The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-20

She paused and looked at him curi ously, as though he were some strange breed of animal.
 ''Of course I am grateful for youl offer of assistance; but even that is nc salve to wounded pride. For that matter, it is no more than one white man should expect from another Shipwrecked mariners are always helped along their way. Only this particular mariner doesn't need any help. Furthermore, this mariner is not going to Sydney, thank you"
 "But what do you intend to do?"
 AFind some spot where I shall escape the indignity of being patron ized and bossed by the superior sex. '
 Come now, that is putting it bit too strongly" Sheldon laughed, but the strain in his voice destroyed the effect of spontaneity. You know yourself how impossible the situation is.'
 'I know nothing of the sort, sir. And if it is impossible, well, haven't I achieved it:'
 'But it cannot continue. Rea1ly"-
 
 "Oh, yes, it can. Having achieved it, I can go on achieving it. intend to remain in the Solomons, but not on Berande. Tomorrow am going to take the whaleboat over to Par1- Sulay. I was talking with Captain Young about it. He says there are at least four hundred acres, and every foot of it good for planting. First, I'll buy the island; next, get forty or fifty recruits and start clearing and planting; and at the same time I'll run up a bungalow; and then you'll be relieved of my embarrassing pres ence-now don't say that it isn't"
 .It is embarrassing" he said bluntly. 'But you refuse to see my point of view, so there is no use in discussing it. Now please forget all about it and con- sider me at your service concerning this-this project of yours. Suppose the government sells you Pari-Sulay at a pound an acre, clearing will cost you at least A more-that is, f5 for 400 acres, or, say, $10,00O. Have you that much?"
 NO, udFeu U Qulte SO,UOO.
 Then here's another way of looking at it: You'll need, as you said, at least fifty boys. Not counting premiums, their wages are $50 year,
 'I pay my Tahitians $15 month" !" she interpolated.
 ''They won't do on straight plantation work. But to return. The wages of fifty boys each year will come to f300 that is, $1, 500. Very well. It will be seven years before your trees begin to bear. Seven times S1,50O is $1O,5OO- more than you possess, and all eaten up by the boys wages, with nothing to pay for bungalow, building, tools, quinine, trips to Sydney and so forth" ]"
 Sheldon shook his head gravely. "You'll have to abandon the idea"
 "But l won't go to Sydney" she cried. "I simply won't. I'll buy in to the extent of my money as a small partner in some other plantation. Let me buy it in Berande?"
 Heaven forbidw he cried in such genuine dismay that she broke into hearty laughter.
 "There, I won't tease you. Really, you know, I'm not accustomed to forcing my presence where it is not desired. Yet as you said yourself, it was impossible for me to go away, so I had to stay. You wouldn't let me go to Tulagi. You compelled me to force myself upon you. But I won't buy in as partner with any one. I'll buy PaH-Sulay, but I'll put only ten boys on it and clear slowly. Also, I'll invest in some old ketch and take out a trading license. For that mat ter, I'll go recruiting on Malaita."
 She looked for protest and found 1t in Sheldon's clenched hand and in every line of his clean cut face.
 "Go ahead and say it." she chal- lenged. Please don't mind me. I'm I'm getting used to it, you know. Really am."
 'I wish I were woman so as to tell you how preposterously insane and impossible it is,'' he blurted out.
 Better than that, you are man. So there is nothing to prevent your telling me, for I demand to be con- SlQeTeQ dS UldD. l QIUu COluc down here to trail my woman's skirts over the Solomons. Please forget that I am accidentally anything else than a man with a mans living to make"
 q have told you,' he began stifiy, "that recruiting on Malaita is impos- sible for a woman and that is all I care to say-Or dare"
 And I tell you, in turn, that it is nothing of the sort. I am naviga tor, and that is more than your Solo mons captains are. And I am a sea- mana better seaman than you, when it comes right down to it and you know it. I can shoot. I am not fool. I can take care of myself"
 Sheldon made hopeless gesture.
 That's right" she rattled on. "Wash your hands of me. But as Von used to say, You just watch my smoke" SUD- pose you've been accustomed to Jane Eyres all your life. That's why you don't understand me. Come on, Satan; let's leave him to his old music"
 He watched her morOsely and with out intention of speaking, till he saw her take rife from the stand, exam inc the magazine and start for the door.
 Where are you going?.. he asked peremptorily.
 'As between man and woman" she answered, '.it would be too terr1bly-Or