The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-29

GIontinued from Yesterday
Perhaps not. she answered
shoughsfuny. I've changed good
deal in the last month-since we
sailed away from san Francisco and
left the world behind us---our world
and came out into this great white
empty one 4 don't know why that
isw
~ know lie was speaking with
d sort Of brutal intensity that startled
her Il know. Its not in the last
nenth you've changed; it's within the
last twentyfour hours; it's since you
saw and fell In love with that muir
derous. lying brute Of Cayley."
Il don't know" she said very quiet
~, whether you're trying To NH the
love / have for you--the old love
or not, Tom. but unless YOU re very
careful. you'll succeed In doing ii.
don't think / want To talk to you
any more now. not even SIT here be-
side yoa I'm going t. take a little
walk .
He held himself rightly still TIL she
had disappeared round the end OF the
deck house Then he bent over and
buried his face in his hands
# What the thing was that reused
him TO his present surroundings. he
never knew He was conscious of no
sound but, suddenly. ne sat erect and
stared about him in amazement. II
had grown quite dark, 1t must be
two or three hours since Jeanne had
left the chair beside him and an
nounced that she was going to take
a little walk
He spoke her name, not laudly at
first. for he thought she must be close
by. But the infinite silent spaces
seemed 10 absorb the sound OF his
voice. There was no sign that any
sentient thing. except his very self,
had heard the words he uttered. Then
he called louder.
Ii WAS not until he raised himself,
stiffiy and clumsiiy from his chair
that he realized that IL was more than
dark. that the atmosphere about him
was Opaque with fog.
He CROPPED for the heavy walking
stick which leaned against the arm
~ his chair and. with its aid, hobbied
slowly along the deck. His damaged
ankle was held rigid In plastea
bandage. Though the pain in II was
less. he found locomotion difficult
As he opened the door ut the head
or the companionway. he called the
girls name again; and this time the
absence OF any answer frightened him
= little. though he tried to reason him
self out OF his fears. She had gone
below no doubt. TO her own state
room. and with the door shut, would
hardly hear him. But he had no
thought of accepting that explanation
Ftthont Investigating further Even II
she were there and quite safe. he did
not want To let another quarter hour
10 by without finding her and asking
her forgiveness. Whatever else might
- = I'm, thiz L~.t
Ing must not be made unhappy. IL
only he could have perceived that
cardinal fact in the universe Il little
sooner.
The steps were rather difficult TO
pASkotiate. but by using both hands TO
supplement his one good foot. he sue
rNeded In creeping down them. and
then In making his way along the
corridor to the girls door
He Knocked family at first; then
louder, and finally cried out her name
again. this time In genuine alarm. He
tried the door. found that II was not
locked. and opening II and switch
Ing on light. perceived that the state
room was empty
Standing there utterly perpiexed
una BILE either To guess at the girls
possible whereabouts. or TO construct
an plan for finding her. he felt sud
zen rush Oh TetlSf on nearing the soft
scrape OF a boat against the accom-
mediation ladder outside. II might he
Jeanne II II were not she. II was
Fonaaone from the shore party. In
which case search for her could be
begun In earnest by those whose
powers Of getting about Were unim-
paired.
He heard footsteps crossing the
deck overheard. No. that could not
be Jeanne; II was a heavy tread a
curious. shutting tread
He closed the door behind him.
Then he limped slowly down the cor
ridor toward the foot Of the com
panionwey. The heavy tread was al
ready descending the stairs.
He turned the corner. stopped short
and gasped. And that was all There /
vas no time even for cry He had /
caught one glimpse Of monstro,ts
figure clad in skins, huge in bulk: !
hafry-faced like gorilla
And then. the man or beast had, /
with heastllke quickness lifted his !
arm and struck. And Tom Fanshaw
dfopned down at his feet senseiess