Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-05
An Adventure Story by H. Bedford-Jones

| fever" Sails broad face beamed hap
PLY. "She was talking in her sick
| ness today and heard 1t all.
| knew she had asked every one who
came here for news of you, and
thought you were the man. Now
she's afraid that II she ever did find
you, you would think that we were
| not honest because we work here
that she had not been good. But she
has"
These last words were entirely ig-
! nored. brushed aside unheard.
"Upstairs!" said Hanson. Some
[ thing like a SILVER passed over his
spare. 1.-THE body. He shook it off
| and put the cigar in his mouth again.
''Ten years! Ten years" There was
| awe in his voice.
Suddenly he stirred. sat up. reached
| with fumbling fingers for his cap.
Look here" he said. a touch OF
acerbity in his tone. II feel sick.
had fish for supper-must ha' been
tainted. But I have to see her"
you can't" said Zomy Sal with
| finality. She's asleep now, and
sweating. She'll be all right tomor-
row. You come back and see her
| then"
"All right"
Hanson came to his feet. He had
a bit of difficulty finding the floor
with him. He fished a sovereign
from his pocket and laid it on the
table.
"Ill be back in the morning" he
said. his voice oddly thick. Back in
the morning, girl. Don't you tell her
now! I've got her dads money-been
carrying it ten years until l saw her
again.. Heard she'd been rescued
couldn't find any trace-God, how I've
prayed for these ten years past! Ill
be back"
He went out Of the place like a
man drunk. Zomy Sal gazed after
him. simple alteration in her eyes. It
was a romantic moment for Sal-a
great moment!
Neither Of them reflected that 1t
might not have been the drinks that
were doped. but the cigar.
YOU can readily perceive what a
tremendous story. a tale to wiring
the very heart. Theodore Brunt could
make out of this situation! How
Hanson died. and Lady Nell never
saw him. perhaps. Or how the ten
years were to end only in the agony
of misunderstanding. how the skip
per would condemn Lady Nell as a
bad woman. and how she would end
up in a Chinese harem, and so forth.
That's like Brunt-short and bitter,
reptilian!
But there is one bet that Theodore
Brunt has overlooked.
Capt. John Hanson went out of the
English and American Bar" into the
darkness. He staggered down to the
landing at the mouth of the creek.
guided by~ the paper lanterns. His
feet hit with a hard uncertainty on
the teak planks. He knew that boats
waited there, and he could easily get
lift to the Borneo wharves.
He was thinking only of the won
derful thing that had happened-all
his swimming thoughts were center
ed on this. After ten years.
Boat, capt'n?" said a voice.
yes" returned Hanson quickly.
ITO the Borneo-barque Nimrod."
fright. Here y'are, sir"
Two men grasping his elbows. Han
son stepped down into the waiting
boat. AS she lurched to his weight.
something struck him heavily in the
back of the head, and he fell rs
Let him lie in the 'bilge." muttered
Koln. $50 much the better if he
browns. Now, get away from here
first. and go through him afterward."
Good" said Houtman. straight
downstream. then across"
The boat melted into the shadows
When Capt. John Hanson came to
himself. the light of the morning sun
was striking through the port of his
own cabin and binding his eyes. He
lay in his own bunk. Sitting in a
chair and watching him in anxiety
was his mate, an old Australian
! cockney who had been long with him
| in many ships.
Hanson lay for long moment
| looking into the eyes of his mate
Then he remembered everything in a
flash. He lifted hand to his head
| The fingers trembled, shook visibly
but not from the pain of his hurt.