The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-16

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the Solomons may indeed prove terrible.
-" All the foregoing is quite true, and yet
there white who have lived in
the SoIomons a of years and who
HU& feel homesick when they away from
them A needs only to be careful
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 newt
able white man stamped upon his soul He must be
inevitable. He must have certain grand careessness
of odds; certain colossal selfsatisfaction. and
racial egotsm that convinces him that white man
ia better than a thousand niggers every day in the
week. and that on Sunday he is well able to clean out
two thousand niggers For such are the things that
have made the white inevitable.
BERTHE Arkwrght not inevitable. He was too
sensitive too finely strung and he possessed too much
projected himself too quveringly into his environ
ment Wherefore. the last place in the world for him
to 20 the SolomOns He did not 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 the Makemo though in diff
ferent terms: and they worshiped him as hero for
they lady tourists and they would know only the
safety of the steamers deck she threaded her way
through the SolOmOns.
There another man on board, Of whom the
ladies' notice. He little shriveled wisp
Of a man. with withered skin the color Of mahogany.
His the list does not matter but his
other name, Captain Malu was name for niggers to
conjure WITH and to naughty pickaninnies to
riEl, eousness. from New Hanover to the New He
brides
BERTHE talked with Captain Maiu in the smoking
room. confdng to him his intention Of seeing life red
and bleeding in the Solomons. Captain Malu agreed
that the intention was ambitious and honorable 1t
was not until several days later that he became In
terested In Berthe when that young adventurer insisted
showing him automatic forty-four-calibre pis-
toll Berte explained the mechanism and demon
strated by slipping loaded magazine up the hollow
1T il 80 simple" he said He shot the outer barrel
back along the inner one THAT loads 1t and cocks
ger. eight times. fast as can culver my finger
See that safety clutch? That's what like about It,
IT. s 20 .afs see So ..s
Az he held 1t in his hand the muzzle came In line
With Captain Malu's stomach. Captain Mau's blue
eyes looked at 1t unswervngly
would you mind pointing It in some other direc-
"It's perfectly safe" BERTHE assured him. IT with:
drew the magazine It's not loaded, now. you know"
a." "A gun M, Is o always avs loaded"
Turn 1t away. just the same" st
Captain Malu's voice was fat metallic. and low.
was drawn past tt him H.. and away from him '
"Ill bet aver it isn't loaded" Berthe proposed,
The other shook his head.
Then I'll show YOU"
Berthe started to put the muzzle to his own temple
"Just a second" Captain Mau said. quietly, reach
ing out his hand. LET me look at it,
bssvv s1pIoson foowed anu nstsntapeous With the
sharp click Of the mechanism that Tipped hot and
smoking cartridge sidewise along the deck. Berries
~ slipped the barrel back once, didn't To- he
planned 1T was silly Of me- l 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 saw himself with
dripping brains prone upon the deck.
IT'S pretty weapon" said Captain Malu, return.
Ing the automatic to him.
The Commissioner was on board the Mackenzie, re-
was made at Usi to land a missionary. And at UEi
lay the ketch Aria. Captain Hansen. skipper Now
Mau. ana it his suggestion and by his invita-
ton that BERTHE went aboard the Aria guest for
Thereafter the Aria would drop him at Reminge
plantation (also owned by Captain Mau). where
BERTHE could remain for week and then be sent over
become the Commissioners guest
gestions, which given he disappears from this
tive One was to Captain Hansen the other to Mr..
Harriwel, manager Of Reminge Plantation Both sug-
gestions were similar In tenor. namely to give Mr.
Bertram Arkwrixht an insight into the rawness and
credness Of life in the Solomons Alss. s whispered
that Captain Malu mentioned that a Of Scotch
would be concdental with any gorgeous
insight Mr.. Arkwrght might receive.
he TOOK Of hs bsss sUo 70 be
-cfncialy. You know-then started back with them in
the whale boat 1t was pretty squally and the boat
drowned OF course it was an accident" WV
"was it? Really! BERTHE asked only half inter
estsd staring hard at the black ma. At the wheel
along through summer toward the wooded ranges
q Malaita The helmsman who 80 attracted Bertie's
through HE nose About his neck s' was string Of
pants buttons Thrust through holes In his
q can opener the broken handle Of toothbrush. a
clay pipe. the brass wheel Of alarm clock and
several Winchester ride cartridges On his chest,
suspenaed from around his neck, hung the half Of
china plate. Some forty similarly appareled blacks
lay about the deck. fifteen OF whom were boats crew.
the remainder being fresh labor recruits
"Of course 1t was accident" spoke up the Arlas
mate Jacobs. Q slender, darkeysd man who looked
moro professor than q sailor Johnny Bedip nearly
haA the same kind Of accident. He was bringing
ssvstal from nossins when they capsissd him. But
Ma ~, RELEASED FOR JANUARY Z. 1911