Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-11-07

oi"chhesS Smote MIN, and at the mo-
ment of shifting him his thought was
that at last and for the first time in
his life he had tainted.
The ringing of the big bell aroused
him. He opened his eyes and found that
ne was on the couch indoors. A glance
at the clock told him that it was 6.
and from the direction the suns rays
streamed into the room he knew that
1t was morning. At first he puzzled
over something untoward he was sure
had happened. Then. on the wall. he
saw Stetson hat hanging and beneath
1t a full cartridge belt and a long
barrelled 3S Colts revolver
The slender girth of the belt told its
feminine story, and he remembered
the whaleboat Of the day before and
the gray eyes that flashed beneath the
level brows. She. it must have been.
who had just rung the bell. The cares
OF the plantation rushed upon him, and
he sat up in bed, clutching at the wall
for 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.
you'll lie right down again, sir"
she said
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 twen-
ty-four hours now" she went on, land
have taken charge. When | say
the word you'll get up, and not until
then. Now. what medicine do you
take-quinine? Here are ten grains
That's right. You'll make a good pa
tient"
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 a plan
tation. 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 | am
just bursting to tell somebody. any
body, about my shipwreckY"
He smiled 1t 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 will not-not now." she re-
torted, with toss of the head. ''I'll
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
the hands to. And that is about all.
] don't understand the ridiculous
speech of your people. What time do
they knock Off"
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 men, 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.
rye been out to your miserable bar
racks and watched them eat Faughi
Potatoes! Nothing but potatoes. No
salt. Nothing. Only potatoes. may
have been mistaken. but | thought |
understood them to say that that was
all they ever got TO eat. Two meals
day and every day in the week.
He nodded.
"Well. my men wouldn't stand for
that a 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
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 l won't
stay any longer than | have tO-just
long enough to get you on your feet
and not go away with the feeling OK
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. "WhyT
Nothing. | merely thought So"
aAorfbfno frrfhprFH