Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-14

order to protect neil sha'n't be
your partner, that's all You'll drive
me into buying Pari-Sulay yet"
"AH the more reason he attempt
ed
do you know what III dor she
demanded. III find some man in the
Solomons who won't want TO protect
me-"
Sheldon could not conceal the shock
her words gave him.
You don't mean that. you know"
he pleaded
II do; 1 really do. 1 am sick and
tired OF this protection dodge Don't
forget for a moment that 1 am per
fectly able to take care OF myself.
Besides, 1 have eight OF the best pro
tectors in the world-my sailors. You
were living ike q savage when l
came along and found you-eating
nothing but timed meat and scenes
that would have ruined the digestion
Of a camel Anyway. I've remedied
that. and since we are to be partners,
it will stay remedied. You won't die
OF malnutrition. be sure Of that"
If we enter into partnership he
announced, 1T must be thoroughly
understood that you are not allowed
to run the schooner. You can go
down to Sydney and buy her. but
skipper we must have
AT so much additional expense and
most likely a whiskey drinking. IRE
sponsible and incapable man to boot
Besides, I'd have the business more at
heart than any man we could hire.
AS for capability. tell you l can sail
all around the average broken captain
or promoted able seaman you find in
the south seas. And you know L am
navigator"
But being my partner" be said
coolly, makes you none the less a
lady"
Thank you for telling me that my
contemplated conduct is unladylike."
She arose, tears of anger and morti-
fcation in her eyes, and went over to
the phonograph.
Il wonder if all men are as ridicul-
ous as your she said.
He shrugged his shoulders and
smiled. Discussion was useless-he had
learned that; and he was resolved to
keep his temper And before the day
go to Sydney on the first steamer, pur-
chase the schooner, and sail back with
an island skipper on board. And then
she inveiCled Sheldon into agreeing
that she could take occasional cruises
in the islands. though he was adamant
when it came 10 a recruiting trip on
Malaita. That was the one thing
barred.
And after It was all over. and a terse
and businesslike agreement (by her
nrGingl drawn up and signed, Sheldon
paced up and down for a full hour,
meditating upon how many different
kinds of a fool he had made of himself.
He had never seen more Independent
woman who stood more in need OF
protector than this boy minded girl who
had landed on his beach with eight
picturesque savages. a long barreied
revolver. bag of gold. and a gaudy
merchandise Of imagined romance and
adventure.
He had never read of anything to
compare with it He smoked cigarette
after cigarette. Satan. back from
prOwl around the compound. ran up to
him and touched his hand with cold.
da mp nose. Sheldon caressed the ami
mails ears. then threw himself into a
chair and laughed heartily. What
would the commissioner of the Solo
mons think? What would his people
at home think? And in the one breath
be was glad that the partnership had
been effected and sorry that Joan
Lakeland had ever come TO the Solo
mons. Then be went inside and
looked ar himself in a hand mirror.
He studied the reflection long and
ihouGhtfully and wonderingIy.
CTo be Contfnuedl