Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-12-15

DOu sct US 1euCe uUUuC H. gu
urged. Let 1t he straight talk he
tween u.s. You're In trouble. I'm no
a fool. Tell me. Besides. l may b.
able to help. toto suggest some.
thing" az
In the pause that followed h
seemed to debate. not so muci
whether he would tell her. as how Il
begin to tell her.
I'm American. you see' she per
sisted, land our American heritage Il
large parcel of business sense.
don't like 1t myself. hut l know I've
got it-at least more than you have
Let us talk it over and find a way
out. How much do you oweY'
"a thousand pounds and few
trifles over-small bills. you know
Then. too thirty Of the boys finish
their time next week and their bal.
ances will average f1O each. But
what is the need Of bothering you,
head with 1t? Really. you know
"What is Berande worth-r1gbt
now?"
Whatever Morgan and Ran are
willing to pay for It," glance at
her hurt expression decided him.
"Hnghie and I have sunk 5000 In
it and our time. 1t Is good prop
erty and worth more than that. But
it has three years to run before its
returns begin to come in. That is why
Hughie and engaged in trading and
recruiting. The Jessie and our sta
lions came very near to paying the
running expenses of Rerande."
"And Morgan and Raff offered you
what?"
"a thousand pounds clear after pay
ing all bills
"The thievesw she cried. "How
much do you need to carry on Be:
rande for three years?" Joan hurried
| on.
1.-TWO hundred boys at f8 a year
means f3.6OO-that's the main ITEM"
my, Nhow cheap labor does mount
up! Thirty-six hundred pounds. $1S,.
600, just for lot Of cannibals! Yet
the place Is good security. You could
so down to Sydney and raise the mon
ey.'
he SHOOK MS mead.
You can't get them to look at plan
tations down there. They've been
taken in too often. But do hate to
give the place up-more for Hughes
sake, swear, than my own. He was
hound up in it. We were running
slowly behind. but with the Jessie We
hoped to muddle through In some
fashion"
you were muddlers, the pair Of you.
without doubt. But you needn't sell
to Morgan and Raff. shall 60 down
to Sydney on the next steamer, and
I'll come back in secondhand schoon.
er. l should be able to buy one for
5000 or $6OOO'-
He held up his hand in protest, but
she waived it aside.
Il may manage to freight a cargo
back as well. At any rate. the schooner
will take over the Jessie's business.
I'm going to become partner in
Berande to the extent Of my bag Of
sovereigns-I've got over fifteen hum
dred of them, you know. Well draw
up an agreement right now-that Is,
with your permission, and know you |
won't refuse it."
He looked at her with good natured |
amusement.
"You know l sailed here all the way |
from Tahiti in order to become plant
err" she insisted. you know what
my plans were. Now I've changed
them. that's all. I'd rather be part
owner Of Berande and get my returns
in three years. than break ground on
Pari-Sulay and wait seven years."
land this-er-this schooner Shell
don changed his mind and stopped.
Eyes. 60 on"
"You won't be angry?" he queried.
mo. no: this is business. Go on"
"You-er-you would run her your
self? Be the captain. in short, and 50
recruiting on Malaita?"
"Certainly. We would save the cost
of skipper. Under an agreement you
would be credited with managers
salary and with captains. It's quite
simple. Besides. If you won't let me be
your partner l shall buy Pari-SuIay.
get much smaller vessel and run her
myself So what is the difference?
"The difference? Why. all the diff
ference in the world. In the case Of
Pari-Sulay you would be on an indie
pendent venture. You could turn can
nibaI for all could interfere in the
matter. But on Berande you would be
my partner. and then would he re-
sponsible. And of course l couldn't
permit you. as my partner. to be skip
per of a recruiter. tell you. the thing
is what would not permit any sister
or wife of mine
"But I'm not going to be your wife.
thank goodness-only your partner"
Besides. it's all ridiculous" he held
on steadily. think of the situation.
A man and woman. both young.
partners on an isolated plantation.
Why. the only practical way out would
be that Id have to marry YOU
"Mine was business proposition.
not marriage proposal" she inter-
rupted. coldly angry. II wonder If
in this world there is one
man who could accept me for a COM
rade."
"But you are woman just the
same" he began. ''and there are Ger.
tain conventions. certain decencies''-
She sprang up and stamped her foot
"Do you know what I'd like to say?'
she demanded.
YES" he smiled You'd like to say,
D. petticoats"