The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-01-01

begin TO tell her.
I'm American. you see" she per-
sisted. and our American heritage is
large parcel of business sense.
don't like it myself, but | know I've
got it-at least more than you have.
Let Us talk it over and find way
out How much do you oweY'
"a thousand pounds and few
tribes over-sman bills. you know.
Then. too, thirty of the boys finish
their time next week and their bal
ances will average 80 each. But
what is the need of bothering your
head with it? Really, you know
What is Berande worth-right
now?
Whatever Morgan and Ran are
willing to pay for it." A glance ar
her hurt expression decided him.
"Hughie and have sunk $1,000 in
1t and our time. 1t is a good prop
erty and worth more than that. But
it has three years to run before its
returns begin TO come In. That is why
Hughie and l engaged in trading and
recruiting. The Jessie and our sta
tons came very near to paying the
| running expenses of Berande."
"And Morgan and Raft offered you
WHAT"
"a thousand pounds clear after pay.
ing all bills"
1.-THE thievesw she cried. "How
much do you need to carry on Be
rande for three years?" Joan hurried
| on.
"Two hundred boys at f6 a veal
means f3 ,6OO-that's the main item"
MY, how cheap labor does noun
up! Thirty-six hundred pounds, SIS,
| 600, just for lot Of cannibals! Yet
| the place is good security. You could
| go down to Sydney and raise the mon
ey."
He shook his head.
you can't get them to look at plan
| tations down there. They've beer
taken in too often. But | do hate Il
| give the place up-more for Hughie':
sake, | swear, than my own He wa:
bound up in it. We were running
slowly behind, but with the Jessie W.
hoped to middle through In some
| fashion,
"You were muddlers, the pair Of you
without doubt. But you needn't sci
to Morgan and Raft. l shall so dowr
to Sydney on the next steamer. ant
I'll come back in secondhand schoon
er. l should be able to buy one TO
$1,000 or $4,000
He held up his hand in protest, bu
she waived it aside.
81 may manage to freight a carg'
back as well. At any rate, the schoone
will take over the Jessie's business
I'm going to become a partner II
Berande to the extent Of my bag o
sovereigns-Fve got over fifteen hun
dred Of them, you know. Well draw
up an agreement right now-that Is
with your permission, and l know yo'
| won't refuse it."
He looked at her with good nature'
amusement.
you know 1 sailed here all the wa
from Tahiti in order to become plant
err" she insisted "You know wha
nv plans were. Now I've change
them, that's all. I'd rather be par
owner Of Berande and get my return
In three years, than break ground O
Pari-Sulay and wait seven years"
And this-er-this schooner She
don changed his mind and stopped
"Yes, go on"
you won't be angry?" he queried.
mo, no; this is business. Go on"
"You-er-you would run Der YOU
self? Be the captain, in short, and 6
recruiting on Malaitaf"
Certainly. We would save the cos
of a skipper. Under an agreement 20
would be credited with a manager
saiary ,sul with q captains. It's quit
simple BESIDES, if you won't let me b
your partner ;~Slall buy i'ari-Sula,
get a much smaller vessel and run he
myself SO what is the difference:"
."The difference? Why. all the di
ference in the world. In the case {
Pari-Sulay you would be on an ind
pendent venture. You could turn cal
nibaI for all | could interfere in tt
matter. But on Berande you would
my partner, and then | would be +
| sponsible. And of course | cOuldn
permit you. as my partner, to be ski
per Of q recruiter. tell you. the thin
is what I would not permit any siste
or wife of nine
But I'm not going to be your wifi
thank goodness-only your partner"
Besides. it's all ridiculous" he be
on steadily. Think of the situation
} 4 man and woman, both youn
partners on an isolated plantation
I Why, the only practical way out wou
be that I'd have to marry you
Mine was q business proposido
; not a marriage proposal" she int
rupted. coIdly angry. Il wonder
somewhere in this world there is OF
man who could accept me for a cor
, rade."
! But you are a woman just Il
same" he began. land there are &c
tain conventions. certain decencies"-
She sprang up and stamped her foe
t "Do you know what I'd like TO say
: she demanded.
{ Yes be smiled. You'd ike toesa