, 1922-06-13

ing and Ruth. smiling. hauled him up
Did / keep you waiti-g long. Diek7
i love this one" Dick ungied with
jo.y as he ~aitzed off to the dreamy
strains.
II was half over when Dick felt him
self pushed lie and heard Jacks
voice, ingratiating. 'May l cut IN on
this2 We all do that nowr" Dick swal
lowed: "rT cave II 10 Ruth" Ruth's ]
only answer was a gentle pressure of I
his arm. n negative nod in Jacks di-
rection-and she was dreaming again
There was somthing so comfortable
being held closely by Dick.
There'was one waltz when he could
not find Ruth. He hunted all over.
She was not dancing: nor on the YER
anda- Nor aid he see Jack Curtis. Rae
Vira or Glenn.
"Fireif
The orchestra hesitated at the sharp
alarm OF the club steward. then decid-
ed IL was not like n theater. that there
was no panic danger. dropped its fid-
dies and saxophones and snare drums
and ran. A later the shrl
siren whistle on the village power
house split the ether. Dick Joined In
the Jostling mob in evening clothes
Guess well make a de luxe bucket
brisade," painted Tony Blocker. ..I.'s
the East wingP'
Up the corner OF the Lodge back
of the Club casino. where were the
living rooms. licked a hungry red shaft
OF fame. Dick looked in disnay. On
the third f1oor were Garrick's rooms.
A moment alter he was bounding
up the stairs and a flung his shout
der against the door. 1t did not yield
until he turned the knob. It was
. unlocked. Through the stifle OF smoke
he fought his way to the chest and
> flung it open. The hat and the films
were gone,
I The s~uffocating fumes of chemical
e~xtinguishers sent him blindly strug-
Cling. cropping. gasping. back. Outside
he could hear the bells and the shouts
I OF the local fire fighters. Handkcr-
a chief over his nose and eye he stuunb-
|. led in the hallway. &.
o Don't get up, Dick. Your stay
z here with me tonight" In a daze
Dick felt sheets under him and over
him. They've given me rooms in the
Q West Wing until repairs are made
explained Garrick.
Dick blinked around, his eyes still
singing and his head in a wh,rl.
e "wh-who did III" he gasped. 'HHho
gothic things7"
Garrick smiled quietly. ct don't
know who got the prints I mad The
$ film itself and the hat were in the
n Club safe an hour after you left this
afternoon
Early in the morning came a call
r from Greenport. The "Bacchante'
1 had dropped anchor during the night.
with an early breakfast Garrick and
I Dick were speeding eastward. Gar
r rick deeply affected by the impulsive
n devotion OF his friend the night be.
fore. Dick still living over the dance
"She rides on an even keel-for a
boat with &C a name!" exclaimed
Garrick as they stood on a dock In his
friends shipyard observing the "Bac.
chante.'
O ~"Splendid lines!' enthused Dick.
g What I'm most interested in is
S what / believe must be a very eff
cient wireless on her, muttered Gar
rick.
A small boa had put out from her
and was rowing toward the shipyard
The shipbuilder himself Joined them.
Take that former submarine pa
troll boat" winked Garrick to him
That's a fast craft, capable of goins
anywhere. What might a o like
that cost, II you could pick one up?'
The builder caught the cue. They
were deep in designs and prices wher
Dick suddenly interrupted at the ap
proach of two mon from the street tc
the town. Professor vario.
and. by Jove, jack"
The Tour stood talking boats as the
skiff with a sailor neared them
Vario was a thick-set man with q
shock of hair and bushy eyebrows
His manner was the manner OF q
scientist but his sun-bronzed skir
showed intimate acquaintance with
the outdoors.
o Dick, who had known him quite wei
soon discovered that he was on a little
vacation. his family having taken q
cottage over on Shelter Island
g "He's the best radio trouble finde,
S in the world" put In Curtis. There:
a friend of mine down east owns thi.
boat. He had 'em put in and pick me
. up. But they told me their wireless
a was on the blink. So I thought of tht
n Professor here and he agreed to COME
over and look it over. II there's any
thing wrong, he'll get It right"
k The skiff had come alongside by
I this time. Say, partner" inquired
s the builder of Curtis. you seem to
d know my customers. here. II I row
r them out would you mind II they took
n a look at the boat?" Then. aside, 81
think 1 can make a sale-maybe get
an order 10 huiId