The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-01-25


away ON either side. He did not have
much faith in their ability to beat off
a hungry man eater though he did
believe implicitly that their lives
would go bravely before hers in case
of an attack
Straight ont they swan, their heads
growing smaller and smaller. There
was a slight restless heave to the sea.
and soon the three heads were disap-
Fearing behind 1t with greater FIRE.
quency. He strained his eyes to keep
them in sight, and finally fetched the
telescope on to the veranda. A squan
WIS making over from the direction Of
Florida; but then she and her men
laughed at squalls and the white
chOppy sea at such times.
The squall blackened the sky, beat
the ocean white where he had last seen
the three heads, and then blotted out
sen and sky and everything with its
deluge OF rain. 1t passed on, and Be
rande emerged in the bright sunshine
as the three swimmers emerged from
the sea. Sheldon slipped inside with
the telescope and through the screen
door watched her run up the path.
shaking down her hair MS she ran. to
the fresh water shower under the
house
On the veranda that afternoon he
preached the proposition of chaperon
as delicately as be could. explaining
The necessity at Berande for such
body. a housekeeper to run the boys
ard the storeroom and perform divers
other useful functions. When he had
finished he waited anxiously for what
loan would say.
Then you don't like the way I've
been managing the house?" was her
first objection. And next. brushing his
attempted explanations aside: zone Of
two things would happen. Either
should cancel our partnership agree
rnent and go away, leaving you to get
another chaperon to chaperon your
chaperon. or else I'd take the old hen
out In the whaleboat and drown her
DO you imagine for one moment that
sailed my schooner down here to this
raw edge of the earth In order to put
myself under a chaperon?
but, really-er-you know-a chap.
eron is necessary evil" he objected.
We've got along nicely so far with.
out one. Did have one on the Mielef
And yet ! was the only woman on
beard. There are only three things
| am afraid of-bumblebees, scarlet
fever and chaperon. Ugh, the cluck
ing. evil minded monsters, finding
wrong In everything. seeing sin In the
most innocent actions aud suggesting
sin-yes, causing sin by their diseased
imaginingsr
"Pheww Sheldon leaned back from
the table In mock fear.
las If anything good were worth
while when 1t has TO be guarded and
put in leg irons and handouts in order
to keep II good. Your desire for a
chaperon as much as implies that am
that sort of creature. | prefer to be
good because 1t is good TO be good
rather than because ! can't be bad be-
cause some Argus eyed old trump
won't let me have chance to be bad"
but tilt IS not that" he put in. at
Ia what others will think"
LET them think. the nasty minded
wretches! 1t is because men like you
are afraid of the nasty minded that
you allow their opinions to rwle you"
II am afraid you are female Shell
lev" he replied And as such you
really drive me to become your part
ner in order to protect you"
IF you take me as a partner in
order to protect neil sha'n't be
your partner that's all. You'll drive
me into buying PariSulay yet"
"All the more reason he attempt
ed.
DO you know what I'll doT' she
demanded. IN find some man In the
Solomous who won't want to protect
me-"
Sheldon could not conceal the shock
her words gave him.
"You don't mean that, you know"
be pleaded.
II do; | really do. am sick and
tired of this protection dodge. Don't
forget for moment that l am per
fectly able to take care Of myself.
Besides. have eight of the best pro-
tectors in the world-my sailors. You
were living like a savage when
came along and found you-eating
nothing but timed meat and scenes
that would have ruined the digestion
Of a camel. Anyway. I've remedied
that, and since we are to be partners.
II will stay remedied. You won't die
of malnutrition, be sure Of that"
IF we enter into partnership be
announced. 1T must be thoroughly
understood that you are not allowed
70 run the schooner. lou can 20
eama 20 ssaney and hay her. DC; !
skinner We must have
AT 80 much additional expense and
most likely q whiskey drinking. ire
epousible and incapable man 70 boot
Besides. ia have the business mere ~
heart than any man We could hire
A for capabiiity. fell you ! can SAL
al nround the average broken captain
or promoted ahie seaman you hnd ~
the soath seas. AUD you AMOS ! an
4 aaflentof
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