The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-23

At dinner no word was dropped that gave hint of their errand. The con- versatton was on general topics, but Joan could not help noticing the troubled, absent expression that occa- sionally came into Sheldon's eyes. Aft CT coffee she left them, and at mid night, from across the compound, she c>1ld hear the low murmur of their voices and see glowing the fiery ends of their cigars. Up early herself, she found they had already departed on another tramp over the plantation.
 What you think?" she asked Via buri.
 Sheldon marster he go along finish short time little bit," was the an- swer.
 "What do you think2 she asked Orn- fri.
 Sheldon marster big fella walk about along Sydney. Yes, me t'ink SO. He finish along Berande." What name?" she asked lightly when Sheldon sat down to dinner. He looked at her and smiled. but it was a very wan and wistful smile.
 My word." she went on. ''One big fella talk. Sun he go down-talk-talk; sun he come up-talk-talk; all the time talk-talk. What name that fella talk talk7'
 "Oh, nothing much" He shrugged his shoulders They were trying to buy Berande. that was all."
 Don't let US fence about it," she urged. "Let 1t be straight talk be- tween us. You're in trouble. sI'm not a fool Tell me. Besides. I may be able to help. toto suggest some thing"
 In the pause that followed he seemed to debate. not so much whether he would tell her, as how to begin to tell her.
 I'm American, you see," she per sisted. land eur American heritage is large parcel of business sense. 1 don't like it myself. but know I've got fiat least more than you have. Let us talk it over and ind way out. How much do you oweT
 "A thousand pounds and few trifes over-sman bills, you know. Then. too, thirty of the boys finish their time next week and their bal ances will average f1O each. But what Is the need of bothering your head with 1t? Really, you know"--
 What Is Berande worth-right nowT
 "Whatever Morgan and Ran are willing to pay for it." A glance at her hurt expression decided him. "Hughie and I have sunk f8O0O in it and our time. It is a good prop erty and worth more than that. But it has three years to run before its returns begin to come in. That is why Hughie and engaged in trading and recruiting. The Jessie and our sta. running expenses of Berande."
 "And Morgan and Raff offered you whatT' -t
 "A thousand pounds clear after pay ing all biIls."
 'aThe thievesw she cried. How much do you need to carry on Be rande for three yearsT Joan hurried on.
 'T~o hundred boys at f6 a year means #, ,6OO-that's the main item"
 My, how cheap labor does mount up! Thirty-six hundred pounds, $1S,. 900, just for lot of cannibals! Yet the place is good security. You could go down to Sydney and raise the mon ey."
 He shook his head.
 You can't get them to look at plan tations down there. They've been taken in too often. But do hate to give the place up-more for Hughie's sake, swear, than my own. He was bound up in it. We. were running slowly behind. but with the Jessie we hoped to muddle through in some fashion"
 You were muddlers, the pair of you, without doubt. But you needn't sell to Morgan and Raff T shall go down to Sydney on the next steamer, and Ell come back in a secondhand schoon- CT. I should be able to buy one for $5,oO0 or $60OO''-
 He held up his hand in protest, but she waived it aside.
 T may manage to freight a cargo back as well. At any rate, the schooner will take over the Jessie's business. I'm going to become a partner in Berande to the extent of my bag of sovereigns-rve got over fifteen hun- dred of them, you know. We'll draw up an agreement right now-that is, with your permission, ana I know you won't refuse it."
 He looked at her with good natured amusement.
 You know I sailed here all the way from Tahiti in order to become plant er," she insisted. "You know what my plans were. Now I've changed them, that's all. I'd rather be 8 part owner of Berande and get my returns fin three years, than break ground on Pari-Sulay and wait seven years"
 And this-er-this schooner Shell don changed his mind and stopped
 "Yes, go on."
 "You won't be angry" he queried.
 "No, no; this is business. Go on"
 "You-er-you would run her your self? Be the captain, in short, and go recruiting on Malaitar'
 Certainly. We would save the cost of a skipper. Under an agreement you would be credited with a managers salary and I with captains. It's quite simple. Besides, if you won't let me be your partner l shall buy Pari-Sulay,