The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-30

Sheldon S>.. lfine D1tCerly to himself. The wonderful woman who had tripped across the compound in her Sydney clothes was gone, and he : was listening to the boy come back again.
 Well" Joan said, with sigh. "1've shown you hustling American meth ods that succeed and get somewhere, and here you are beginning your mud ding again"
 Joan stood beside Sheldon and sigh ed as she watched the Martha beating out to sea, old Kinross, brought over from Savo, in command.
 My, but she is a witch! Look at her eating up the water. and there's no wind to speak of. Honestly. if I'd dreamed of the chance waiting for me at Guvutu when bought her for less than $500 I'd never have gone partners with you. And in that case I'd be sail Ing her right now.'' 5 The justice of her contention came abruptly home to Sheldon.
 You make me feel like big man who has robbed small child of lol-' zly," he said, with sudden contrition.
 And the small child is crying for 1t"
 She looked at him, and he noted that her lip was slightly trembling and that her eyes were moist.
 But the small child won't cry any pore for it." she was saying. 'sThis D the last sob. But some day Pm go- ing to sail the Martha again. know ft. l know it"
 In reply, and quite without premedi- tation. his hand went out to hers, covering it as it lay on the railing. But be knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was the boy that return ed the pressure he gave, the boy sor- rowing over the lost toy. The thought chilled him.
 ~Never mind," he said. "You can % sailing on the Martha any time you please se--recruiting on Malaita if you want to-"
 1t was a great concession he was making. and he felt that he did ft against his better judgment Her re- eeption of 1t was surprise to him.
 with old Kinrass in command ?' che .queried- -No. thank you. He'd 4rive me to suicide. I couldn't stand his handling of her. I'll never step on the Martha again unless it is to take charge of her. I'm a sailor, Ike my father. and he could never bear tO see a vessel mishandled-"
 An hour later, just as they were Hiding out of the compound, Sheldon glanced at her sharply and noted her fAce mottling. even as he looked, and e1rning orange and green.
 '1t's the fever," she said. 'I'n have tD turn back"
 By the time they were in the com pound she was shivering and shaking, end he had to help her from her horse.
 Funny, isn't itY' she said, with ehattering teeth. Hike seasickness- Dot serious, but horribly miserable while it lasts. I'm going to bed. Send Noa Noah and viaburi to me. Tell Ornfin to make hot water.-I'll bs out of my head in fifteen minutes. But I'll be all right by evening. Short and sharp is the way it takes me-
 Sheldon obeyed her instructions, rushed hot water bottles along to her and then sat on the veranda glancing across the compound to the grass ; house. Yes, he decided, the contention of every white man in the islands was right-the S3lomons was no place for a woman.
 I~ rv.1 came running.
 Here, you." he ordered; ''go along barracks, bring m black fella Mary, plenty too much. altogether"
 X few minutes later the dozen black women of Berande were ranged before him. He looked them over critically, finally selecting one that was young, comedy as such c:aatures went. and whose .ody bore no signs of skin dis ease.
 What name. you" he demanded. "Sangui?"
 'sMe Mahua," was the answer
 "All right you fella Mahua. You finish cook along boys. You stop along white Mary. All the time you stop along. You savvee?"
 "Me savee," she grunted and obeyed his gesture to go to the grass house immediately.
 What name?' he asked viaburi, who had just come out of the grass house.
 Big fella sick was the answer White fella Mary talk m too much allee time. Alice time talk m big fcl- la schooner"
 Sheldon nodded. He understood. It was the loss of the Martha that had brought on the fever. He lighted a cigarette. and in the curling smoke of it caught visions of his English moth CT and wondered if she would under stand how her son could love wo- man who cried because she could not be skipper of a schooner in the can nibal isles.
 
 The most patient man in the world is prone to impatience in love. and .Shel- don was in love.
 But how to approach her? He di- vined the fanatical love of freedom in her. the deep seated antipathy for re- straint of any sort. No man could ever put his arm around her and win her. She would f1utter away like a frightened bird. Approach by contact that, he realized. was the one thing he must never do. His hand clasp l- Il sL t-