The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-01-04
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continued from last issue
CHAPTER VI


not at all typical. Her quick mind
and changing moods bewildered hm.
while her outlook on life was so df
ferent from what he conceived no
mans outlook SHOULD be that he wss
more often than not at skies and seg
ems With her. He could never antici
pate what she would say or do next
Her temper was quick and stormy.
aud she relied too much on herself and
toG little on him. which did not ap
pxoximate at all TO his ideal of wo
mans conduct when 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 nor'wester, 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-P 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 unioyely in every
way all would have been well. in
stead of which she was hopelessly and
CAUTIOUSLY feminine. Her hair wor
ried him. 1t was SO generously beau
fifnl And she was so slenderly and
preftiiy the woman-the girl, rather-
that 1t cut him like a knife to see her
with quick. comprehensive eyes and
sharply imperative voice superintend
TIE launching Of the whaleboat
through the surf In Imagination he
could see her ropng horse. and 1t
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
raclxed his brain for a way out. and
even talked 1t 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. .Ill man
the whale boat tomorrow and go over
10 Tnlagi"
"But as | told you before. that is
impossible" he cried There is no
one there. The resident commissioner
Is away in Australia There is only
one white man, a third assistant
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 q fool
that he would fine you f5 for not hav-
ing entered at Tulagi. which is the port
Of entry. you know. He is not nics
man. and. repeat. 1t is impossible"
"There Is Guvutu." she suggested
eThere's nothing there but fever
and five white men who are drinking
themselves to death. l couldn't per-
nit IT,"
"Oh. thank you" she said quietly.
II guess IN start today viaburil
4Hh ~ diOhS ANvhus Spedh III tuAuS
along me-,
Noa Noah was her head sailor, who
had been hoatswain of the Miele.
"Where are you going?' Sheldon
asked IN surprise. "yiaburi You
ttop"
ITO Guvutu-immediately," was her
reply.
"But won't permit It."
"That Is why am going. You said
n once Defore. ami ii is ling |;
cannot brook
"Whatf' He was bewildered by her
sudden anger. "If l have offended in
amy way
"viaburi. you fetch m one fella Noa
Noah along me-" she commanded.
The black boy started to obey.
"Viaburi. You no stop | break. IN
bead belong you. And now. Miss Lack.
land; insist; you must explain. What
have said or done to merit thisf'
you have presumed, you have
Jared
She choked and swallowed and could
not go on.
Sheldon looked the picture of de-
spair.
81 confess my head is going around
with 1t ALL" be said. ''Ir you could
only be explicit"
but you have no right-no man has
the right-to tell me what he will per
NIT or not permit I'm too old to
Il h1 - a tytfa rdf L. Aid 1 caf oil h..
way TO the Soiomons to find one"
"A gentleman is every womans
guardian"
We'll, I'm not every woman-that's
all VIII you kindly allow me to send
your boy for Noa Noah? ! wish him
TO launch the whaIeboat. Or shall go
myself for himr'
Both were now on their feet. she
with flushed cheeks and angry eyes.
he. puzzled. vexed and alarmed The
black boy stood like statue-a plumb
black statue-taking no interest In the
transactions Of these incompFehensible
whites
-But you won't do anything SO iool
fsh''- be began
There sou 90 again. she cried
4 didn't mean IL that way. and you
know | didn't He was speaking SLOW
~ and grnfely. And that other thing,
that not permitting Il Is only . man