Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-11-28

on the face of huge breaker. the
sweeps flying swiftly to keep her on
that front of the moving mountain Of
water that raced madly for the shore
It was we'll done. Part full Of water
the boat was flung upon the beach. the
men springing out and dragging Id
nose to the gate posts. Sheldon had
called vainly to the house boys, who
at the moment. were dosing the re-
naming patients in the hospital He
knew he was unable to rise up and
go down the path to meet the new.
comers. so he lay back in the steamer
chair and watched for ages while they
cared for the boat The woman stood
to one side. her hand resting on the
gate. Occasional surges Of sea water
washed over her feet. which he could
see were incused In rubber sea boots.
She scrutinlzed the house sharply. and
for some time she gazed at him stead
lily. At last. speaking to two Of the
men. who turned and followed her.
she started up the path.
Sheldon attempted to rise. got half
up out of his chair and fell back help
lessly. He WAS surprised at the size
of the men. who loomed like giants be-
hind her. Both were six footers. and
they were heavy In proportion. He
had never seen islanders like them.
They were not black, like the Solomon
islanders. but light brown. and their
features were larger. more regular and
even handsome.
The woman-Or girl. rather. he de-
cided-walked along the veranda TO.
ward him. The two men waited at the
head Of the steps watching curiously.
The girl was angry. He could see
that. Her gray eyes were flashing and
her lips were quiyertng. That she had
q temper was his thought. But the
eyes were striking. He decided that
they were not gray after all. or. ut
least. not all gray. They were large
and wide apart and they looked at him
from under level brows. Her face
was cameolike. so clear cut was It..
There were other striking things about
her-the cowboy Stetson hat, the heavy
braids Of brown hair and the long bar
relied 3S Colts revolver that hung In its
holster OH her hip.
Pretty hospitality. must say" was
her greeting. Letting strangers sink or
swim In your front yard"
IL beg your pardon" he STAN.
mered. by Il supreme effort drngging
himself to his feet
His legs wabbled under him. aud
with sufTocating sensation he began
sinking to the floor. He was aware
of u feeble qualification as he saw
solicitude leap into her eyes: then
blackness smote him. und at the mo-
ment of shifting him his thought was
that at last and for the first time In
his life he had tainted.
The ringing Of the big bell aroused
him. He opened his eyes and found that
he was on the couch indoors. A glance
at the clock told him that II was q.
and from the direction the suns rays
streamed into the room he knew thar
1t was morning. At first he puzzled
over something untoward he was sure
had happened. Then. on the wall. he
saw a Stetson hat hanging and beneath
It full cartridge belt and long
barrelled 3S Colts revolver.
The slender girth of the belt told Its
feminine story. and he remembered
the whaleboat OF the day before and
the gray eyes that flashed beneath the
level brows. She. It must have been.
who had Just rung the bell. The cares
of the plantation rushed upon him. and
he sat up in bed. clutching at the wall
for support as the mosquito screen
lurched dizzily around him. He was
still sittin. there. holding on. with
eyes closed. striving to master his
giddincss. when he heard her voice.
"YouIl lie right down again. sir"
she said.
1t was sharply imperative. a voice
used to command. At the same time
one hand pressed him back toward the
pillow while the other caught him
from behind and eased him down.
you've been unconscious for TWEEN
ty-four hours now" she went on. "nnd
| have taken charge. When say
the word you'll get up. and not until
then. Now what medicine do you
take-quinine? Here are ten grains
That's right. You'll make a good pa
tient"
My dear madam" he began.
"You mustn't speak," she interrupt
ed. that is. in protest Otherwise you
can talk"
But the plantation"
"A dead man Is Of no use or q plan
tation. Don't you want to know about
me? My vanity Is hurt. Here am
I. just through my first shipwreck.
and here are you. not the least bit
curious. talking about your miserable
plantation. Can't you see that ! am
Just bursting 10 tell somebody. any.
body. about my shipwreck?'
He smiled. II was the first time In
weeks. And he smiled. not so much at
what she said. as at the way she said
1.-THE whimsical expression on her
face, the laughter In her eyes, nnd the
several tiny lines Of humor that drew
In at the corners. he was curiously
wondering as to what her age was.
as be said aloud:
"Yes. tell me. please"
That I will not-not now" she re-
torted, with a toss Of the head. It'll
find somebody to tell my story to who
does not have to be asked. Also. l
want information. managed to ind
out what time to ring the bell to turn
the hands to. And that Is about all
don't understand the ridiculous
speech of your people. What time do
they knock OFF,
"At 11-go on again at l."
THAT will do. thank you. And now.
where do you keep the key to the
provisions? ! want to feed my men"
"Your men" he gasped. "On timed
goods. No. no. Let them 60 out and
eat with my boys."
Her eyes flashed as on the day be
fore and he an w apain the imperative