SOUTHERN OREGON MINER
Page 6
Greetings
1
and
Salutations
Bq B en A mes W illiams
synopsis
George McAusland ws» 38 year» old
When he »ailed from America to under
take hi» po»t a* a missionary in the riji
Island» A crime he had committed in
a lit of excitement had shattered all his
confidence in himself He felt forced to
avoid pretty Mar) Doncaster who board
ed the »hip at Honolulu
She was en
route to visit her parents, who were mis
sionaries on Gilead Island
Mary was
attracted bv George « attempts to avoid
her. One day George accidentally fell
overboard Mary unhesitatingly dove into
the sea to rescue George, who fall» In
love with her When the boat approached
her home on Gilead Island, they learned
that Mary'» parent» had both died
George volunteered to take charge of
the mission and asked Mary to be hi»
wife. She accepted his clumsy proposal,
and they left the ship to live in her for
mer home on the island. The »canty
dress of the native« shocked George at
first, but he soon became reconciled to
their customs
Mary discovered that
Corkran. a sailor friend of George’», had
come there to help George and Mary if
thev needed him. Their peaceful life
was interrupted one day when a »hip
stepped in the harbor in search of
pearls They see the pearl diver» at
tacked and their schooner sunk by a
pirate ship. The pirates head their boat
toward the bay near their village. George
sends Mary inland for safety and walks
down to the beach alone and defense
less Natives carry him back to Mary
hours later, shot through the shoulder
Natives killed the pirates that night and
set their boat afire. The long-awaited
whaler, the Venturer, arrived Mary was
told that its captain had died, and that
his sons. Richard and Peter Corr, were
now in charge as captain and first mate.
She nked Richard, but was told by Peter
that he publicly laughed at her affection
George was a sick man when the Ven
turer arrived. George agreed to leave
the island when he saw that the epidemic
among the natives was caused by his
consumptive condition
A native gave
Mary a small bag of pearls as a fare
well present.
t
Z
BIN AMI h WIUIW,
M . *_>.
i c v
“We recruited off the beach at .
Honolulu,” he explained, “Father
signed Hurd there. I wouldn't have
taken him; and I don't let him aft
at all. There's something I don't
like about that man. He grins too
much, maybe; and he's a poor hand
I
to steer, anyway.”
She led him to discuss other men
aboard; and she watched him. as the
days passed, develop into a mature
and resolute man before her eyes,
guarding his every word, speakuig
strongly when he gave orders, keep
ing himself a little aloof even from
the mates.
Peter, she saw, put
himself under no such restraint. She
thought sometimes he was too
friendly with the men. When George
was well enough, they brought him
on deck. When he was on deck.
Mary was always near him; and
Peter spent much time near
George's chair in cheerful talk. But
she saw that whoever was with them
when Peter approached was apt to
move quietly away.
And the others aboard treated the
mate with scant respect. He spent
more time with George and her than
was natural, seeraing to turn to
them as a refuge and a sanctuary,
to escape from the dislike which
yr* *
CHAPTER IX—Continued
—is—
Later Tommy made the bunk
ready; and Richard carried George
in, and Mary made him comforta
ble for the night When he slept she
went to her own quarters.
Alone there, beginning to undress,
she remembered the packet Jaram
bo bad given her. She unbuttoned
her waist and drew the little bundle
out and opened it Although she
had been sure what she would find,
her heart clutched at her throat
when she saw them.
In the dim lamp light the little
handful of pearls glowed warmly.
She stirred them with her finger,
counted them. Fourteen.
She stood looking down at them
trying to understand. The men who
killed Fritz must have looted his
schooner before they burned the
craft and sank it Jarambo, in turn,
had searched their vessel and found
the pearls and kept them, Mary
looked at them in a sort of terror;
and when a knock sounded lightly
on the door behind her, she turned
with a gasp of surprise. The door
opened
Peter stood there. He looked past
her, saw the pearls! Before she
could move to hide them he stepped
past her; took some of them in his
hands with an exclamation of de
light He turned to her, his eyes
shining.
"Where'd you get them?”
"Jarambo gave them to me.”
“Where’d he get them?”
She remembered Richard's warn-
ing. "I suppose he found them
somewhere."
He said huskily: “Maybe he got
them at the island! Maybe there are
more! Has anybody seen them?”
"No.”
"Well, don’t show them to any
one."
"I won’t” she promised. She
asked, suddenly wondering at his in
trusion here: "Did George send for
me?”
He shook his head, smiling. “No,
I just stopped on my way to bed to
make sure you were comfortable.”
He touched the packet in her
hand. "Better let me lock them up
for you.”
"I'd rather keep them. I"’ hide
them somewhere."
He did not urge her; yet he showed
no disposition to go.
"I’m glad you’re aboard. I’m a
lone wolf on the Venturer, you know.
The crew is down on me.” He
grinned as he spoke; but she thought
he was not amused.
"Why?”
"Oh, it’s that business about your
uncle,” he admitted. “They think
I was afraid. Just because I used
my head. I backed our boat clear of
the suds so I'd have a chance to
pick up the men, and after that
they started calling me "Starn all!”
He added appealingly:
“You
know, Mary, I'm still a kid, in spite
of this beard! I’m the youngest man
aboard except Tommy. I sure need
friends.”
"Well, you’ve got one now, Peter.
And really, they’re all your friends,
of course. You’re just sensitive. For
Heaven’s sake don't go feeling sor
ry for yourself.”
"The devil of it is not having any
one I can talk to.”
"You can talk to me; to George
and me.” She laughed, "In the
morning,” she added, “I want to
go to bed now. Peter."
"Right," he assented, and left the
cabin.
During the first days aboard the
Venturer. George slept much of the
time, while strength crept back into
him. When he was awake Mary
stayed with him, giving him tender
ness and strength from her store of
it, and courage and comforting; but
when he was asleep and did not need
her, she was apt to come on deck.
She learned to recognize some of
the men in the crew. Some were
good sailors, brisk, competent, and
cheerful; but others, Richard ad-
mitted to Mary, were a poor lot
“Corkran, have you served on
whalers before?”
met him elsewhere. She wondered
whether it were true that other»,
like Tommy, blamed him for the
tragedy of her uncle's death. There
were questions she wished to ask.
She chose to ask them of Corkran,
since he presumably could not sus
pect what was in her mind. One
day when Corkran had the wheel,
Mary moved George's chair near
the companion to catch the sun be-
hind the after house and walked
over to the wheel.
CHAPTER X
“Corkran, have .you served on
whalers before?” Mary asked.
“I have that, ma’am.”
"Were you a harpooner?”
"Aye, ma’am, and I was.”
“Does Cap’n Corr know it?”
He said with a respect which made
her warmly happy: “If there’s any
thing about any man aboard the
Cap’n doesn’t know, ma'am, then
the man don't know it himself. He's
able, that one.”
She nodded in content, and she
asked Corkran: “Did you have some
exciting fights?”
"Aye, some; but mostly, a whale
dies by the book, if they’re struck
-•ght and lanced fair.”
‘When they get mad and wreck
the boat and charge around, you
can’t do anything but keep out of
the way, can you?”
"Well, an extra iron into him will
turn him, like as not,” he said.
“With a fighting whale there'» no
knowing, but I’ve seen it come out
so.”
So, she thought, if Peter had har-
pooned that other whale, it might
have saved her uncle. Her eyes
clouded; and she felt Corkran
watching her, but George asked a
question that started the man on
some new tale, and George listened
with intent interest Mary thought
George was better every day.
She thought more often, after that,
about the attitude of the others
aboard toward Peter. Tommy Han
line was beginning to avoid her, as
if he liked her in his mind with the
mate. One day she made an op
portunity to talk to Tommy about it
She said:
"Tommy, I don't see much of you
lately.”
"I’m pretty busy. Got a lot of
work to do.” He added sullenly: “I
guess you’ve got plenty of com
pany.”
She decided to push the issue.
“You mean Peter?”
"Sure.”
She said gently: "I expect you're
feeling I've sort of deserted you for
him.”
His voice suddenly was husky.
"Well, you’re my cousin, aren't you?
And even that first night when 1
came ashore because I couldn't wait
to see you, you just sat and talked
to him all the time, didn't pay any
attention to me I”
___
___ _ amused at I
She smiled secretly,
his boyish jealousy. "Tommy, «he
suggested. "I know you think Peter
might have saved Uncle Tom from
being killed, but don't people get
killed whaling right along? I'm sure
if anyor.e could have done anything,
Peter would have."
He cried: “Oh. all right! You can
stand up for him if you want to!"
She decided that for hcr own
peace of mind she must know in
detail how her uncle died, The log
was usually on the desk in the com-
mon room. She had never looked
at it, but she went to do so now,
turning back the pages slowly. Since
the Venturer left Gilead, Richard
had made the entries: and she
thought his handwriting had changed
tremendously in the five or six years
since he wrote her that harsh note
in reply to hers which Peter, with a
boy’s malicious cruelty, had given
him. She turned back the pages of
the log till she came to entries in
Richard's father’s hand, till she
found at last the one she sought
It did not make the matter clear.
Nevertheless its implications were
damning Captain Corr had written:
“Day began fair, wind light and
westerly. Sighted bowhead well out
from the ice and lowered three
boats. The mate. Tom Hanline, got
fast; but the whale cut his flukes
and smashed the boat, then swept
the water. Tom Hanline was hold
ing up Joe Bingham who could not
swim. The whale smashed them.
Third mate Peter Corr was handy.
He picked up the other men. My
son Richard came up fast and killed
the whale. Cutting in tonight. The
bodies were not found. Day ended
as it began "
The words. Mary thought, carried
an overtone of deep regret like
shame.
She put the log away, wishing she
had not read it; and during the next
few days she tried to forget this
cloud which hung over Peter's hesd.
Richard counted on filling their
remaining casks among the right
whales south of Juan Fernandez;
but before setting his Course that
way he wished to provision the ship.
When Mary looked out of her cabin
window next morning, she saw an
island close aboard; and after
breakfast she brought George on
deck to sit with her under the boat
house and watch the rugged, lux
uriantly wooded shore along which
they were making. Isaiah joined
them. Mary wondered why no ca
noes appeared.
"The anchorage is further on."
Isaiah told her. “They'll be there
to meet us, and a pretty covey of
girls swimming out to come aboard.
I’ve put in here before. The girls
are a main fine lot"
George looked at him; and Mary
said smilingly: "Such talk, Isaiah!
I’m surprised at you!”
A little later he nodded toward the
bay they were entering. "Here come
the canoes to meet us now."
"I see them,” Mary assented,
He seemed absorbed in the scene
before them; chuckled, said: “Them
canoes coming off are loaded down
with what we'll want, That "un off
t'the looard's got a live pig in it
Hear him squeal?”
The men were aloft busy with the
sails; the canoes laden deep and
full of eager islanders came racing
near as the Venturer swung to her
anchor. George and Mary went aft
where Richard was; and Mary saw
that Richard was frowning, look
ing uneasily at the canoes and the
black beads of the girls swimming
out to the ship. The men aloft fin
ished their tasks there and tumbled
down to the deck again and lined the
rail. Swimming girls, their long hair
streaming, came nearer; and the
men aboard shouted to them in a
robust and gusty welcome. Mary
watched. Smiling, catching the hap
py infection of their friendliness;
and she turned to speak to Richard,
and saw him watching George, and
then Richard said suddenly: ' Mr.
McAusland, I wish you and Mary
would go below.”
George was looking at the girls.
his face stem. He asked: “Why,
Cap’n Corr?”
“Those girls will be •warming
aboard here in another five min-
utes.”
“Then why need you let them
aboard? Keep the girls off the ship.
Surely you can hold your men in
hand?”
Richard shook his head. “Be rea
sonable, Mr. McAusland. Father al
ways picked young men for his
ships. They haven’t seen a woman
for over four months. You’re young
enough yourself to know that a
young man misses the sight of a
pretty girl. It's human nature."
George spoke with more restr-Jit
than he felt. "If men can’t con
trol themselves, shouldn't they be
controlled?”
"Ever try to stop rain falling?"
Richard challenged.
“These men
have to work for me. You know,
Mr. McAusland, you can boss a man
just so far, and you can do it two
ways. I can have a ship full of
fights on my hands, fists going all
the time, bloody noses, whippings,
and maybe killings before we’re
done. Or I can have a crew of
men who know I'm fair and reason
able and try to be the same.”
George said, “You're pretty cold
blooded."
"My job Is my ship.”
"You’re responsible for your men
too. 99
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Friday, Dec. 27, 1940
HCWJQ SEW
4- Ruth Wyeth Spears <^5^
NARROW SPACE
BETWEEN DOOR
AND WINDOW
BEFORE ADDING
LONG CURTAINS,
SHELF AND
MIRRORS-----
n
3 SMALL
MIRRORS
JOINED WITH
METAL STRAPS
ALONG BACK
OF FRAMES
V---------
8“BOARD COVERED WITH
niodik ' s CLOTHO
BR ACKETS'FRINGE
A New Year’s Prayer
By DAVID CORY
Cod ¡rant that I the new year through
May time with heart and toul to do
Thote thingi which art moil good and
true.
God grant that I each morning Hart
My duties with • cheerful heart.
And cheerfully perform my part.
To near a imile all through ¡ht day.
To banuh thoughts unkind away ;
And when my bedtime comet, to pray.
To lay my prayert udh folded hand»
At night comet softly o'er the land».
To Him, who always understands.
And when the belli on New Year’)
daun
Proclaim the bright New Year u born.
And I auake on New Year't mom.
I pray Him uhisper. low and tweet.
To help me guide my wayward feel,
Lett I forget my prayer to meet.
Ancient Rites Mark
Chinese New Year
Magnificent parades of giant drag
ons and bright lanterns help cele
brate New Year's in China's big
cities, but simple ceremonies mark
the passing of the old year In the
great mass of homes.
Great care is taken that ancient
customs are nicely observed, be
cause New Year's is the time when
many events of the coming year are
determined.
Four days before the new year
begins, a feast is spread before the
idol in every home. This almost in
variably contains sticky candies and
syrups, although the gods are not
especially pleased with sweets. The
candy is offered to stick the god's
jaws together so he cannot tel) too
much of what he saw on earth when
he returns to the heavens.
On the last day of the old year,
large quantities of water are stored
in the house because it is unlucky
to draw water during the first three
days of the New Moon.
The door to every simple home is
opened at midnight of the last day
as its god re-enters amid blazing
firecrackers, incense sticks and
flaming candles. After a few min
utes the door is tightly closed to
keep in the good luck which he
brought with him.
New Year Is kBorn’
In Chatham Islands
Tne New Year will be born Janu
ary 1 in the lonely Chatham islands
414 miles southwest of New Zealand
and race westward 1,000 miles an
hour toward the U. S.
In accordance with tradition, some
200 shepherds and fishermen will
celebrate the arrival of 1941 by
proudly ringing the bell of the little
church on Hanson island as clocks In
New York point to 5 a. m. Decem
ber 31.
The Chatham islands have the
honor of welcoming the new year
at its birth because they are the
nearest land points to the British
admiralty dateline from which the
time sones are marked throughout
the world. The line curves east
and west of the 180th meridian of
longitude so that it lies always in
the ocean.
QN HER wuy home from the
club Mrs. Martindale was
thinking, "It will be my turn next.
What will they think when they
come to our house?” Then she put
her latch key into the lock and
stepped into her own front hull.
"Just what 1 was afraid of.” she
said aloud. "When you look at
thia hall as an outsider the worst
thing you think is that its owner
is lacking in imagination.”
Right then things began to hap
pen. The shabby old hall carpet
was washed right on the floor and
then dyed a deep green with hot
dye applied with a scrub brush,
The long lines of the new green
sateen curtains turned the space
between door and window into a
definite panel crying for a long
mirror and a console shelf, The
sketch shows you how these were
made from next to nothing, The
frames of the three inexpensive
small mirrors were painted red
before they were fastened togeth
er. The shelf was covered with
cream colored monk's cloth to
match the walls and woodwork
and edged with cream color cot-
Brighten Your Home
With Easy Crochet
UPHOLSTERY
v..\ TACKS
ton fringe tacked on with large
red tacks.
• • •
The method of making the buckram
»tilT.-rird valance used for the curtain* In
thh< sketch Is described fully In SEWING
Book J
Thia book contains thirty twe
homemaklng projects with step by step
directions tor each Send ortlcr to:
MKH
HlTH WVKT1I BFKAKS
Drawer I»
Bedford IIUI»
New Verb
Enclose 10 cent» for Book 5
Name .
Addie*»
HOUSEHOLD
QUESTIONS
.......-. ---
Stubborn rust stains sometimes
can be removed by boiling the ar
ticle for 10 minutes in n quart of
water containing two tablespoons
of cream of tartar, then rinsing
thoroughly in cold water.
a • a
To make your popovers really
pop over, be sure to have the bak
ing puns well greased and very
hot.
The pans should "sizzle”
when you quickly touch them with
fingers dipped in cold water.
• • •
Salt meat requires longer boil
ing than fresh meat.
• • •
To prevent rust in the stove
oven, leave the door open for an
hour after baking.
• • •
Oatmeal on a dampened cloth
will clean white paint.
• • •
Freshen up stale loaves, bunn
or small cakes by brushing over
with milk anu putting into the
oven to crisp again.
• • •
if the roof should leak and stain
your ceiling, cover the stain with
block magnesia. Rub the block
over the spot until the stain is
covered, then smooth over with
the tips of your fingers. It works
like magic.
• • •
Rain spots can be removed from
suede shoes by rubbing with fine
emery board.
Pattern 6800
When lemons become dry im
merse them in cold water. They
UVEN a beginner will find this
will soon become quite soft and
medallion an easy one to cro
ready to use.
chet. Joined together the medal
lions form a lovely pattern for
large or small accessories.
• • • ■
Pattern 8800 contain» Instruction» for
making medallion; illustration of It and
stltche»; photograph of medallion; ma
terial» needed. Send order to:
Sewing Circle Needlerraft Dept.
S2 eighth Ave.
New York
Enclose IS cents In coins for Pat
tern No..................
Name .................. . .................................
Address .................................... . ............
Place of Music
Music, like a true coin, rings
best on the domestic hearthstone.
The essence of it no more belongs
to the concert-room than—rever
ently let it be said—does religion
to the church. It must needs be
an everyday matter, entering the
hearts and homes of the people,
otherwise its true function» re
main unfulfilled.
Deeds of Mercy
Though justice be thy plea, con
sider this, that in the course of
justice, none of us should see sal
vation. We do pray for mercy;
and that same prayer doth teach
us all to render the deeds of
mercy.—Shakespeare.
SCOLDS
ifruickfy
«le
LIQUID
W.
NOH DROPS
COUCH DROPS
New Year’s Eve Fates
Every maiden wonders what the
future has in store for her, and this
la what she must do on New Year’»
day to learn her fate:
Turn the pillow at midnight, the
thirty-first of December, and you
will dream of the man you are to
marry. Or let her take her hymn
book to her bedroom, blow out the
lamp, open the book and mark a
hymn (in the dark), put it under
the pillow and sleep on IL Next
morning when she reads the hymn
her fete will be revealed.
HB PUBLIC nature of advertising bene
fits everyone it touche». It benefits the
public by describing exactly tlie products that are offered. It
benefits employees, because the advertiser must be more fair
and just than the employer who has no obligation to the public.
These benefits of advertising are quite apart from the obvious
benefits which advertising confers—the lower prices, the higher
quality, the better service that go with advertised goods and firms.