Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-30
HUDSON DOUGLAS.
won't ask you to keep your promise

An irrepressible light OF longing had
leaped up behind the despair in her eyes.
You say that all | must do In tho
meantime is TO sign some papers. she
interrupted. You say you won't ask me-
to marry YOU right away. VIII you wal;
"a year,"
"A year. I couldn't. Sailie." he crie,!,
and her pale lips dropped piteously again.
How long. them" she asked, in ,
whisper six months"
lie had made up his mind to be Sene>
Gus, and he felt that he had not failcd
IN MS intention as he answered. Three
months. and not day longer. Sallie.
Sne sat still and silent for "A while, con-
sidering that. and then. 'All right. las
per. she agreed. Take me safe home.
ana ii marry YOU three months from the
day We get there-if were both alive
when the time comes
He turned away from her for a mo-
iheht- tie had Won all he wanted i'm the
meantime, and he could scarcely contain
himself When he presently held ont =
hand 10 her she took IT, to bind that bar
gain.
And you won't have any cause To r.
greet it. Sallie.' he assured her. his voice
somewh hat hoarse in spite Of his effort to
speak quite naturally
So now. as soon you're ready, We II
all go ashore together. and
III be ready i'm twenty minutes" she
told him. c1asping her hands at her heart
ner eyes very eager And, Jasper. YOU
must let me take Ambrizette with me-.
You re free now to do as you like.
he answered. and left her. He felt as il
ne We're treading on air on his way back
to the midship saloon
Capt. Dove, in the same neglige cos
tune. was busy at breakfast when Slyne
walked i'm upon him again. but looked up
from his plate for long enough to humble
malicious question.
Yes, I've fixed it all up with her
Slyne answered with assumed non
na a lxkaH tras- ma
know how to handle a woman. Dove
Capt. Dove shot derisive glance i'm his
direction. lis she willing to marry YOU
after all, them" he demanded feigning
surprise by no means complimentary
Not just at once. of course" returned
his companion, and left the old man to
infer whatever he pleased.
In response to a shouted order of Capt.
Doves slatternly cook-steward brought
Slyne a steaming platter OF beans with a
bit OF bacon rfnd on top, and an enameled
mug containing brew which might. by
courtesy, have been called coffee There
was tray Of broken ships biscuits. "A
tin containing some peculiarly rank sub
stitute for butter, upon the table. with
the other equally uninviting concomitant
OF meager meal
Tchk-tehki' commented Slyne, and sat
down TO satisfy his hunger as best he
might; while Capt. Dove having over
heard that criticism. eyed him inimicaly
and proceeded to pun a peculiarly rank
cigar i'm his face.
You might as we'll he getting dressed
now" said Slyne. indifferently. BY the
time I'm through here Salle Will be
ready to go ashore.
Capt. Dove looked very fiercely at him.
but without effect.
'Sallie won't stir a step from the ship
the old man affirmed. It'll you've handed
over the cash"
Slyne looked up I'm mild surprise.
But. dear me, Dove." he remarked,
you don't expect that the London law
yer's going to take my word for a girl
he's never even seen? Until he's salts
note to you. So We've got to take her
along with us. I'm doing my best to give
you square deal. and all I ask in re-
turn is a square deal from you.
you'd better not try any crooked
games with me-" growled Capt Dove. and
sat for a time sunk in obviously aggra-
waiting reflections.
If We get on his soft side" suggested
Slyne. insidiously. there's no saying how
much more We might both make"
Capt. Dove rose and retired into his
sleeping cabin without further words:
while Slyne. picking out with two
pronged fork the cleanest of the beans
on his plate, smiled sneeringly to HIM
self.
What's the latest longshore fashion,
Siyne?' the old man asked. after an i'm
terval Slyne knew by his tone that he
had dismissed duh care from his mind
and was prepared TO be quarresome
again.
1T wouldn't suit a figure like YOURS"
he answered, coolly. and was gratified to
hear another hoarse growl For, strange
though il may seem, Capt. Dove was not
without vanity. "All you really need to
worry about is how to keep sober. And
/ want it to be understood from the
start"
Not SO much of il now snarled Capt
Dove from his cabin. You attend to
your own business and I'll attend To
mine. / know how to behave myself
among gentlemen. And, don't you forget
either. that I'm going ashore to play my
own hand. I've "A card or two up my
sleeve. Mister Slyne, that will, maybe.
euchre your game for you-if You try 10
bluff too high"
Slyne swore holly. under his breath.
He would have given great deal to
know exactly what the old man meant
by that mysterious threat, and only knew
that ii would be useless to ask him.
There was nothing for il but to put up
with his capricious humors as patiently
as might be-although Slyne shivered i'm
anticipation OF the strain that might en-
tail-tin he could be dispensed with or got
rid of altogether.
Go be continued tomorrow