Evening journal., 1904-06-04


open ut the throat. the belt with its
sheath knife, her arms big and white
and tattoocd I'm sailor fashion, her
thick. muscular neck; her red face,
with its pale blue eyes and almost
jaw, and her hair, her heavy
yellow. fragrant hair, TINT lay over
her shoulder and breast. colllng and
looping in her lap
"No." he said. with long breath, "I
don't make it out. knew you were
ont Of my experience, but I begin 70
think now that You are out Of even my
Imagination. You are right, you should
keep TO yourself You should be alone
your mate isn't made yet. You are
splendid just as you are" while under
his breath he added his teeth clinch'
ing. "but ! love you."
It was growing late, the stars were
all out, the moon riding high. Moran
yawned
"Alate. ! think I'll turn In. Wen
have to be at that schooner early In
the morning. and l make no doubt
she'll give us plenty to do" wilbur
hesitated to reply, waiting to take his
cue from what next she should say.
Its hot enough TO sleep where We
are" she added, without going aboard
the Bertha. though we might have a
couple of blankets off to lie on. This
sands as hard as a plank"
Without answering, Wilbur showed
her n couple Of blanket rolls he had
brought Off while he was unloading
part of the stores that afternoon. They
took one apiece and spread them on
the sand by the bleachcd whales
skull Moran pulled off her boots and
stretched herself upon her blanket
WITH absolute unconcern her hands
clasped under her head. Wilbur rolled
up his coat for pillow and settled
himself for the night with an assumed
self possession. There was a long ST.
lence Moran yawnod again.
IL pulled the heel of my boot this
morning" she said lazlly "and I've
been limping all day.
Il noticed It," answered Wilbur
'Ilitchel had a new pair aboard some
where, If they're not spoiled by tho
water now"
"YesT she said indifferently. "We1
look them up in the morning"
Again there was silence.
81 wonder" she began again, star
ing up into the dark III Charlie tool
that frying pan off with him when he
went"
Il don't know. He probably did"
1T was the only thing we had e
cook abalones in Make me think Il
look into the galley tomorrow. Thi
grounds as hard as nails. for all you
blankets Well good night mate. In
going TO sleep"
Good night, Moran"
Three hours later Wilbur, who ha'
not closed his eyes, sat up and looked
at Moran, sleeping quietly. her head q
a pale glory Of hair-looked at her anl
then around him at the silent deserte'
land.
81 don't know" he said to himself
"Am right minded man and a thol
oughbred, or n mushhead, or merely
prudent, sensible sort of chap that va
ues his skin and bones3 I'd be glad I
put name 70 myself" Then MOI
earnestly he added, do l love her to
much. or not enough, or love her tb
wrong way. or how?" He leaned t'
ward her, SO close that he could cate
the SAVIOR of her breath and the sme
of her neck. warm with sleep III
sleeve of the coarse blue shirt WA
drawn up, and it seemed TO him as
her bare arm. flung out at full lengtl
had some sweet aroma of its own. Wi
bur drew softly back.
NO" he said to himself decisivel,
mo l guess l am a thoroughbred aft,
ALL" 1t was only then that he went {
sleep
When he awoke, the sea was pin
with the sunrise, and one Of the ba
heads was all distorted and stratifie
by a mirage. IL was hot already NJ
ran was sitting a few PAGES from hin
braiding her hair
"Hello, Moran he said, rousing vi
"How long have you been upY'
"Snce before SUNRISE" she sai
"rve had a bath in the cove where Il
creek runs down. I saw jack rabbit
"soen anything Of Charlie and Il
othersg'
"They've camped on the other side
the hay. But look yonder," she adde
The junk had come I'm overnight an
was about mile and half fro
shore,
"The deucew exclaimed Wnbu
, "What are they aftcr?'
Fresh water guess" said Mora
knotting the end Of a braid "Wed be
ter have breakfast in a hurry and tul
TO on the Bertha The tide is going o.
, fast"
n While they breakfasted they ke
Z an eye on the schooner watching n
I sides and fanks as the water fell slo'
ly away
a Don't see anything very bad yet
h said Wilbur.
1 ITS somewheres in her stern" 7
r marked Moran.
In an hours time the Bertha NIilln
was high and dry. and they could g
). anime her MT their leisure. II was N
X ran who found the leak.
q "Pshaww she exclaimed, with h,
g laugh 1--WE can stick that up in h,
y an hour"
e A single plank had started awl
q from the sternpost; that was all. OF
crwise the schooner was as sound
e the day she left San Francisco. NJ
/ ran and Vilbur had fhc danlaue reno