The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1912-01-12
CHAPTER vi,
TEMPEST

were like Joan Lakeland had he not
had wit enough to realize that she was
not at all typical. Her quick mind
while her outlook on life was so diff
ferent from what he conceived wo-
mans outlook should be that he was
more often than not at skies and sew
ems with her. He could never antici-
pate what she would say or do next.
Her temper was quick and stormy.
and she relied too much on herself and
too little on him. which did not APP
proximate at all to his ideal of wo-
mans conduct when a man was
around. Her assumption of equality
with him was disconcerting. .and at
times he half consciously resented the
impudence and bizarreness of her in
trusion upon him, rising out of the
sea in a bowling norwester. fresh
from poking her revolver under Eric
sons nose. protected by her gang Of
huge Polynesian sailors and settling
down in Berande like any shipwrecked
sailor. 1t was all on a par with her
Baden-Powell and the long 80 Colts.
At any rate, she did not look the
part And that was what he could
not forgive. Had she been short hair
ed. heavy jawed. large muscled, hard
bitten and utterly unlovely in every
way all would have been well. in
stead of which she was hopelessly and
deliciously feminine. Her hair wor-
ried him, 1t was so generously beau
tiful. And she was so slenderly and
prettily the woman-the girl. rather
that it cut him like a knife to see her
with quick. comprehensive eyes and
sharply imperative voice superintend
the launching Of the whaleboat
through the surf. In Imagination he
could see her roping a horse. and it
always made him shudder. Then. too.
she was so many sided.
Sheldon certainly was not happy.
The unconventional state of affairs
was too much for his conservative dis
position and training. Berande. in
habited by one lone white man, was
no place for Joan Lakeland. Yet he
racked his brain for a way out. and
even talked It over with her. In the
first place. the steamer from Australia
was not due for three weeks.
"One thing is evident; you don't
want me here" she said. III man
the whale boat tomorrow and go over
to Tulagi."
but as l told you before, that is
impossible" he cried. There is no
one there. The resident commissioner
is away in Australia. There is only
understrapper and ex-sailor-a COM
mon sailor. He is in charge of the
government of the Solomons. to say
nothing of hundred or so niggers-
prisoners. Besides. he is such fool
that he would fine you Is for not hav-
ing entered at Tulagi. which is the port
of entry. you know. He is not nice
man. and. repeat. it is impossible"
There is Guvutu." she suggested.
There's nothing there but fever
end five white men who are drinking
Themselves to death. l couldn't per.
init it."
"Oh. thank you" she said quietly.
Il guess I'll start today-Viaburi
You 50 along Noah. speak m come
along me-"
Noa Noah was her head sailor. who
had been boatswain of the Miele.
Where are you going"" Sheldon
asked in surprise. "Viaburi! You
stop"
ITO Guvutu-immediately." was bel
reply.
But / won't permit it."
"That Is why am going. You SAID
1t once before. and it is something
cannot brook"
"What?" He was bewildered by hel
sudden anger. eff l have offended 1.
any way
"viaburi. you fetch m one fella No
Noah along me-" she commanded.
The black boy started to obey.
''Viaburi. You no stop / break n
head belong you. And now. Miss Lack
land; insist; you must explain. VIVA
have l said or done to merit this?"
You have presumed, you hav
dared
She choked and swallowed and coul
not so on.
Sheldon looked the picture Of de
spair.
; 81 confess my head is going aroun
with 1t ALL" he said. "If you coul
only be explicit"
But you have no right-no man ha
the right-to tell me what he will pei
init or not permit. I'm too old
have a guardian. nor did sail all tn
way to the Solomons to find one"
! "a gentleman Is every woman