The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-12-27

By
JACK LONDON
Copyright, 1910. BY Street & Smith
Copyright 1911. oy the Macmillan
Company
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CHAPTER IX.
AS BETWEEN A MAN AND 4 WON

T was Satan's inexhaustible energy
and good spirits that most i'm
pressed them. His teeth seemed
perpetualIy to ache with desire.
and in lieu OF black legs be husked the
cocoanuts that fell from the trees in
the compound. kept the enclosure clear
Of intruding hens, and made q hostile
acquaintance with every boss boy who
came to report.
Christian Young sailed away in the
Minerva. carrying an invitation Chat
swould be delivered nobody knew when)
TO Tommy Jones to drop in at Berande
the next time he was passing.
What are your plans when yon get
to SydneyY Sheldon asked that night
at dinner
First I've heard that I'm going to
Sydney" Joan retorted. 81 suppose
you've received information, by bush
telegraph. that that third assistant I'M
derstrapper and ex-sailorman at TulaG
is going to deport me as an undesirable
immigrant"
ooh, no. nothing of the sort, I assure
you" Sheldon began with awkward
haste, fearful of having offended,
though he knew not how. 81 was just
wondering, that was all. You see, with
the loss Of the schooner and-and all
the rest-you underestimate was think
Ing that if-a-if-hang it all, until
you could communicate with your
friends. my agents at Sydney could adj
vance you a loan, temporary you see,
why I'd be only too glad and all the
rest, you know. The proper
But his jaw dropped and he regarded
her irritably and with apprehension.
what is the matter?" he demanded.
with a show of heat. what have l
done now?'
Certainly not the unexpected" she
said quietly. Merely ignored me in
your ordinary, everyday, man god, SUI
perior fashion. Naturally it counted
for nothing, my telling you that had
no idea of going to Sydney. Go to
Sydney l must, because you. in your
superior wisdom, have so decreed."
She paused and looked at him curl
ously. as though he were some strange
breed of animal.
"Of course I am grateful for your
offer Of assistance; but even that is no
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"
'Bu: what do you intend to do?"
Find some spot where shall
escape the 1ndignity Of being patron
,zed 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"
Il know nothing Of the Sort sir.
And if it is impossible, well, haven't
1 achieved its''
But it cannot continue Really
ooh, yes, it can. Having achieved
it, can go on achieving it. l intend
to remain in the Solomons, but not on
Berande. Tomorrow l am going to
take the whaleboat over to Pari-
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
at 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-
slider me at your service concerning
this-this project of yours. Suppose
the government sells you Pari-Sulay at
pound an acre. clearing will cost you
at least "A mOre-that is, fo for 400
acres. or, say, $4,000. Have you that
much?''
mo; haven't quite $4,000"
''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 a year.
II pay my Tahitians SIS a MONTH
she interpolated.
''They won't do on straight plantation
work. But to return. The wages OF
fifty boys each year will come to 1900
that is, $500. Very we'll. 1t will be
seven years before your trees begin TO
bear. Seven times 800 is S10,5OO-
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 grayely.
You'll have to abandon the idea
But l won't go to sydney" she
cried. Il simply won't. I'll buy in
to the extent Of my money as small
partner in some other plantation. Let
me buy it in Berande:
Heaven forbidr' he cried in such
genuine dismay that she broke into
hearty laughter.
y There, 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. 1t
was impossible for me to go away. SO
l 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 Pari-Sulay, but I'll put only ten
boys on it and clear slowly. Also,