The Mena weekly star., 1912-01-18
he arrived and divtned that he was not


 particularly delighted to see them. But see them he must. and so pressing was the need that he led the two men into the stuffy office. Later in the afternoon she asked Lalaperu where they had gone.
 My word." quoth Lalaperu. plenty walk about plenty look m. Look m tree; look m ground belong tree; look Tn all fella bridge; look m copra house; look m grass land; look m river; look m whaleboat-my word. plenty big fella look m too much"
 What fella man them two felDa ?" she queried
 Big fella marster along white man" was the extent of his description.
 But Joan decided that they were men of importance in the Solomons and that their examination of the planta ton and of It's accounts was of sinis ter significance.
 At dinner no word was dropped that gave a hint of their errand The con. versauon was on general topics, but Joan could not help noticing tho troubled, absent expression that occa sionally came into Sheldon's eyes. Aft CT coffee she left them. and at mid night. from across the compound, she could hear the low murmur of theit voices and see glowing the fiery ends of their cigars. Up early herself, she found they had already departed on another tramp over the plantation.
 What you think2" she asked Via. buri.
 Sheldon marster he go along finish short time little bit" was the an. swer.
 What do you thinkT she asked Orn fri.
 Sheldon marster big fela walk about along Sydney. Yes. me rink so He finish along Berande"
 What nameY she asked lightly when Sheldon sat down to dinner.
 He looked at her and smiled. but il was very wan and wistful smile.
 My word" she went on "One big fella talk. Sun he go down-talk talk {; sun he come up-talk-talk; all the time talk-talk. What name that fella talk talkT"
 "Oh. nothing much" He shrugged his shoulders. They were trying to buy Berande. that was all"
 Don't let US fence about it." she urged. Let it be straight talk be tween us. You're in trouble. I'm not a fool. Tell me. Besides, 1 may be able to help, toto suggest some thing"
 In the pause that followed he seemed to debate. not so much whether he would tell her, as how to begin to tell her
 I'm American. you sec" she per sisted, 'and our American heritage is large parcel of business sense. 1 don't like 1t myself. but l know I've got it-at least more than you have Let us talk it over and find a way out How much do you owep'
 "A thousand pounds and a few trifes over-small bills. you know Then, too. thirty of the boys finish their time next week and their bal ances will average flo each But what is the need of bothering your head with 1t? Really. you know
 What Is Berande rth--right now7"
 Whatever Morgan and Ran are willing to pay for it." A glance at her hurt expression decided him "Hughie and have sunk fS,O00 in 1t and our time. It is a good prop. erty and worth more than that. But it has three years to run before it's returns begin to come in. That is why Hughie and l engaged in trading and recruiting. The Jessie and our sta tions came very near to paying the running expenses of Berande"
 And Morgan and Ran offered you whatY
 "A thousand pounds clear after pay ing all bills"
 ''The thievesr she cried. How much do you need to carry on Be rande for three years?" Joan hurried on.
 1.-TWO hundred boys at f6 year means e3,600-that's the main item"
 My, how cheap labor does mount upI Thirty-six hundred pounds, $1S,. 900, just for a lot of cannibalsl 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 been taken in too often. But l do hate to give the place up-more for Hughie's sake. I swear, than my own. He was bound up in it. We were running slowly behind, but with the Jessie we hoped to muddle through fin some fashion,
 You were muddlers, the pair of you, without doubt But you needn't sell to Morgan and Raff. I shall go down to Sydney on the next steamer. and I'll come back in secondhand schoon CT l should be able to buy one for $$5.G000 of S6.GG0'
 He held up his hand in protest. bu, she waived it aside.
 "I may manage to freight a cargo back as well At any rate. the schooner will take over the Jessie's business. I'm going to become a partner in Berande to the extent of my bag of sovereigns-I've got over fifteen hun dred of them, you know. We'll draw up an agreement right now-that Is, with your permission, and know you xvotatf rafpca f.