Evening star., 1922-09-10

thought that Mccartney was superla-
tive the daughter knew that he was
profoundly repressed. He managed
adroitly enough to gain a quarter
hour with her while Dyer took Mr..
more they stood at the rail and
watched the yellow lights of San Fra
tello across the velvet harbor.
Well" said Mccartney shortly, I've
done it,
Il know you have. And dad thinks
you're the cleverest man he ever met
in his life, and i don't have to tell
YOU what l think, do I?''
Mccartney grimaced.
"All I can say is that tomorrow
morning your friendsll be with you
again. And I guarantee there won't
be a shot fired or a penny's worth
looted in San Fratello as long as the
SIMPSONS in harbor."
After a pause she said:
IF you're right. we can have you
dine with US tomorrow night. OF
course. it'll be awfully sketchy. but
you can talk to some of the men, and
you'll realize then that you've done
the right thing"
Il realize it now" said Mccartney
All 1 hope is that it'll be realized
higher up"
IF it is" she asked. you'll have
some kind of reward, won't you?"
He shook his head with cynical
humor.
NO. there won't be any reward"
Not any,"
Not any,"
That hardly seems fair, consider
ing what you've done"
Mccartney looked down at her.
Well, what would you think was
appropriated"
And presently. taking his own an
| swer. he bent down and kissed her.
Then silence fell upon them and they
said not a word to each other until
Dyer and Mr.. Converse, chatting with
much animation about inanimate ma
chinery, came and found them there.
At 6 o'clock on the following even
ing Mccartney was put ashore through
the placid silver of the harbor. The
town, save for the cafes and taverns
calm, utterly silent, and this was due,
without the slightest doubt, to the
fact that Pinky Macartney's eyes had
looked inevitable. But somewhere
further north pale experts who cooked
history at arms length were cooking
a pot of trouble for Pinky Mccartney,
and he knew 1t.
Dinner, as Miss Converse had
warned him. was distinctly sketchy,
but among those present were fivs
men who had been released that
morning They had been eating
and bathing, and making frantic use
of antiseptic soap ever since. Two
of them had bullets imbedded in
them. For the first time in his life
Mccartney was toasted as hero and
liberator, which was refreshing
enough as a novelty. even If 1t made
him feel very foolish and uncom-
Portable.
Coffee was finished. and Mccartney,
without any very clear idea OF how
he got there, found himself out under
the stars with Miss Converse. Palms
hid them. the night caressed them
side by side, the voices of the dinner
party grew faint and dissolved into
the murmur of the distant sea-
As though by mutual consent. they
loitered to a standstili. Mccartney
cleared his throat. She looked up at
him quickly from under her long
lashes-looked quickly down again.
I've got to tell you something" he
said slowly. land it's going to hurt.
but I've got to tell you. I've played
you a mighty mean trick"
Now she glanced up. startled.
Don't be silly. You couldn't ever
do that"
But I have. I've done a kids
trick, as far as you're concerned" he
said viciously, "and I've got to
straighten it out right here and right
now. Remember when told you I
was going through with this, no mat
ter what 1t cost? And I said I'd do
it for your sake?
She was looking away again.
Yes"
well. that was plain bunk" said
Mccartney deliberately. I'D have
done the same thing exactly the same
way If I'd never even seen you. Only
liked you 30 much and I was SO
keen on making . tremendous hit
with you-well. there you are. !