talk of these things. By the way,
how is your arm this morning?”
“It is all right, thank you. The captain’s liniment has been
magical in its effect. It was very stupid of me to get my arm in such
a condition, and there is less excuse because I used to be a first-rate
cricket bowler; but somehow yesterday I got so interested in the
game that I forgot about my muscles.”
“Is it true that the Empress has been murdered?”

“Yes, I had the news from the British Consul, and I have no
doubt of its accuracy.”
“How perfectly awful to think that only the day before yesterday
we saw her sitting there like a graven image; indeed she scarcely
seemed alive even then. What in the world did they kill the poor
woman for?”
“I do not know,” I replied, although I had strong suspicions
regarding the cause of her fate. The next statement by Miss Hemster
astonished me.
“Well, it served her right. A woman in that position should assert
herself. She sat there like a Chinese doll that had gone to sleep. If
she had made them stand around they would have had more
respect for her. Any woman owes it to her sex to make the world
respect her. Think of a sleepy creature like that holding the position
of Empress, and yet making less than nothing of it.”
“You must remember, Miss Hemster, that the status of woman in
Corea is vastly different from her position in the United States.”
“Well, and whose fault is that? It is the fault of the women. We
demand our rights in the States, and get them. If this creature at
Seoul had been of any use in the world she would have
revolutionized the status of women,—at least within the bounds of
her own kingdom.”
I ventured to remark that Oriental ideas of women were of a low
order, and that, as the women themselves were educated to accept
this state of things, nothing much should be expected of them.
“Oh, nonsense!” cried Miss Hemster strenuously; “look at the
Empress of China. She makes people stand around. Then there was
Catherine of Russia, and goodness knows Russia’s far enough behind
in its ideas! But Catherine didn’t mind that; she just walked in, and
made herself feared by the whole world. A few more women like
that in the Orient would bring these heathen people to their senses.
It serves this Corean Queen right when you think of the opportunity
she had, and the way she misused it, sitting there like a great lump

of dough strung around with jewels she could not appreciate, like a
wax figure in a ten-cent show. I have no patience with such
animals.”
I thought this judgment of Miss Hemster’s rather harsh, but
experience had taught me not to be rash in expressing my opinion;
so we conversed amicably about many things until the gong rang for
luncheon. I must say that hers was a most attractive personality
when she exerted herself to please. At luncheon she was the life of
the party, making the captain laugh outrageously, and even bringing
a smile now and then to her father’s grave face, although it seemed
to me he watched her furtively under his shaggy eyebrows now and
then as if apprehensive that this mood might not last,—somewhat
fearful, I imagine, regarding what might follow. I could not help
noticing that there was a subtle change in the old gentleman’s
attitude toward his daughter, and I fancied that her exuberant spirits
were perhaps forced to the front, to counteract in a measure this
new attitude. I thought I detected now and then a false note in her
hilarity, but perhaps that may have been a delusion of my
imagination, such as it is. After the captain had gone, toward the
end of the meal, her father seemed to be endeavouring silently to
attract her attention; but she rattled on in almost breathless haste,
talking flippantly to Miss Stretton and myself alternately, and never
once looking toward the head of the table. I surmised that there was
something beneath all this with which I was not acquainted, and
that there was going on before me a silent contest of two wills, the
latent determination of the father opposed to the unconcealed
stubbornness of the daughter. I sympathized with the old man,
because I was myself engaged in a mental endeavour to cause Hilda
Stretton to look across at me, but hitherto without success. Not a
single glance had I received during the meal. At last the old
gentleman rose, and stood hesitating, as if he wished to make a
plunge; then, finally, he interrupted the rattle of conversation by
saying:
“Gertrude, I wish to have a few words with you in my office.”

“All right, Poppa, I’ll be there in a minute,” she replied
nonchalantly.
“I want you to come now,” he said, with more sternness in his
voice than I had ever heard there before. For one brief moment I
feared we were going to have a scene, but Miss Gertrude merely
laughed joyously and sprang to her feet, saying, “I’ll race you to the
office then,” and disappeared down the passage aft almost before
her sentence was ended. Mr. Hemster slowly followed her.
Hilda Stretton half rose, as if to leave me there alone, then sat
down again, and courageously looked me full in the face across the
table.
“He is too late,” she whispered.
“Too late for what?” I asked.
“Too late in exerting parental authority.”
“Is he trying to do that?”
“Didn’t you see it?”
“Well, if that was his endeavour, he succeeded.”
“For the moment, yes. He thinks he’s going to talk to her, but it
is she who will talk to him, and she preferred doing it this time in the
privacy of the room he calls his office. A moment more, and he
would have learned her opinion of him before witnesses. I am very
glad it did not come to that, but the trouble is merely postponed.
Poor old gentleman, I wish I could help him! He does not
understand his daughter in the least. But let us go on deck and have
coffee there.”
“I was just going to propose that,” I cried, delighted, springing
to my feet. We went up the stair together and I placed a little wicker
table well forward, with a wicker chair on each side of it, taking a
position on deck as far from the companion-way as possible, so that
we should not be surprised by any one coming up from below. The

Japanese boy served our coffee, and when he was gone Hilda
continued her subject, speaking very seriously.
“He does not understand her at all, as I have said. Since she
was a baby she has had her own way in everything, without check
or hindrance from him, and of course no one else dared to check or
hinder her. Now she is more than twenty-one years of age, and if he
imagines that discipline can be enforced at this late hour he is very
much mistaken.”
“Is he trying to enforce discipline?”
“Yes, he is. He has foolishly made up his mind that it will be for
the girl’s good. That, of course, is all he thinks of,—dear, generous-
hearted man that he is! But if he goes on there will be a tragedy,
and I want you to warn him.”
“I dare not interfere, Hilda.”
“Why not? Haven’t you a very great liking for him?”
“Yes, I have. I would do almost anything in the world for him.”
“Then do what I tell you.”
“What is it?”
“See him privately in his office, and tell him to leave his daughter
alone. Warn him that if he does not there will be a tragedy.”
“Tell me exactly what you mean.”
“She will commit suicide.”
This statement, solemnly given, seemed to me so utterly absurd
that it relieved the tension which was creeping into the occasion. I
leaned back in my chair and laughed until I saw a look of pained
surprise come into Hilda’s face, which instantly sobered me.
“Really, Hilda, you are the very best girl in the world, yet it is you
who do not understand that young woman. She is too thoroughly
selfish to commit suicide, or to do anything else to her own injury.”

“Suicide,” said Hilda gravely, “is not always a matter of
calculation, but often the act of a moment of frenzy,—at least so it
will be in Gertrude Hemster’s case if her father now attempts to
draw tight the reins of authority. He will madden her, and you have
no conception of the depth of bitterness that is in her nature. If it
occurs to her in her next extravagant tantrum that by killing herself
she will break her father’s heart, which undoubtedly would be the
case, she is quite capable of plunging into the sea, or sending a
revolver bullet through her head. I have been convinced of this for
some time past, but I never thought her father would be so ill-
advised as to change the drifting line of conduct he has always held
in regard to her.”
“My dear Hilda, you are not consistent. Do you remember an
occasion, which to tell the truth I am loth to recall, when you said if
her father treated her as I had done her character would be much
more amiable than it now appears to be?”
“I don’t think I said that, Mr. Tremorne. I may have hinted that if
her father had taken a more strenuous attitude in the past, he would
not have such a difficult task before him in the present, or I may
have said that a husband might tame the shrew. The latter, I
believe, would lead to either a reformation or the divorce court, I
don’t quite know which. Or perhaps even then there might be a
tragedy; but it would be the husband who would suffer, not herself.
A man she married might control her. It would really be an
interesting experiment, and no one can predict whether it would
turn out well or ill; but her father cannot control her because all
these years of affectionate neglect are behind him, years in which he
was absorbed in business, leaving the forming of her character to
hirelings, thinking that because he paid them well they would do
their duty, whereas the high salary merely made them anxious to
retain their positions at any cost of flattery and indulgence to their
pupil.”
“Then, Hilda, why don’t you speak to him about it? You have
known him for more years than I have days, and I am sure he would

take it kindlier from you than from me.”
“To tell you the truth, I have spoken to him. I spoke to him last
night when we were both waiting for that flare from the shore at
Chemulpo. I could not tell whether my talk had any effect or not, for
he said nothing, beyond thanking me for my advice. I see to-day
that it has had no effect. So now I beg you to try.”
“But if you failed, how could I hope to succeed?”
“I’ll tell you why. In the first place because you are the cause of
this change of attitude on the part of Mr. Hemster.”
“I the cause?”
“Certainly. He has undoubtedly a great liking for you, in spite of
the fact that he has known you so short a time. In some
unexplainable way he has come to look at his daughter through your
eyes, and I think he is startled at the vision he has seen. But he
does not take sufficient account of the fact that he is not dealing
now with a little girl, but with a grown woman. I noticed the gradual
change in his manner during our stay at the Palace, and it became
much more marked on the way back to Chemulpo, after we had left
you alone battling with the savages of Seoul. You have said you
were in no real danger, but Mr. Hemster did not think so, and he
seemed greatly impressed by the fact that a comparative stranger
should cheerfully insist on jeopardizing his life for the safety of our
party, and to my deep anxiety his demeanour toward his daughter
was at first severe and then harsh, for he roundly accused her of
being the cause of our difficulties. I shall pass over the storm that
ensued, merely saying that it took our whole force to prevent Miss
Hemster from returning to Seoul.”

“Yes, Hilda,” said I, “but not the
soul of kissing.”
Page 192
“Great Heavens!” I exclaimed, “surely that was mere pretence on
her part; sheer bravado.”
“Not altogether. It was grim determination to do the thing that
would immediately hurt her father, and I do not know what would

have happened if she had escaped from us. It had the instant effect
of subduing him, bringing him practically to his knees before her. So
she sulked all the way to Chemulpo, and I expected that the brief
assumption of authority had ended; but while we were rowing out to
the yacht he spoke very sharply to her, and I saw with regret that
his determination was at least equal to hers. Therefore I spoke to
him after she had gone to her room, and he said very little one way
or the other. Now he appears to think that as he has got her safely
on his yacht once more he can bend her to his will, and I am
terrified at the outlook.”
“Well, it doesn’t look enticing, does it?”
“No, it doesn’t, so won’t you please talk with him for his own
sake?”
“I’d rather face the Emperor of Corea again, or his amiable
subjects in mass meeting assembled, but I’ll do it for your sake. Oh,
yes, and for his sake, too; I would do anything I could to make
matters easy for Mr. Hemster.”
“Thank you so much,” said the girl simply, leaning back in her
chair with a sigh of contentment. “Now let us talk of something
else.”
“With all my heart, Hilda. I’ve been wanting to talk of something
else ever since your very abrupt departure last night. Now am I
over-confident in taking your last brief action there as equivalent to
the monosyllable ‘Yes’?”
The girl laughed and coloured, visibly embarrassed. She darted a
quick glance at me, then veiled her eyes again.
“The brief action, as you call it, seems rather impulsive now in
the glare of daylight, and was equivalent to much more than the
monosyllable ‘Yes’. Three times as much. It was equivalent to the
trisyllable ‘Sympathy.’ I was merely expressing sympathy.”
“Was that all?”

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Why Information Systems Fail Henry C Lucas

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