The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-23


 
 T places in the world But to the new EzxzzcExzH chum who has constitutional under SS2Ay2a standing of men and life in the rough Fl fSYA E the Solomons may indeed prove terrible 1& E3H All the foregoing is quite true and yet 2kS MH there white who have lived in 4SE9u the Solomons score of years and who E G& ' feel homesick when they go away from them A needs only to be careful EEMEK53 and lucky-to live long time in the
 Solomons; but he must also be of the right sort He must have the hallmark of the nevit able white man stamped upon his soul He must be inevitable He must have certain grand careessness If odds; certain colossal self-satisfaction, and racial egotism that convinces him that white man IS better than thousand niggers every day in the week. and that Sunday he is well able to clean out two thousand niggers For such the things that have made the white man inevitable.
 Bertie Arkwright not inevitable. He too sensitive too finely strung and he possessed too much imagination The world was too much with him He projected himself too quiveringly into his environ ment Wherefore, the last place in the world for him to go was the Sofomons He did go expecting to stay five weeks stop-over between steamers. he decided would satisfy the call of the primitive he felt drumming the strings of his being At least, so he told the lady tourists on the Makemo though in air hey lady tourists and they would know only the safety of the steamers deck she threaded her through the Solomons
 There was another board. of whom the ladies took notice He little shriveled wisp of man, with withered skin the color of mahogany His the passenger list does not matter but his other name Captain Mau. was name for niggers to conjure with. and to scare naughty pickaninnes to righteousness, from New Hanover to the New He brides.
 Bertie talked with Captain Malu in the smoking room con6ding to him his intention of seeing life and bleeding in the Solomons Captain Mau agreed that the intention ambitious and honorable. It was not until several days later that he became in- erested in Bertie when that young aventurer insisted showing him automatic ortyfour-calfbre pis- tol Rertie explained the mechanism and demon strated by slipping loaded magazine up the hollow hutt.
 "It is so simple" he said He shot the outer barrel along the inner That loads it and cocks it. you see. And then all have do is pull the trg ger, eight times. as fast as can culver my finger See that safety clutch? That's what like about it. It is so safe It is positively foo-proof" He slipped out the magazine You see how safe it is."
 As he held it in his hand the muzzle came in line with Captain Malus stomach. Captain Mau's blue eyes looked at it unswervngly.
 Would you mind pointing 1t in some other direc- Its perfectly safe" Bertie assured him. "I with drew the magazine It's not loaded, now you know" But this one isn't"
 Turn it away. just the same"
 Captain Malus voice was flat metallic. and low. but his eyes left the muZzle until the line of was drawn past him and away from him.
 "I1l bet flyer it isn't loaded" Bertie proposed, warmly.
 The other shook his head
 aThen I'll show you.' with the evident intention of pulling the trigger
 Just second.' Captain Malu said. quietly. reach ing out his hand. Let look at it."
 He pointed 1t seaward and pulled the trigger A heavy explosion followed, instantaneous with the sharp click of the mechanism that dipped hot and smoking cartridge sidewise along the deck Berties "I slipped the barrel back once. didn't IF" he ex plained "It silly of me, I must say" He gig blood had ebbed from his face exposing dark circles under his eyes His hands were trembling and unable to guide the shaking cigarette to his lips. The world was too much with him. and he himself with dripping brains m pro prone .ups upon s the deck
 Its pretty weapon" said Captain Malu return ing the automatic to him.
 The Commissioner board the Maken1bo re- turning from sydney. and by his permission stop was made at Ugi to land missionary And at Ugi lay the ketch Arla. Captain Hansen, skipper. Now the Arla was one of many vessels owned by Captain Mau, and 1t at his suggestion and by his invita- tion that Berte went aboard the Arla guest for four days recruiting cruise the coast Malaita Thereafter the Arla would drop him at Reminge plantation (also owned by Captain Malu), where Berte could remain for week. and then be sent to Tulagi, the seat of government, where he would become the Commissioners guest.
 Captain Malu responsible for two other sug. gestons, which given he disappears from this narra tive. One was to Captain Hansen the other to Mir Harriwell manager of Reminge Plantation Both sue- Bertram Arkwright insight into the rawness and redness of life in the Solomons. Also, it Is whispered that Captain Mau mentioned that case of Scotch would be coincdental with particularly gorgeous insight MT. Arkwright might receive.
 Yes. Swartz always too pig-headed You see. ne took four of his boats Tulagi to be fogged officially you know-then started back with them in the whale boat It was pretty squaly. and the boat capsized just outside. Swartz the only one drowned Of course it accident"
 Was it? Realy?" Bert1e asked. only half inter. ested. staring hard at the black at the wheel
 
 along through summer sea toward the wooded ranges cf Maaita- The helmsniaD who attracted Bere's eyes sported a ten-penny nail stuck skewer-wise through his nose About his neck string of E. pants buttons Thrust through holes in his were can opener. the broken handle of toothbrush a clay pipe, the brass wheel of alarm clock and several Winchester rife cartridges. On his chest. suspended from around his neck hung the half of china plate Some forty similarly appareed blacks fay about the deck fifteen of whom boats crew. inc remainder being fresh labor recruits
 "Of course 1t was accident" spoke up the Arld's mate Jacobs. a slender dark-eyed who looked professor than a sailor Johnny Bedip nearly tes the kind of accident He was bringing .everal from logging when they capsized h,,. But Mo- 2O8, RELEASED FOR JANUARY 2, 1911.