The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-01-03

Straight out they swan, their heads
growing smaller and smaller There
was a slight restless heave to the sea,
and soon the three heads were disap-
pearing behind it with greater fire.
quency. He strained his eyes to keep
them In sight, and finally fetched the
telescope on to the veranda. 4 squall
was 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
sea 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 as she ran. to
the fresh water shower under the
house.
On the veranda that afternoon be
preached the proposition Of chaDeron
as deI1careiy as ne couIu, explaining
the necessity at Berande for such
body. a housekeeper to run the boys
and the storeroom and perform divers
other useful functions. When he had
finished he waited anxtously for what
Joan would say.
Then you don't like the way I've
been managing the house?" was her
nrst objection And next, brushing his
attempted explanations aside: Zone of
two things would happen. Either l
should cancel our partnership agree
ment 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
l sailed my schooner down here to this
raw edge of the earth in order to put
myself under chaperon?'
But, really-er-you know-a chap
eron Is a necessary evil," be objected.
We've got along nicely SO far with
out one. Did have one on the Miele?
And yet l was the only woman on
board. There are only three things
l am afraid of-bumblebees, scarlet
fever and chaperon. Ugh. the cluck-
ing, evil minded monsters. finding
wrong III everything, seeing sin In the
most innocent actions and suggesting
s1n-yes, causing sin by their diseased
"Phew! Sheldon leaned back from
the table In mock fear
las II anything good were worth
while when 1t has to be guarded and
put In leg irons and handouts In order
to keep 1t good Your desire for
chaperon as much as implies that am
that sort of a creature. l 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 tit Is not that" be put In. 1T
Is 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 rule you"
81 am afraid you are a female Shell
|eys" he replied. And as such you
really drive me to become your part
ner In order to protect you"
III you take me as a partner In
order to protect NELL sha'n't be
your partner, that's ALL You'll drive
me into buying Pari-Sulay yet"
All the more reason he attempt
ed
do you know what I'll dor' she
demanded. I'm find some man in the
Solomons 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
Il do; l really do. l am sick and |
tired Of this protection dodge. Don't |
forget for moment that am per-
Pecty able to take care of myself. |
Besides, l 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 |!
1othing but timed meat and scenes |
hat would have ruined the digestion /
If camel. Anyway. I've reme,iied |
hat, and since we are to be partners, |
t will stay remedied. You won't die |
II malnutrition. be sure Of that"
If we enter into partnership" he
1T must be thoroughly |
understood that you are not allowed
o run the schooner. You can go
Town to Sydney and buy her. but
skipper we must have
AT SO much additional expense and
most likely whiskey drinking, IRE
ponsible and incapable man to boot
Besides. I'd have the business more at
leart than any man we could hire
Is for capability. tell you l can sail
Ill around the average broken captain
n promoted able seaman you find In
he south seas. And you know I am
| navigator"
"But being my partner" he said
DOLLY. makes you none the less q
ady"
Thank you for telling me that my
conduct Is unladylike.'
She arose. tears OF anger and morti-
cation In her eyes, and went over to
he photograph.
Il wonder IL all men are as rtdicul-
US as your" she said. II
Ha Shr1,pUo1 his ora