Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-01-30

TATHEN Sheldon emerged from
NMI among the trees he founC
wv Joan waiting at the, com
pound gate. and he cOulC
not fail to see that she was visiby
gladdened at the sight OF him.
II can't tell you how glad I am t
see you" was her greeting whats
become of Tudor? That last t1utter o
the automatic wasn't nice TO lister
to Was 1t you or TudorT
$50 you know all about It." he an
swered coolly. "Well. 1t was Tudor.
but he was doing it left handed. Hes
down With a hole in his shoulder" he
looked at her keenly. Disappointing.
ISN'T it?" be drawled.
How do you mean?"
"Why. that didn't kill him."
"But ! didn't want him killed just
because he kissed me-" she cried.
"Oh. he did kiss you." Sheldon re-
torted In evident surprise. II thought
you said he hurt your arm"
"One could call 1t kiss. though 1t
was only on the end of the nose" She
laughed at the recollection. But |
paid him back for that myself. |
boxed his face for him. And he did
hurt my arm. It's black and blue
Look at It"
She pulled up the loose sleeve OF her
blouse. and he saw the bruised I'M
prints of two fingers.
Just then gang of blacks came out
! from among the trees. carrying the
wounded man on a rough stretcher.
Romantic. isn't it?' sheldon sneered.
following Joan's startled gaze. "And
now I'll have to play surgeon and doc
tor him up. Funny. this twentieth
century dueling. First you drill hole
in man. and next you set about
plugging the hole up"
They had stepped aside to let the
stretcher pass. and Tudor. who mad
heard the remark. lifted himself up
on the elbow OF his sound arm and
said with a defiant grin:
"If you'd got one OF mire you'd have
had to plug with a dinner plate"
s'Oh. you wretchr Joan cried.
you've been cutting your bullets"
"It was according to agreement"
Tudor answered Everything went.
We could have used dynamite If we
wanted to-"
"He's right" Sheldon assured her
as they swung in behind. ANY weap'
on was permissible. lay in the grass
where he couldn't see me and bush
whacked him In truly noble fashion.
That's what comes Of having women
on the plantation. And now it's antisep-
tics and drainage tubes. suppose.
IFS a nasty mess. and I'll have to
read up on It before | tackle the JOB.
81 don't see that it's my fault" she
began. II couldn't help 1t because
kissed me. never dreamed he would
attempt it
1--WE didn't fght for that reason. But
there isn't dime to explain. IL you'll
get dressings and bandages ready iii
look up gunshot wounds and see what =
to be done"
''Is he bleeding seriously7' she asked.
"No; the bullet seems to nave missed
the important arteries. But that
would have been a pickle"
Then there's no need to bother
about reading up" Joan said "And
I'm Just dying to bear what II was
ali about The Apostle Is lying be-
Gained inside the point and her boats
are out towing. She'll be at anchor
In Eve minutes. and Dr. Welshmere Is
sure to be on board. So all we've got
TO do is to make Tudor comfortable
Wed better put him IN your room un-
der the mosquito netting and send a
boat OF to tell Dr. Welshmere TO bring
bis Instruments"
An hour afterward DR.. Welshmere
left the patient comfortable and at
tended TO and went down to the beach
to 20 on board. promising to come back
TO dinner. Joan and Sheldon. stand
ing on the veranda. watched him de
part
"IH never have It In for the mission
aries again since seeing them here In
the solomons." she said. seating her
self In a steamer chair.
She looked at Sheldon and began to
laugh
THAT'S right be said Its the
way l feel. playing the fool and trying
to murder q guest"
But you haven't told me what IL
was su about"
You be answered shortly.
-Mef But you just said II wasn't"
'Oh. Il wasn't the kiss" He walked
over TO the railing and leaned against
Il. facing her. But Il was about you
an the same. and I may as vel tel
you You remember. ] warned you
long ago what would happen when you
wanted 20 become q partner in Be
rande Well. ell the beach Il gossip
ing about Il and Tudor persisted In
repesring the gossip 10 ne 30 you
zee Il woo't DO for yOu % stay on here
under present conditionA u would b
better n you vent away.
Bet don't want TO 80 away" she