Evening star., 1914-08-09

stateroom was as sweet as fresh, cool water
to a parched throat. Feeling stronger and
more herself for each delicious breath hum
bly, the girl gave thanks; for it seemed that,
with the passing of the gale, the CHASTITY
incubus of 1nal-de-mer had been exercised.
Presently, conscious of pang of hunger,
she touched the repeating spring on her
bracelet watch,-an exquisitely small, jew
eled extravaganza, her fathers gift OF the
previous Christmas, and bent an attentive
ear to its elfn chime.
Eight o'clock Now everybody else, of
cours-, including her Dowager Dragon,
would be at dinner; and now one to whom
within twelve hours the very thought OF food
had been abhorrent, distilled evaporation
from the knowledge that it was too late to
dress and dine in public!
But as she lay in doubt, trying to de-
eide whether she was really as hungry as she
felt, or would do better to deny herself food
until breakfast, she heard sound from the
outer deck SO singular that in a twinkllng 1t
focused her drowsy, Grant wits.
As nearly as onomatopeia will render 1t,
the sound was "Psst- bssst- -bssss.' trisyl-
Liable hiss of which each part was longer and
more emphatic than its predecessor; not
merely hiss, but something more: a signal
with an individuality and a significance
both sinister and urgent. Unmistakably OF
human origin, though as odd and alarming
as the warning of a serpent, it brought the
girl from her bed to her feet with start.
But her movement was noiseless one,
and conveyed no warning to him who had
sounded that strange call.
This last she discovered at pause imme-
diately outside the window; but his back
was to it, so that she could see little more
than the concave line of his dark, lean,
shaved cheek, and the back of long, mar
row head beneath a steamer cap with vlzor
well down over his eyes.
Almost Immediately the hiss was an
swered by quick, light footsteps, and the
voice of one as yet invisible, voice OF
guarded accent but vibrant with indigna-
ton, 4What the devil do you mean by buz-
zing me like that?'
The girl trembled. Unless her senses
were untrustworthy, she knew that voice
better than her own. 1t seemed impossible
that she could be mistaken.
1t was again audible, the response of the
man outside the window having escaped
her, "You infatuate ass! Don't you know
better than to take such chances?'
ooh, it's all right. He's up on the boat
deck, chinnin' with some skirt. I made sure
of that before laid for you. Trust me-
3Trust you to play the fool! Don't you
know every word you utter can be overheard
in those staterooms?"
Instinctively the girl crouched in the
shadow of her bedstead, in deadly terror lest
she be detected at her involuntary caves
dropping: SO strong upon her sensitive per-
ceptions the psychological effect of this sur
reptitious passage.
But her fears we're quickly dissipated; the
interview terminating as abruptly as it had
begun.
Goodnight" that well remembered voice
continued incisively. "And for the last time
1 warn you: don't approach me again
aboard this ship"
@But-listen," the other pleaded and
threatened in the one breath. ave got to
get straight answer out of you"
give given it already-twice. For the
third time-no." With this the last speaker
strobe brislly forward.
Rising as silently as any shadow, Miss
Carteret again turned her face to the port.
The man who had hissed was still there,
watching the other way.
She fancied something sullen and menac-
ing in the Touring inclination of his head, the
stoop of his narrow shoulders.
Suddenly, with a mumbled word, mar
ticulate with anger, he turned and went
swiftly aft.
To be continued next Sunday