Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-12-19
n,,no 40 parIv unon his words.

I'VE done it often There is gold un
doubtedly back in the mountains"
Tudor and Won Blk looked trium'
phantly at each other.
"Old Wheatsheaf's yarn was true
then" Tudor said. and Won Blk nod
ded. And If Malaita turns out as
welI'-
Tudor broke of and looked at Joan.
"It was the tale of this old beach
comber that brought us here" ne ex-
plained. 'Von Blk befriended him
and was told the secret" He turned
and addressed Sheldon. Il think we
shall prove that white men have been
through the heart OF Guadalcanar
long before the time of the Austrian
expedition"
Sheldon shrugged his shoulders.
1--WE have never neard OF 1t down
here" he said simply. Then he ad-
dressed Won Blk. "As to the boys.
you couldn't use them farther than
Binu, and I'll lend you as many as
you want as far as that How many
of your party are going and how soon
will you start?'
Ten" said Tudor; mine men and
myself"
"And you should be able to start
day after tomorrow. Won Blk said
to him. "The boats should practically
be knocked together this afternoon.
Tomorrow should see the outfit p0r-
toned and packed. AS for the Martha.
Mr.. Sheldon. well rush the stuff ashore
this afternoon and sail by sundown."
AS the two men returned down the
path to their boat Sheldon regarded
Joan quizzicaIly..
There's romance for you." he said.
"and adventure-gold hunting among
the cannibals. Aren't you sorry you
became a cocoanut planter?"
what do you think of them? she
asked.
"Oh, old Won Blk is all right,
solid sort Of chap In his fashion; but
Tudor Is a hyaway-toO much on the
surface, you know. Ii it came to
being wrecked on desert island I'D
prefer Won Blk"
II don't quite understand" Joan OBJ
jected What have you against
Tudor?"
"a man of Tudor's type gets on my
nerves. One demands more repose
from a man."
Joan felt that she did not quite
agree with his judgment. and. some
how, Sheldon caught her feeling and
was disturbed. He remembered noting
how her eyes had frightened as she
talked with the newcomer.
A second boat had been lowered. and
the outfit OF the shore party was
landed rapidly. A dozen of the crew
put the knocked down boats together
on the beach. There were five Of these
craft-lean and narrow. with f1aring
sides and remarkably long. Each was
equipped with three paddles and
several iron shOd poles.
"You chaps certainly seem to know
river work." Sheldon told one of the
I'VE use EN- in Alaska. They're |
modelled after the Yukon polling boats.
and you can bet your life they're
This creek'll be a snap
alongside some of them northern |
streams Five hundred pounds in one
Of them boats an two men can snake
Il along In a way that'd surprise you"
At sunset the Martha broke out her
anchor and got under way, dipping
ler flag and saluting with a bomb
Jun. The union jack ran up and
Town the staff. ana Sheldon replied
With his brass signal cannon. The
miners pitched their tents in the COM
)ound and cooked on the beach, while
Tudor dined with Joan and sheldon.
Their guest seemed TO havp been
and seen everything and
net everybody, and. encouraged by
Oan. his talk was largely upon his
'wn adventures. Descended from old
Sew England stock, his father a con.
ul general. he had been born In Ger
many. In which country he had re-
eived his early education and his ac-
ent Then, still a boy. he mad re-
oined bis father in Turkey and ac-
ompanied him later TO Persia. his IA.
her having been appointed minister TO
hat country.
Tudor had gone through South
american revolutions. been a rough
ider In Cuba, scout In South Africa
nd a war correspondent In the Russo
apanese war. he hsd mushed dogs
the Klondike. washed gold from
be sands OF Nome ana edited a news
aper In San Francisco. Tue presi.
ent OF the United States was his
nend BE was equally at home in
be clubs OF London and the continent
be Grand hotel at fOkohama and the
electors shanues In the Never Never
ountry. he had shot big game in ,
lam. pearied In the Paumotus, visited 1
'olstoy. seen the Passion play and {
rossed the Andes on muleback, while
e was living directory Of the fever {
oles Of west Africa.
Sheldon leaned back in bis chair on
be veranda. slipping bis coffee and :
stening. In spite Of himself be felt I
'nched By the charm OF a man who 5
ad led 50 varied e life. IL seemed 10 '
I'm that the man addressed himself g