Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-15

planned Won Blk befriended him
and was told the secret" He turned
and addressed Sheldon. II 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.
I'VE have never heard OF IT down
here" he said simply. Then he al
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; nine 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 por-
toned and packed. AS for the Martha.
Mr.. Sheldon, We'll rush the stuff ashore
this afternoon and sail by shutdown
AS the two men returned down the
path to their boat Sheldon regarded
Joan quizzically.
There's romance for you he said.
and adventure-gold hunting among
the cannibals. Aren't you sorry you
became a cocoanut pianterT
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 fyaway-toO much on the
surface. you know. If il came 10
being wrecked on a desert island I'd
prefer Won Blk"
Il 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 is 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 We're five OF these
craft-lean and narrow. with huring
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
carpenters.
We use EN- in Alaska. They're
modelled after the Yukon polling boats.
and you can bet your life they re
craCkerjacks This creek'll be snap
alongside some of them northern
streams Five hundred pounds in one
of them boats an TWO men can snake
it along in a way thard surprise you"
At sunset the Martha broke out ner
anchor and got under way, dipping
her tag and saluunG with Il bomb
gun The union jack ran up and
down the staff. and Sheldon replied
with his brass signal cannon The
miners pitched their tents IN the com
pound and cooked ON the beach. while
Tudor dined with Joan ana sheldon.
Their guest seemed TO nave been
everywhere and seen everything ana
met every body. ana. encouraged by
Joan. his talk was largely upon his
CIV ~ ul tulNl - lDtNlts = Li'fiIl pln
New England stock. mis- 1nther con
sui general. ne mad been born in Ger
many. IN which country he had re
ceived his early education and his ac-
ceut. Then still boy, ne mad re
Joined his father in Turkey and ac-
companied him later TO Persia his IA
ther having been appointed minister 10
that country.
Tudor mad gone through South
American revolutions. been Il rough
rider IN Cuba. scOu, III South Africa
and war correspondent In the Russo
Japanese war. He mad mushed dogs
in the kloudike, washed gold from
the sands OF Nome ana edited a news
paper III San Francisco. The preSi-
dent of the United States was his
friend. He was equally 1T home Ia
the clubs OF London and the continent.
the Grand hotel at Yokohama and the
solicitors shanties In the Never Never
country. He had shot big game in
Siam. pearled III the PaumotuS. visited
Tostoy. seen the Passion play ana
crossed the Andes on muleback. while
he was a living directory of the fever
holes Of west Africa.
Sheldon leaned back in his chair on
tue veranda. slipping his coffee and
listening. In spite of himself he felt
touched by the charm of a man who
had led so varied a life. 1t seemed TO
him that the man addressed himself
particularly 10 Joan. Sheldon watched
her rapt attention. listened to her
spontaneous laughter. quick questions
aud passing judgments and felt grow
within him the dawuing consciousness
that he loved her. Then as If the
scene had been prepared by a clever
playwright. Utami came upon the We
randa TO report 10 Joan the capture of
a crocodile in the trap they had made
for her.
TUdor's face. illuminated by the
match with which he was lighting his
cigarette. caught Utamis eye. and
Utami forgot to report 10 bis mistress.
Hello. Tudor" be said with q IA
miIiarity that startled Sheldon.
The Polynesian's hand went out. and