Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-11-14
and it was there / learned to shoe

was an old seadog. and they were botf
stern disciplinarians-Only Von's girls
had no mother. and neither had !. anC
they were two men. after all. They
spoiled us terribly. You see. the,
didn't have any wives and they madt
chums out of us when our tasks were
done. We had to learn to do every
thing about the house twice as we'll as
the native servants did it-that was sc
that we should know how to manage
some day.
more than once one or the 9th
er of us had our rifles taken away
for Il week just because Of a tiny
speck Of rust. We had to know how
to build fires in the driving rain. too
out of wet wood when we camped out
which was the hardest thing Of all
except grammar. do believe. We
learned more from dad and Won than
from the governesses; dad taught us
French and Won German. We learned
both languages passably we'll. and we
learned them wholly in the saddle OF
in camp. when was sixteen we three
girls We're all sent up to California tU
Mills seminary. which was quite fash
ionable and sitting. How we used to
long for home! We didn't chum with
the other girls. who called US little
cannibals. just because we came from
the Sandwich Islands and who made
invidious remarks about our ancestors
banqueting on Captain Cook-which
was historically untrue. and. besides.
our ancestors hadn't lived in Hawaii.
II was three years at Mills sem
mary. with trips home. Of course. and
two years in New York. and then dad
went smash in sugar plantation on
Maui. Dad had nothing left. and
he decided to return 10 the sea. He'd
always loved it. and half believe that
lie was glad things had happened as
they did. He was like boy again
busy with plans and preparations from
morning till night He used to sit up
half the night talking things over
with me. That was after had shown
him that | was really resolved to 90
along. We were ready to start to Ia
hit. where IL lot Of repairs and refit-
ting for the Miele were necessary,
when poor dad came down sick and
died"
"And YOU were left all alone"
Joan nodded.
"Very.much alone. l had no broth
ers or sisters. aud all dads people
were drowned iu a Kansas cloudburst.
That happened when he was little
boy. OF course could 20 back to
Won. There's always home there
waiting for me- But why should go?
Besides. there were dads plans. and
felt that it devoIved upon me to carry
them out 1t seemed Il fine thing to
do; also wanted to carry them out.
And here | am.
"Take my advice and never 60 to
Tahiti 1t is lovely place. and so
are the natives. but the white people!
Now. Barabbas lived in Tahiti.
Thieves. robbers and liars-that Is
what they are. The honest men
wouldn't require the fingers Of one
hand to count. The fact that was
a woman only simplitied matters with
them. They robbed me on every pre-
text. and they lied without pretext or
need. Poor Mr.. Ericsson was corrupt
ed. He joined the robbers and o. I'D
all their demands. even up to a thou
sand per cent. II they robbed me OF
10 francs his share was 8.
But when the robbers fell to cheat
ing one another got my first clews
to the state of affairs. One Of the
robbed robbers came to me after dark
with facts. figures and assertions. l
knew | was ruined IL went to law.
The judges were corrupt like every.
thing else. But | did do one thing.
In the dead OF night | went to Eric
sons house. | bad the same revolver
I've got now. and | made him stay In
bed while | overhauIed things. Nine
teen hundred and odd francs was
what | carried away with me. He
never complained to the police.
Then sent to New Zealand and got
a German mate. He had a masters
and was on the ships pa
pers rs captain. but | was a better
navigator than he. and was really
captain myself | lost her. too. but
it's no reflection on my seamanship.
The German mate was drowned. We
lay all night to sea drag. and next
sighted your place here"
II suppose you will go back to Won
now" Sheldon queried. hHs
Nothing OF the sort. Dad planned
to 20 to the SolomonS. ! shall look
about for some land and start small
Do you know Of any good
land around here-cheapw
by George. you Yankees are re-
remarkable" said
Sheldon. II should never have dream
ed of such venture
"Adventure.' Joan corrected him.
That's risht-adventure 1t is. And
il you'd gone ashore on Malaita In
stead Of Guadalcanar you'd have been
kai kai'd long ago. along with your no
bic Tahitiau sailors"
Joan shuddered.
ITO tell the truth" she confessed
''we were very much afraid to land
Oh Guadalcanar | read in the Sail
ing Directions that the natives weri
and hostile. Some day
should like to go to Malaita. Are
there any plantations there"
mot one. not IL white trader even"
"Thcn | shall go over on 4 recruit
Ing vessel some time"
'Impossble." Sheldon cried. 1T Is
no place for Il woman"
~ shall 80 just the same" she re-
Deated.
ITO be continuedl