The daily star-mirror., 1915-12-04

1t is perfect" she whispered, Iii
one could ever tell''
The pseudo Romanoff glanced a
her significantly, paced across the
dancing deck and passed out upon the
moonlit deck beyond Inez, flirting
with an officer, excused herself, beck
oned to Joe Welcher, who came
swiftly at her beck aad call, and with
her hand upon his arm she followed
in the wake of Romanoff AS they
reached the bow Romanoff turned sud
Welcher by the arm.
Friend Welcher,' he said, his grip
Tightening, "on the canvas curtains aft,
| ion the port side, you will find one
black cross mark upon the curtain and
one black cross mark upon the deck.
They are my marks. You will dance
with Annette Ilington-"
Welcher hurried off and Romanoff
with the beautiful Miss Irene Cour-
tier upon his, arm, strode slowly to-
ward the lights
With her escort she stood glancfng
out between the curtains at the moon
light upon the sea. Her escort, how
ever, was not watching the moonlight
his eyes were fixed upon a motor
boat that sported itself like some
huge shark in the waters just beyond.
He drew forth a white handkerchief
He stepped into the aperture between
the canvas curtains, grasped the rail
xIyifI, oh L
chief
Inez noted that a small black cross
had been placed upon the canvas cur,
tain. She looked at her feet There
was another cross upon the deck
Then she turned and faced the crowd
watching with keen eyes.
Joe Welcher from far across the
deck caught the CLINT of those same
eyes-he had been watching for them.
He bent over Annette
Look at the freak" he said, that's
tied up to Inez-I mean Irene Courier.
| always call her Inez somehow. Let's
go and see the freak"
"The freak" said Annette, "has dis
appeared
Sne was not the only person on the
deck who noticed that. Some half
dozen naval officers in spick and span
uniforms noted it also and started
double quick toward Inez Castro.
Half way they stopped, for her escort,
M. Romanoff, had reappeared. He |
smiled as Joe came up with Annette |
and waved his hand.
"Ive been looking at the moon,' he |
said.
Annette, already bored-chiefy by
the close proximity of Joe Welcher-
glanced off toward Neal,
Lets go and get some grape juice"
she said
Joe drew her out to the railing
through the same aperture from
which Romanoff had watched the cir
cling motor boat
I'll get the grape juice" said Joe
aloud. wait here until / return"
Annette started after him, but the
aperture was closed now by the broad
,iously with Irene Courtier. Annette
was not averse to looking at the
moon, and she looked. But-all she
saw was the moon itself She did not
see and could not know that a motor
aunch, silent as the night, had
etched up alongside of the anchor
,hain. She did not know and could
lot see a black shadow that stole
llong the railing behind the canvas
that hid the dancing deck
Suddenly she gave a choking cry =,
The black shadow like some black !
,anther had sprung upon her frem !
he night and clutched her in its
,rasp. She cried out once more, or
ried to- She found she could not.
/ strong wiry hand closed across her
nouth and wiry form forced her
ack across the rail.
With a superhuman twist of her
the young body-and she was strong,
vas Annette Ilington-for one in
tant she wrenched herself away and l
ave vent to piercing scream. Neal II
Iardin at the punch bowl heard it.
all discipllne-and all
ancing deck and with one sweep of G
is arm brushed the nonplussed b
omanoff and his charming escort to fe
ne side. His eyes were blinded by
le deck lights and as he rushed :
trough the curtains he could only
e that some terrific struggle was at h,
ind. in
In another instant it was all over. II
wo figures clutching at each other !
antically darted suddenly over the
il. There was splash below. u
Man overheard yelled Neal hs
He sprang to the rail and dove into
e moonlit water-taking good care
t to foul the other two. II
Two minutes later it was all over. vi
lnette was on deck half fainting in la
sals arm-but with a smile upon w,
r face. On
Don't worry" she said to the q
owd about her, 81 haven't swal-
we'd a drop Of water, | assure. you. n
4 a regular little water rat-Neal
ows that, don't you Neal?"