Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-04

appeared the polished green OF jade.
the sheen of pearl and the warm red
OF oriental gold The other head.
equally ancient. was a white mans.
and Sheldon wondered what forgotten
beche-der-mer fisherman or sandalwood
trader had gone to furnish that ghast
ly trophy.
Telling Binu Charley to remove the
earrings and directing the Poonga-
Poonga men TO carry out the old flre
tender. Sheldon cleared the devil-devil
house and set FIRE to It Soon every
ho1se was blazing merrily. while the
ancient FIRE tender sat upright in the
sunshine blinking at the destruction
Of his village Every member OF Tu-
doris expedition was accounted for,
and 1t was long. dark way ont OF the
head hunters country. Releasing their
two prisoners. who ieaped away like
startled deer. they plunged down the
steep path into the steaming jungle.
That night found them back In camp
with Tudor. and at high noon of the
third day. travelling with the current
and shooting the rapids. the expedi-
ton arrived at Berande. Joan, with
q sigh. unbuckled her revolver belt and
hung it on the nail in the living room.
while Sheldon, who had been lurking
about for the sheer Joy of seeing her
! perform that particular homecoming
act, sighed. too. with satisfaction. But
the homecoming was not all joy to
I him. for Joan set about nursing Tudor
and spent much time on the veranda
when he lay In the hammock under the
mosquito netting.
The ten days of Tudor's GONZALES
cence that followed were peaceful
days on Berande. The work Of the
plantation went on like clockwork.
With the crushing Of the premature
outbreak of Gogoomy and his follow
ing all characterization seemed to have
vanished. Twenty more Of the old
time boys. their term of service up.
were carried away by the Martha.
and the fresh stock Of labor. treated
fairly, was proving of excellent quail
ity. As Sheldon rode about the plan
tation acknowledging to himself the
comfort and convenience of a horse
and wondering why he had not thought
Of getting one himself. he pondered
the various improvements for which
Joan was responsible.
There were times when he was dizzy
with thought Of her and love of her,
when he would stop his horse and with
closed eyes picture her as he had seen
her that first day In the stern sheets
Of the wbaleboat dashinC mndly in to
shore and marching belligerenuy along
his veranda to remark that 1t was
pretty hospitality. this letting stran-
gers sink or swim In his front yard.
II was patent to Sheldon that Tu-
dor had become interested IN Joan
Often after his morning ride over the
plantation or coming in from the
store or from inspection of the copra
drying. Sheldon found the pair of them
together on the vera nda. Joan listening
intent and excited and Tudor deep in
some recital of personal adventure al
the ends of the earth.
Sheldon noticed. too. the way Tudor
looked at her and followed her about
with his eyes. and in those eyes he
noted a certain hungry look and or
, the face certain wistful expression
and be wondered If on his own face
he carried u similar involuntary ad
vertisement He was sure of severa
things-frst. that Tudor was not the
right man for Joan and could not pos
sibly make her permanently happy
next. that Joan was too sensible 1
girl really TO fall In love with n mar
, of such superficial stamp. and. finally
that Tudor would blunder his love
making somehow. And at the SANE
time. with true lovers anxiety. Shel
don feared that the other might some
, how fail to blunder and win the CIR
: with purely fortuitOus and successful
, meretriciOuS show.
The situation was very unsatisfac
tory and perplexing Sheldon nlaye'
r the difficult part of waiting and look
a ing on. while his rival devoted himSel
energetically TO reaching out an,
grasping nj the fiuttering prize. H
, did not belong to Berande. and. nov
! that he was we'll and strong again.
was time for him to go. Instead o
, which Tudor had settled himself dow,
;. comfortably. resumed swimming. wen
dynamiting fish with Joan. spent hour
= with her hunting pigeons. trappin
!. crocodiles and at target practice wit
a rifle and revolver
But there were certain traditions {
II hospitality that prevented SheldO
q from breathing hint that it was tim
for his guest TO take himself Off An
|. in similar fashion. feeling that it wa
!. not playing the game. he fought dow
a the temptation to warn Joan. Had /
a known anything. not too serious.
q Tudor's detriment. he would have bee
unable to utter ii. hut the worst OF
was that he knew nothing at q
against the man.
:, (To be Continued