The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-20

ing with your maid, Cecile, l believe,
madam
"Ah, yes" She seemed unaccount-
ably relieved. You, then, are Colonel
O'Rourke?"
He bowed. Terence O'Rourke,
madam, and at your service, believe
me-"
Il am very glad" she said slowly,
cycling him deliberately, that, since
| had to be aided, it came through one
of whom l have heard so much"
Faith, Mrs. Prynne-!"
And l thank you a second time,
very heartily" She offered him her
hand, and smiled bewitchingly.
"'Tis embarrassing me We are" he
protested. Faith, to be thanked
twice for so slight a service. I can
only wish that I might do more"
"It is possible" she said, apparent
ly not in the least displeased by his
presumption 1T is possible that I
may take you at your word, Colonel
O'Rourke."
In her eyes, intent upon his, he
fancied that he recognized an amused
flicker, with, perhaps, trace of deep
er emotion: the kindling interest of a
woman in a strong man, with whose
signals he was not unfamiliar Pride
and his conceit stirred in his breast.
"'Twould be the delight of me life,"
he told her in an ecstasy.
Don't be too sure, 1 warn you,
colonel" Her manner was now arch,
her smile entirely charming. ct might
be no light service l should require of
you"
"Ye couldn't ask one too heavy. :.
But It's weary We are, Mrs.
Prynne?" he inquired, solicitous.
Very" There was in fact an in
definite meditation of WEAKNESS in
her voice. I'm only a woman" she
said family, with a little gesture of
deprecation; land my ways are hedged
about with grave perils-"
"'Tis the O'Rourke would gladly
brave them all for We, madam" he de-
clared CALAMITY. Command me
what We will"
She lifted her gaze to his, coloring
divinely there in the moon-glamor. He
looked into her curiously bewitching
eyes and saw there an appeal and a
strange little tender smile. Her head
was so near his shoulder that he was
aware of the vague, alluring perfume
of her hair. Her scarlet lips parted :.
And he became suddenly aware
that 1t behooved him to hold himself
we'll in hand. 1t were an easy mat
ter to imagine himself swept off his
feet, into a whirl of infatuation, with
a little encouragement. And he was
not unsophisticated enough to fail to
see that encouragement would not be
lacking If he chose to recognize it.
Faith" he told himself, I'm think
ing 'twould be wiser for me to take
to me heels and run before :"
He was spared the ignominious ne
cessity of flight. In two breaths they
showed two very different pictures.
Now they stood alone on the dead
white deck, alone with the night, the
sea, the stars, the silence and the
moonlight: O'Rourke a bit dismayed
and wary, but as curious as any man
in such a case; the woman apparent
ly yielding to a sudden fascination for
him, swaying little toward him as
If inviting the refuge of his arms =.
And now she started away,
clutching at her heart, with a little
choking cry of alarm; while beneath
them the vessel was still quivering
with harsh yet deadened defamation
like an explosion, together with
grinding crash and shrek of riven
steel somewhere deep In the hold
InexpressibIy dismayed, they stared
with wide and questioning eyes at one
another, through a long minute filled
with an indescribable uproar: a success
sion Of shocks and thumps in the in
terror of the vessel gradually dimin-
ishihg in severity while, in a pande-
monium of clamorous voices. the liner,
like a stricken thing. hesitated in its
southwark surge. then slowly limped
into dead halt on the face of the
CONTINUED Tomorrow