The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-17

he decided to return to the sea. He'd | always loved it, and half believe that he was glad things had happened as they did. He was like boy again busy with plans and preparations from morning till night. He used to sit up half the night talking things over with me. That was after had shown him that l was really resolved to go along. We were ready to start to Ia hiti, where a lot of repairs and refit- ting flor the Miele were necessary, when poor dad came down sick and died"
 ''And you were left all alone?' Joan nodded.
 Every much alone. I had no broth CTS or sisters, and all dads people were drowned in a Kansas cloudburst. That happened when he was little boy. Of course I could go back to Won. There's always a home there waiting for me. But why should go? Besides, there were dads plans, and felt that it devolved upon me to carry them out. It seemed a fine thing to do; also I wanted to carry them out. And here am.
 Tahiti. It is a lovely place. and so are the natives, but the white people! Now, Barabbas lived in Tahiti. Thieves, robbers and liars-that is what they are. The honest men wouldn't require the fingers of one hand to count. The fact that was woman only simplified matters with them. They robbed me on every pre- text, and they lied without pretext or ed. He joined the robbers and O. K.'d all their demands, even up to thou sand per cent. If they robbed me of 10 francs his share was 3.
 "But when the robbers fell to cheat ing one ano+hor I got my first clews to the sta of affairs. One of the robbed robbers came to me after dark with facts, figures and assertions. knew I was ruined If I went to law The judges were corrupt like every thing else. But I did do one thing. In the dead of night I went to Eric sons house. I had the same revolver I've got now, and I made him stay in bed while overhauled things. Nine teen hundred and odd francs was what I carried away with me. He never complained to the police.
 'aThen sent to New Zealand and got g German mate. He had a masters certificate, and was on the ships pa. pers as captain, but 1 was better navigator than he, and was really captain myself. I lost her, too, but it's no reflection on my seamanship. The German mate was drowned. We lay all night to a sea drag, and next morning sighted your place here."
 "I suppose you will go back to Won now" Sheldon queried.
 'Nothing of the sort Dad planned l. to go to the Solomons. shall look about for some land and start small plantation. Do you know of any good land around here-cheapY
 By George, you Yankees are re markable--reaIly remarkable" said Sheldon. T should never have dream ed of such a venture"
 Adventure" Joan corrected him.
 That's. right-adventure it is. And If you'd gone ashore on Malaita in stead of Guadalcanar you'd have been | kai kai'd long ago, along with your no ble Tahitian sailors"
 Joan shuddered.
 ''To tell the truth" she confessed f'we were very much afraid to land on Guadalcanar. I read in the Sail ing Directions that the natives were treacherous and hostile. Some day should like to go to Malaita. Are there any plantations there?'
 Not one, not white trader even."
 ''Then I shall go over on a recruit ing vessel some time"
 "Impossibler' Sheldon cried. "It is no place for a woman"
 T shall go just the, same," she re peated.