The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-11-29

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The compound had been entered with
,ut permission or command. and all
the 2W laborers. with the exception
pf the boss boys. were guilty Of the
offense. They crowded up. threaten
Ing and shouting. close under the
| front veranda sheldon leaned Over
the veranda railing. looking down
upon them. while loan stood slightly
back When the uproar was stiIled
two brothers stood forth. They were
large men. splendidly muscled. ana
with faces unusually ferocious. even
for Solomon islanders. One was
Carln-Jama. otherwise the Silent, and
the other was Bellin-Jama, the Boast
er. Both had served Oh the Queens
land plantations in the old days. and
they were known as evil characters
wherever white men met and gained.
I'VE fella boy we want m them
two black fella Mary" said Bellin-
jana.
What do you want along black
fela Nary Sheldon asked.
kill M" said BeIin-Jama.
"What name you fella boy talk
along me?' Sheldon demanded. with
show of rising anger. Big bell he
ring. You no belong along here. You
belong along field. Bime by. big fella
bell he ring, you stop along kai-kai,
you come talk along me about two
fella Mary. Now all you boy get
along out of here"
The gang waited 10 see what Bellin-
jana would do. and Bellin-Jama stood
still
ME no 60" he said.
you watch out. Bellin-Jama." Shell
don said sharply. "or send you along
Tulagi one big fella lashing. My word.
you catch IN strong fella."
Bellu-Jama glared up belligerently.
You want IN fight" he said. putting
up his fists in approved returned
Queensander style.
Now. in the Solomons, where whites
are few and blacks are many, and
where the whites do the ruling, such
an offer to fight is the deadliest insult.
Blacks are not supposed to dare so
a murmur of admiration at Bellin-
Jamas bravery went up from the
listening blacks. But Belin-.Jama's
voice was still ringing in the air. and
the murmuring was just beginning.
when Sheldon cleared the rail. leapng
straight downward. From the top of
the Hing TO the ground. it was fifteen
feet and Bellin-Jama was directly
beneath. Shpldon's flying body struck
him and crushed him to earth. No
blows were needed to be struck. The
black had been Knocked helpless. Joan,
startled by the unexpected leap. saw
Carin-.Iama. the Silent. reach out and
seize Sheldon by the throat as he
was halfway TO his feet. while the ten
score blacks surged forward for the
killing. Her revolver was out. and
Carin-Jama let go his grip, Keeling
backw with bullet in his shoulder.
In that fleeting instant of action. she
had thought TO shoot him in the arm,
which. at that short distance, might
reasonably have been achieved. But
the wave of savages leaping forward
had changed her shot to the shoulder.
1t was Il moment when not the slight
est chance could be taken.
The instant his throat was released,
Sheldon struck out with his fist, and
Carin-Jama joined his brother on the
ground. The mutiny was quelled, and
five minutes more saw the brothers
being carried to the hospital, and the
mutneers. marshaled by the gang
bosses, on the way to the fields.
When Sheldon came up on the
veranda. he found Joan collapsed on
the steamer chair and In tears. The
sight unnerved him as the row just
over could not possibly have done. He
glanced down at her helplessly. and
moistened his lips.
Il want to thank you," he began.
There isn't doubt but what you
saved my life. and ! must say
She abruptly removed her hands.
showing n wrathfu and tear stained
face.
"You brute. You coward" she cried.
You have made me shoot a man. aud
] never shot man In my life before"
Its only flesh wound, and he
isn't going to die" Sheldon managed
10 interpolate.
what of that? l shot him just the
same. There was no need for you to
| jump down there that way. Ii was
brutal and cowardly."
"Oh. now ! say he began sooth-
ingly.
go away, Don't you see hate
you. hate you. oh. won't you go
,way"
Sheldon was white with anger.
"rhen why In the name Of common
sense did you shoot?" he demanded.
"De-be-cause You were white
man." she sobbed. "And dad would
never have left any white man In the
lurch. But II was your fault. You
bad no right TO get yourself In such
position. Besides. IL wasn't necss-
cary"