Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-09-25

now her words brought that thought
again surging uppermost In his mind.
He faced her once more graveIy.
Gould you tell me anything about
hIm-about how II happened. Miss
MaeKayf" he asked.
'-0nIy what Captain Laynton has
probably told yon already" she an
swered slowly. 'It was before the
ship reached Menado. you know-be-
fore came aboard"
"Yes, OF coursei" said wallen. He
had shifted his position. leaning now
with his back against the rail. and.
CHANGING forward along the deck, his
eyes fixed suddenly on the wireless
house which was quite dark and with
no light showing from within He
jerked his hand toward Il.
We've rot wireless" he observed.
@But I haven't seen any operator-at
least he wasn't at supper"
"Oh. yes. he vast" she laughed.
sim the operator"
"You-whatI" He was gazing at
her In amazement.
swell, no. not really" she amended.
I'm only joking. or. at least. half
Joking. It's true. though. that any op-
Grating. that's done I do"
"You see, the American law requires
ships coming under Its Jurisdiction to
carry an installation: but Captain
Laynton, having no idea Of trading
with an American port for some
months, anyway. said he didn't see
why he should pay wages he didn't
have TO. and discharged his operator
when be left Honolulu"
"Yes," said Wailen quickly. But
your
conditions Of the East again." she
told him smilingly. Father. installed
a small station on our plantation few
years ago, and that nearest neighbor
Of ours did likewise. It's been heaps
Of fun, and. of course, ! learned to OPP
crate It. got Captain Laynton's per-
mission, teased Mr.. Spree. the chief
engineer. into letting me have the
power, and I've been amusing myself
with 1t since I've been aboard. But now,
sir''-with sudden severity-''we are
forgetting that you are still an invalid,
and am keeping you up. Please take
me below, Mr. Wallen."
"BelOwI But. mol" he protested.
''It's early yet"
"But, yesi" she insisted, gayiy i'm
perious, and led the way across the
deck. "You shouldn't even have been
allowed up for supper. you know!"
Wallen. because he could do nothing
else. followed her down the COM
panionway and into the saloon.
And there, despite his good-natured
| grumbling. she stood and watched him
In quaint motherly way until. per-
force. he was obliged TO go to his cabin
door-and then, with a CHEEKY "GoOd
night" she was gone.
"By J0vew said Wallen softly to
| himself.
He locked the door, closed the port.
hole securely, switched on the light,
and. seating himself on the edge OF the
bunk. stared at the floor.
"By Jove" he repeated softly. Then
lugubriously: "And it's only three
days to Singapore. and-she didn't
say where In Sumatra-but that
couldn't be more than another three
days mt the outside"
He sat up suddenly and pulled out
| of his pocket the envelope that Cap.
tain Laynton had given him. He had
not examined II yet. He tore the en-.
velope open. shook the contents out
onto the bunk. and whlstled low, under
his breath.
Among other things, but catching his
eye instantly. was a little packet OF
crisp. new, American hundred-dOllai
gold certificates. He counted them
wOnderingiy-one thousand one hun.
dred dollars. He laid them down and
| picked mp a wallet. II contained some
silver and few dollars I'm small bills.
Wallen passed his hand a little
dazedly across his eyes and then con.
tinued his examination. There was q