El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-13
CHAPTER VI.
peated
TEMPEST


TT was the first time Sheldon had
been at close quarters with an
American girl, and he Would have
wondered if all American girls
were like Joan Lakeland had he not
had wit enough to realize that she was
not at all typical. Her quick mind
and changing moods bewildered him,
while her outlook on life was so diff
ferent from what he conceived a wO-
mans outlook should be that be was
more often than not at skies and sew
ems with her. He could never antici-
pate what she would say OF do next
Her temper was quick and stormy,
and she relied too much on herself and
too little on him, which did not ap-
proximate at all to his ideal Of wO-
mans conduct when q man was
around. Her assumption Of equality
with him was discOncerting, and at
times he half consciously resented the
impudence and bizarreness Of her in
trusiOn upon him. rising out OF the
sea in a bowling nOr'wester, fresh
from pOl1ing her revolver under Eric
sons nose, protected by her gang of
huge POlynesian sailors and settling
down in Berande like any shipwrecked
sailor. It was all on a par with her
Baden-POwell and the long 50 Colts.
At any rate. she did not look the
part And that was what he could
not forgive. Had she been short hair
ed, heavy jawed, large muscled, hard
bitten and utterly unlovely in every
way all would have been well. in
stead Of which she was hopelessly and
deliciOusly feminine. Her hair wor-
ried him, it was so generously beau
tiful And she was so slenderly and
prettily the woman-the girl. rather
that It cut him ike a knife to see her
with quick, comprehensive eyes and
sharply imperative voice superintend
the launching Of the whalebOat
through the surf. In Imagination he
could see her roping a horse. and it
always made him shudder Then, too.
she was so many sided.
Sheldon certainly was not happy.
The unconventional state Of affairs
was too much for his conservative dis
position and training. Beraude in
habited by one lone white man, was
no place for Joan Lakeland. Yet be
racked his brain for a way out, and
even talked it over with her. In the
first place, the steamer from Australia
was not due for three weeks.
zone thing is evident; you don't
want me here" she said. I'll man
the whale boat tomorrow and go over
to Tulagi7
''But as I told you before. that is
impossible" he cried. There is no
one there. The resident commissioner
is away in Australia. There is only
one white man, a third assistant
understrapper and ex-sailor-a com
mon sailor. He is in charge Of the
government Of the Solomons. to say
nothing OF a hundred OF 50 niggers-
prisoners. Besides. he is such a fool
that he would fine you E5 for not hav-
ing entered at Tulagi, which is the port
Of entry, you know. He is not a nice
man. and, / repeat, it is impossible"
There is Guvutu." she suggested.
There's nothing there but lever
and five white men who are drinking
themselves to death. I couldn't per
NIT It."
"Oh, thank you" she said quietly.
81 guess III start today-Viaburi!
You go along Noah, speak IN come
along me"
NOa Noah was her head sailor, who
had been boatswain of the AIiele-
Where are you gOing| Sheldon
asked in surprise. "Viaburi! You
stop"
CTO Be Continued)