The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1912-01-26
Adventure

you could communicate with your
friends. my agents at Sydney could ad-
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
done now?'
Certainly not the unexpected" she
said quietly. Merely ignored me in
your ordinary, everyday, man god, su-
perior fashion. Naturally it counted
for nothing. my telling you that had
no idea Of going to Sydney. Go to
Sydney I must. because you. in your
superior wisdom. have 50 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"
"But what do you intend to do"
"Find some spot where I shall
escape the indignity Of being patron
lied 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"
II know nothing Of the sort, sir.
And if it is impossible, we'll, haven't
I achieved it?"
But it cannot continue. Really
ooh, yes. it can. Having achieved
it, can 60 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
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 q bungalow; and then you'll
be relieved of my embarrassing pres
ence-now don't say that it isn't"
1T 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
a pound an acre. clearing will cost you
at least "a more-that is. So for 400
acres. or, say, $4,000 Have you that
nNeh?"
mo; l haven't quite $S,OOO."
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 year"
Il pay my Tahitians SIS month"
she interpoated.
"They won't do on straight plantatio
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 81, 800 is $10,500-
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 gravely.
you'll have to abandon the idea''
But l won't go to Sydney" she
cried. 81 simply won't. I'll buy in
to the extent Of my money as a small
partner in some other plantation. Let
me buy it in Berande"
Heaven forbid!' he cried in such
genuine dismay that she broke into
hearty laughter.
There, l 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, it
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 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.
I'll invest in some old ketch and take
out trading license. For that mat
ter, I'll go recruiting on Malaita."
She looked for protest and found it
in Sheldon's clenched hand and in
every line of his clean cut face.
go ahead and say it." she chal-
lenged. 'Please don't mind me, I'm