The Mena weekly star., 1911-12-28

iihgihg or the big bell arouse,
him. He opened his eyes and found tha
ne was on the couch indoors. A glanc
at the clock told him that II was :
ana from the direction the suns raw
streamed into the room he knew tba
IL was morning. at FIRST he puzzle,
over something untoward he was sur
had happened. Then. on the wall. h,
saw a Stetson hat hanging and beneath
IT full cartridge belt and lon,
barrelled 3S Colts revolver.
The slender girth of the belt told II,
FEMININE story. and he remembered
the whaleboat of the day before ant
the gray eyes that flashed beneath th,
level brows. She, 1t must have been
who had just rung the bell. The care,
OF the plantation rushed upon him, ant
he sat up in bed, clutching at the wal
Tor support as the mosquito screen
lurched dizzily around him. He was
still sitting there, holding on, with
eyes closed. striving to master his
giddiness. when he heard her voice.
neY9nd lie right down again. sir.
1t was sharply imperative. a voice
used to command AT the same time
one hand pressed him back toward the
pillow while the other caught him
from behind and eased him down.
You've been unconscious for TWEEN.
ty-four hours now" she went on. land
| have taken charge. When saw
the word you'll get up, and not until
then Now. what medicine do you
take-quinlne? Here are ten grains
That's right. You'll make good pa
TENT
My dear madam" be 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 a plan.
tation. Don't you want to know about
me? My vanity is hurt. Here am
|. just through my first shlpwreck.
and here are you, not the least Bit
curious, talking about your miserable
plantation. Can't you see that am
just bursting to tell somebody, any
body. about my shipwreck7''
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 al the corners He was curiously
wondering as to what her age was.
as he said aloud:
Yes, tell me. please"
THAT ! will not-not now" she re
torted. with toss of tie head "I'll
find somebody to tell my story to who
does not have to be asked Also
want information. | managed to lind
out what time to ring the bell to turn
the hands to. And that is about all
| don't understand the ridiculous
speech of your people. What time do
they knock off?"
AT ll-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 menl" 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 to your miserable bar
racks and watched them eat. Faughl
Potatoes! Nothing but potatoes. No
salt. Nothing. Only potatoes. I may
have been mistaken. but | thought
understood them to say that that was
all they ever got to eat Two meals a
day and every day In the week.
He nodded.
well, my men wouldn't stand for
that single day, much less whole
week Where is the key?'
Hanging on that clothes hook under
the clock"
He gave In easily enough, but as she
was reaching down the key she heard
him say:
Fancy niggers and timed provi-
sions."
This time she really was angry. The
blood was in her cheeks as she turned
on him.
MY men are not niggers. The sooner
you understand that the better for our
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 have to-just
long enough TO get you on your feet
and not go away with the feeling of
having deserted a white man"
"Yonre American. aren't your he
asked quietly.
The question disconnected her for the
moment
''Yes," she vouchsafed. with def
ant look. "Why?"
Nothing merely thought So"
Anything furtherY
He shook his head.
''Whyl' be asked.
ION, nothing. | thought you might
have something pleasant to say"
MY name is Sheldon. David Shell
don," he said. with direct relevance.
holding out thin hand.
Her hand started out impuIsively,
then checked.
MY name is Lakeland, Joan Lack
land" The hand went out. And let