Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-11-22

third day, travelling With the current
and shooting the rapids. the expedi-
ton arrived at Berande. Joan, with
| 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 t.
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 Rerande. 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 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 bis horse and with
closed eyes picture her as he had seen
her that first day in the stern sneets
Of the whaleboat. dashing madly In to
shore and marching belligerently along
his veranda to remark that it was
pretty hospitality. this letting stran-
gers sink or swim in his front yard.
1t 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 veranda. Joan listening
intent and excited and Tudor deep In
some recital OF personal adventure at
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 8 certain hungry look and on
the face a certain wistful expression.
and he wondered If on bis own face
he carried a similar involuntary ad-
vertisement. He was sure Of several
things-drst, that Tudor was not the
right man for Joan and could not pos
sibly make her permanently happy;
next, that Joan was too sensible a
girl really to fall in love with man
Of such superficial stamp, and. finally.
that Tudor would blunder his love
making somehow. And at the same
time, with true lovers anxiety. Shell
don feared that the other might some
how fail to blunder and win the girl
with purely fortuitous and successful
meretricious show.
The situation was very unsatisfac~
tory and perplexing. Sheldon played
the difficult part Of waiting and look
ing on, while his rival devoted himself
theoretically to reaching out and
grasping at the huttering prize. He
did not belong to Berande. and. now
that he was we'll and strong again. 1t
was time for him to go. Instead Of
which Tudor had settled himself down
comfortably, resumed swimming. went
dynamiting fish with Joan, spent hours
with her hunting pigeons. trapping
crocodiles and at target practice with
rife and revolver.
But there were certain traditions Of
hospitality that prevented Sheldon
from breathing hint that It was time
for his guest to take himself of. And
In similar fashion, feeling that 1t was
not playing the game. he fought down
the temptation to warn Joan. Had he
known anything. not too serious. to
Tudor's detriment he would have been
unable to utter II, but the worst Of It
was that he knew nothing at all
against the man.