Evening star., 1921-03-13

the daughter of a man who played
in with a crowd of cutthroat revolu-
tionists? Fantastic and incredible,
X X +
CORA PATERSON had about her an
~ air of buoyancy and freshness;
she was superbly tall. free of gait.
blond as a Morse goddess. Her skin
was family tinged with the golden
| brown of her mathers race. She came
up the side ladder to. the Lberta's
dirty deck, glanced about, and caught
the second officers ardent eyes. There
after. be 1T said now, their gaze met
| and clung more often than was neces-
sary. Peterson was close behind her.
carrying two suit cases made of WOW
en- straw.
Young White sprang forward. touch
ing the brim of his cap. you're Mr..
Peterson. aren't you? Your cabins
forward. sir"
Peterson drew a deep breath. but
! his frosty eyes did not waver. Yes.
Peterson. Were going as far as
Porto Bio"
The second officer bawled for deck
| hand and sent the incorruptible bank
er and his daughter away to their
stuffy cabin. When they had dsap-
peared he executed a few neat,
ecstatic dance steps on the closed
! redolent hold dirty cargador, crouch
ed behind mounds of green bananas,
heard and understood.
At dusk the Liberia sailed. wheez-
ing her leisurely way out between
the twin lighthouses which guard the
protecting half-moons of land at the
harbor's mouth. Behind her Magella
| faded into the blue shadows between
the sea and the precipitous slopes of
the Santa Christina mountains. Monte
Bianco, an anvil-shaped giant stand
ing astride the range. was still tinged
by the red glow Of the vanished sun.
But in Magella a whole string Of
street lamps flashed up along the es-
planade and cast wavering reflections
across the oily surface of the water.
Peace" Peterson said. waving his
desirable. Eth. capitano mio?"
Dal Re glanced nervously over his
shoulder. then out to sea again. You
have said it, Peace Is desirable above
all things. I am peace-loving man.
In my heart Of hearts l dislike dan
gerous undertakings"
The banker threw back his head
amazing beard. There is cure for
all such mean hesitations and fears"
he said pleasantly. 'I carry it in my
hip pocket, and I learned to use it on
the plains Of my own country. where
men shoot to kill BY the way. 'mico
mio. what do you call your second Of
ficerT'
"why Fat" explained Dal Re. lick
II don't like his looks. He has
been hanging around my daughter all
rolled his eyes and whispered fierce
ly: II will have to bribe him too. I'll
have to bribe everybody. What you
gave me is not enough by half"
There will be enough for us ALL"
even the meanest half-breed fighting
for bread and wine. Patience"
THE Liberia edged out Of the bar
L Dor, making q wide curve to
avoid the turtle-backed Isola di Sab
bia-Sand Island-which makes the
channel risky going on . dark night.
Then. turning abruptly, she passed
beneath the Capo light and entered
the open sea. Magella disappeared
The Capo dropped behind, its sultry
flashes Illuminating tho hori3on like
the play OF heat lightning in = murky
sky.
The sandy.haired youngster was
leaning on the rail; his arm touching
Cora Peterson's. Together they
watched the flashing by Of black
,. waves threaded and starred with
phosphorescence. White was think
ing of many things. He hated John
Peterson with simple. unfalterinE
logical hate. But he had never before
seen a girl like Cora Peterson. He
told her so. And Cora listened. Why
not? She was used to brown-skinned
suitors, who languished beneath the
barred windows Of her room, signing
thunderously and picking with lam
guild fingers at the strings OF their
mando1ins. The second ofdcer OF the
Liberia had eyes - blue - her own.
made for seeing beauty Ike hers.