Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-17

have for you-the old love-or not, Tom,
but unless you're very careful you'll sue
coed in doing it. I don't think l want to
talk to you any more now. not even sit
here beside you. I'm going to take lit
tie walk
He held himself rigidly still till 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 he sat erect and stared
about him in amazement. 1t had grown
quite dark. 1t must be two or three
hours since Jeanne had left the chair be-
side him and announced that she was go
ing to take a little walk.
He spoke her name, not loudly at first,
for he thought she must be close by.
But the infinite silent spaces seemed to
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.
1t was not until he raised himself. stiff
ly and clumsily. from his chair that he
realized that it 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 of his
chair, and with it's aid hobbled slowly
along the deck. His damaged ankle was
held rigid in a plaster bandage. Though
the pain in it was less he found locomo-
ton difficult.
AS he opened the door at the head Of
the companionway he called the girls
name again: and this time the absence
Of any answer frightened him little.
though he tried to reason himself out OF
his fears. She had gone below, no doubt.
to her own stateroom. and with the door
shut would hardly hear him. But ne had
no thought Of accepting that explanation
without Investigating further Even If
she were there and quite SAFE he did no.
want to let another quarter hour go by
without finding her and asking her for
giveness Whatever else might happen
in this world, Jeanne Fielding must not
be made unhappy. If only he could have
perceived that cardinal fact in the uni
verse a little sooner!
The steps were rather difficult to ne
gotiate. but by using both hands to sup
plement his one good foot. he succeeded
in creeping down them. and then in max
ing his way along the corridor to the
girls door.
er, and finally cried out her name again.
this time in genuine alarm. He tried the
door. found that it was not locked, and
opening it and switching on light per-
ceived that the staterocm was empty.
Standing there, utterly perplexed, TN
able either to guess at the girls possible
whereabouts or to construct any plan
for finding her. he felt sudden rush Of
relief on hearing the soft scrape OF a
boat against the accommodation ladder
outside It might be Jeanne. II it were
not she, 1t was some one from the shore
party, In which case a search for her
could be begun in earnest by those whose
powers Of getting about were unimpa1red.
He heard footsteps crossing the deck
overhead. No. that could not be Jeanne:
1t was g. heavy tread, curious. shutting
tread.
He closed the door behind him. Then
he limped slowly down the corridor to-
ward the foot of the companionway. The
heavy tread was already descending the
stairs.
He turned the corner stopped short
and gasped. And that was all. There
was no time even for a cry. He had
caught one glimpse Of a monstrous figure
clad in skins, huge in bulk; hairy-faced
like gorilla.
And then the man or beast had, with
beastlike quickness. lifted his arm and
struck. And Tom Fanshaw dropped
down at his feet. senseless