Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-05

capital of $4,000. Her house was sold.
CLEAN of light shot through her dark
ness: Habberd himself had pro-
claimed that Capt. Somers was only
technically at fault and that what
ever might be said of his business
habits, he was first-class seaman.
In another Office Angela found her
self slowly regaining peace Of mind
She discovered that the loss of her
money was little compared to the
satisfaction of not having to make
any explanation to Somers. He had
never inquired who was his bonds
whole thing as needless. 1t was clear
that he had no sense Of having be-
trayed, confidence. She hoped never
to hear his name again.
But fate brought him before her
once more and in nobler guise. The
papers announced a wreck off the
Oregon coast and assigned briefly a
gallant role to nameless hero.
Angela caught few sentences Of
gossip in the exchange while there on
an errand, and knew that John
Somers had proved himself fearless
! And from this time on she yielded to
! her passionate longing to put him
where he belonged-high above his
fellows. respected. honored. uhsoi1ed.
For a few months she gained only
glimpses of him, little moments In his
career His name was on the crew
list Of steam schooner bound for
Hilo-signed as quartermaster on a
steamer carrying lumber-scrawIe d
on a receipt for wages off a British
tramp-marked plainly after an entry
in the smooth log of a schooner
formation she got for price from
one of the hangers-on in the custom
house. When the entries ceased she
began to lose sleep. She went SO far
as to visit the police courts on
chance Of discovering him among the
days swcepings of the city.
1t was plain that he no longer
offered himself as an officer. much
less as a master. He was going down
steadily Her fancy pictured him as
Haboerd's office. And always the
vision changed and she caught his
queer, strained pose, head tilted back.
eyes half shut, muscles ripping as if
for a spring. Before that image she
drew back, hands pressing her eyes,
nerves quivering. throat choked.
20 God" she prayed at last. never
let him come back here"
! Out of the invisible he stepped, as IL
pushed forth by grim omnipotence. as
| If God answered: You wanted him.
Here he is
One afternoon when San Franciscos
i wintertime lay mistily over the
golden gate and bright fires burned in
old fashioned offices Angela looked
up at visitor. 1t was John Somers.
| neatly dressed, cober and shy. She
was startled to know that he had no
+. recollection of her, did not connect
her in any way with his past. Then
she chided herself for foolishness ana
asked him his business
| II hear your people need skipper
for a steam schooner" he said. Il
want the job"
You have your papers-your refer
ences?" she inquired with what cold
ness she could assume.
| Yes. ma'am."
| You know" she went on, they
are so particular here. You have to
be well known before they'll listen
| to you
was handsome. T know that" he
murmured. "Maybe-you might say
a word for me, ma'am? My papers
are all right-but nobody knows me.
that is, nobody to say a, good word
For the moment she stared at him.
Did he know? Did he suspect her
| interest? She put the notion aside
as absurd The fact remained. he
! had asked her help. She had vowed
F., never to refuse anything to the man
who had saved, not only her fathers
| life, but the lives of others. If he
| observed the flush on her cheeks he
did not attribute it to his own pres
ence But she knew, as women Know
such things, that he was enormously
admiring.
Leave your papers with me-: she
said CURLY. Come back in an hour.
| He Nhanked her awkwafdly. and
handed her the little packet that
contained his history as a seaman
| 'They're all 1 have" he murmured.
and departed.
| She hurried after him, calling him
! breathlessly. He turned and she saw
his head tilt back.
"Please-please don't take a drink,
she whispered.
All color ebbed from his face and
he gazed at her as If fascinated. She
caught his husky mutter: my God!
Does everybody know?
"No" she cried back. just as husk-
lily. "OnIy me. I won't tell.
At the end of the hour he came
back very quietly. She greeted him
eoolly. I'm afraid they won't have
time to consider your application.
captain. They say they-they want
a married man."
"rm not-don't fill the bill" he
replied gently. He raised his eyes
to hers and she thrilled. Thank you.
ma am. They all want married men
these days"
Angela took step forward. Don't
despair" she said sharply. "Couldnt
you get job. say. for ten days. and
then come back? Often there's some
thing turns up when they need a
man in a hurry"
| Somers considered this a while.
tThen he nodded and went out.
IT was two weeks before he came