Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-25


take-quinine? Here are ten grains.
That's right Youn make good pa
/ tent"
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 on plan
"a ton. Don't you want TO know about
me? My vanity is hurt. Here am
l. Just through my first shipwreck,
and here are you, not the least bit
curious. talking about your miserable
plantation. Can't you see that I am
Just bursting to tell somebody. any
body. about my shipwreckT'
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, and the
several tiny lines of humor that drew
in at the corners. he was curiously
wondering as to what her age was.
as he said aloud:
Yes. tell me, please"
That l will not-uot now she re-
find somebody to tell my story to who
does not have TO be asked. Also. /
want Information. | managed to find
out what time TO ring the bell to turn
che hands TO. And that is about all
don't understand tie ridiculous
speech OF your people What time do
they knock orr
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 mem" he gasped. ION timed
goods! No. no. Let them go out and
eat with my boys"
Her eyes flashed as on the day be-
fore. and he saw again the imperative
expression on her face
THAT ! won't My men are men
I've been out 60 your misera Bile bar
racks and watched them eat Faugh,
Potatoes! Nothing but potatoes. No
salt Nothing. Only potatoes. I may
have been mistaken. but | thought l
understood them to say that that was
all they ever got TO eat Two meals
day and every day In the week.
he nodded.
We'll my men wouldn't stand for
that a single day. much less a whole
week. Where is the keyY"
Hanging Oh that clothes hook under
the clock
He gave in easily enough. but as she
was reaching down the key she heard
MIN say:
Fancy niggers and timed prOvi-
sious'
This tune she really was angry. The
blood was in her cheeks as she turned
on him.
My men are not niRGers. The sooner
you understand that the better for our
acquaintance. As for the timed goods.
I'll pay for all they eat Please don't
worry about that Worry is not good
for you in your condition And | won't
stay any longer than l have to-just
long enough to get you on your feet
and not go away with the feeling OF
having deserted a white man"
You're American. aren't your he
asked quietly.
The question Disconnected her for the
moment.
Yes she vouchsafed, with a def
ant look Why"
Nothing. ! merely thought So"
Anything further"
He shook his head.
Why" he asked.
"Oh. nothing / thought you might
have something pleasant to say"
My name is Sheldon. David Shell
dom" he said. with direct relevance,
holding out a thin hand.
Her hand started out impulsively.
then checked.
My name is Lakeland, Joan Lack
land" The hand went out. And let
us be friends"
at could not be otherwise"- he be-
gan lamely.
And | can feed my men all the
timed goods | wantT' she rushed on
It'll the cows come home" be an
swered. attempting her own lightness.
then adding, that is. 10 Berande. You
see we don't have any cows at Be
rande"
She fixed him coIdly with her eyes
us that a joker she demanded.
Il really don't know-I-I thought il
was. but then, you see. I'm sick"
You're English. aren't your was
her next query.
Now that's too much. even for a
sick man." be cried. You know well
enough that I am"
oh" she said absently. Then you
arer'
he frowned. frightened his lips. then
burst into laughter, In which she join
ed
IT'S my own fault" he confessed
II shouldn't have baited you. T'lI be
careful In the future"
in the meantime 90 on laughing
and I'll see about breakfast IL there
anything you would fancyT
He shook his head
1T will do you good to eat some
thing. Your fever has burned out and
you are merely weak. Wait q mo-
ment"