The Washington times., 1921-03-13

began to understand why 80 many
men, In 80 many islands, hated this
Harry England. '.ry
Luke took no notice of the ques.
tion or OF the offered case.
There is no joke" he said.
'Dara and I were married at Hiliwa
Dars Plantation six years ago."
"Oh!" ! screamed, land you
. promised on the Bible not to tell"
You'll remember" said Luke,
that ] made an exception"
1T was nonsense" I said, breath
ing quickly, my hands clenched
tight over my fan-Euke's fan.
81 know II was. I've asked"
And you promised on the Bible,
without any exceptions, not to
tell" observed Luke.
II didn't-f-
II thought you said you did. But
this Is rather public"
1T needn't be-" remarked Eng
lapd. He began to stroll away.
Just wait a minute" said Luke,
with a certain dangerous GOODNESS
in his voice. "Dara and I can talk
presently. You and / are going to
talk now. That is-Dara, I'll take
you back to Lorraine for the pres.
ent, and I hope you won't mind If
] cut one or two 1f your dances"
had been q greater fool by far
than Nature had made me had
not understood what was In the
wind. But l consented to return.
My secret plan was to detain Luke
at all hazards, once we we're in the
dancing veranda again. pretend
cd not to understand; ! laughed
and talked as we returned to the
house.
Luke knew exactly what I was
doing; what I meant to do. We
had but reached the foot Of the
veranda steps when he loosed my
arm, bowed as politely as II he had
met me for the first time that
night, ran up another flight Of steps
and disappeared among the dane
ers. followed as quickly as !
could. He was not to be seen.
Certainly, whatever his Intentions
were he had not gone straight back
to the place where we had left
England.
HE will go some roundabout
way" I thought, my heart beating
wildly. " must find out" But l
knew that there was no time, or
almost none, for finding. Before !
I could track out Luke danger would
have passed into disaster. And I
could not Think could not de-
eide what to do.
"Lorraine!" was the only thought
that came to me. Lorraine never
lost her head; she always knew
what was to be done. But Lor-
raine was dancing.
hid behind a palm; II l were
seen partnerless half dozen Of my
usual following would be on the
alert at once Lorraine swept by
again. I looked out through the
leaves. Her glance passed over me;
was sure she had not seen me.
But ! had, as usual, misjudged
Lorraine. She had seen my face;
she had read disaster in 1t, and with
that swift mind Of hers guessed and
decided In an instant. She took
another turn or so along the YER
anda and then disengaged. herself
from her partner.
so sorry" heard her saying,
but that naughty. little piece OF
mine-she has disappeared, and l
must look after her"
She slipped away from the young
soldier-I think he hardly knew
hoW-and, passing by my hiding
place, motioned with one hand to
the huw veranda railing. under
stood her and was over in an in.
slant unobserved. The house. like
many island houses. was, set on piles
seven feet high. Lorraine stepped
underneath, into the dense shadow.
Have they Quarrelled?" de
manded my aunt instantly. Her
sequins and diamonds glistened n
the dusk; her face was q pale blue
above her shadowy dress. 80
y