, 1913-06-26

found out their mistake too late"
"But what is Miss Lakeland intend.
ing to do"
Captain Auckland grinned.
-She's going to try to get the Mar
tina of, 1 should say, or else why did
she pay 30 quid for her? And If
she fails she'll try to get her money
back by saving the gear spars, you
know, and patent steering gear and
wfnches, such things. At least that's
what I'd do If / was in her place.
When 1 sailed the little girl had char
tered the Emily. Tm going recruit
ing says Munster. He's the skipper
and owner now. And how much will
you net on the cruiser asks she. oh,
80 quid,' says he. Good says she.
You bring your Emily along with
me and you'll get To- You know
that big ships anchor and chain
piled up behind the coal sheds? She
She's certainly a hustler, that little
girl of yours"
"she is my partner" Sheldon cor
rected.
"Well, she's a good one, that's all,
and a cool one. My world A white
woman on Malaita and at .Poonga-
Poonga of all placesl Oh, | forgot to
tell you. She palavered Burnett into
lending her eight rifles for her men
and three cases of dynamite. You'd
laugh to see the way she makes that
Guvutu gang stand around. And to
see them being polite and trying to
O1ua adyipaf ord FORD nrn fhnf
little girls a wonder, II marvel, a-a-a
catastrophe. That's what she is-a
catastrophe. She's gone through Gu
vutu and Tulagi like a hurricane.
Every last swine of them in love with
her, except Raft. He's sore wei the
auction, and he sprang his recruiting
contract with Munster OIL her. And
what does she do but thank him and
read 1t over and point out that. while
Munster was pledged to deliver all re-
cruits to Morgan and RAN, there was
no clause in the document forbidding
him from chartering the Emily.
There's your contract says she.
passing 1t back. And "a very good on
tract 1t is. The next time you draw
one up insert a clause that will fit
emergencies like the present one.' And
Lord, Lord, she had him too!
But there's the breeze, and I'm of.
Goodby, old man. Hope the little girl
succeeds. The Martha's whacking fine
boat. and she'd take the place of the
JESSIE"
The next morning Sheldon came in
from the plantation to breakfast to find
the mission ketch Apostle at anchor.
her crew swimming two mares and a
Ally ashore.
Miss Lakeland sent them" said
Welshmere, the missionary doctor,
stepping ashore and shaking hands
with him. There's also a box of sad
dies on board. And this letter from
her. And the skipper of the Flibberty
Gibbet."
The next moment and before he coulo
greet him Oleson stepped from the boat
and began.
"She's stolen the Flibberty, Mr.. Shell
don. Run clean away with her. She's
n wild one. She gave me the fever.
Brought 1t on by shock. And got me
drunk as we'll"
LII. "tislllutIt luuSutu HEARTILY.
Nevertheless she is not an unmiti-
gated evil, your Miss Lakeland. She's
sworn three men off their drink or, to
the same purpose, shut off their wills
Ky. You know tbem-Brahms. Curtis
and Fowler. She shipped them on
the F%libberty Gibbet along with her"
She's the skipper of the Flibberty
nnyuN n1nSnn hrpIrn in sAnd chasI1
wreck her as sure as God didn't make
the Solomons."
DIR. Welshmere tried to look shocked,
but laughed again.
"She has quite a way with ner," he
said. 81 tried to back out of bringing
the horses over. Said i couldn'e
charge freight, that the Apostle was
under a yacht license, that l was 60
ing around by Savo and the upper
end Of Guadalcanar. But 1t was no
Use Bother the charge said she.
You take the horses like a good man,
and when 1 fioat the Martha I'll re
turn the service some day"
"And bother your ORDERS said she
to me-" Oleson cried. Ppm your
boss now said she, and you take
your orders from me- Look at the
load of ivory nuts / said. Bother
them said she. I'm playin' for ONE
thing bigger than ivory nuts. Wen
dump them oversize as o as we get
under way What l want to know
is she your partner or amt she?
That's what / want to know"
"She is" Sheldon assured him.
"Well, who'd have believed, It! I've
seen "A few unlikely things in these
Solomons-rats two feet long, butter
flies the commissioner hunts with a
shotgun, n ornaments that would
the devil and head hunting
devils that make the devil look like
an angel. I've seen them aud got
used to them. but this young woman