Evening journal., 1922-01-26
Polly and Pdul-and Paris
By ZOE BECKLEY
CHAPTER X-Tug o. War

Where was Paul? II Paul would I
only come and explain things and |
assure her that the stopping OF the
-aip meant nothing more than a
Amor repair OF some sort or-or
Polly didn't know, couldn't think
Then she saw him, coming round
the corner, forward. AS he hurried
toward her. Violet Rand, whose
place was nearest him. and who
had risen in excitement from her
chair, either flung herself or was
flung by the lurch OF the ship al
most into his arms.
Paul put out a hand. She clung
to it.
"Oh. Mr.. Dawson, what Is 1t
what has happened?"
Nothing serious. / think.
haven't heard but"
Il told her it couldn't be any
thing serious" The words burst
from Polly. involuntarily, born OF
her nervousness and chagrin.
Don't be silly" Violet retorted.
"I've crossed eleven times and
never knew boat TO stop this way
without good reason"
"I'u go and see" And Paul
started 20 move away.
"Oh. don't goi Take me with you
thenl The Captainn tell US. must
know. I'm horribly nervous.
Please"
PAUL. Polly's voice came in a
low and dangerous tone from the
chair out Of which she had not
moved
Eyes. dear?"
Surely you are not going. Won't
you come and sit here-please Paul.
1t can do no good to bother the
Captain. Nobody is in a panic--ex-
cept Miss Rand. The passengers
all realize that II danger threatened
there would be warnings"
"Yes-but IL wouldn't hurt TO
make inquiries"
"Of course-of course-Oh, do
let's 20, Mr.. Dawsoni"
Polly closed her lips tightly drew
I'm a sharp breath through dilated
nostrils, and looked away.
Paul came to her. while Violet.
hands clasped imploringly, urged
him with her eyes to hurry.
Listen. dearest. II anything's
wrong I want 10 know It. II not.
there's nothing to worry about and
III return at once and tell you why
the thing stopped. That's sensible,
isn't # Ah-here's Mr.. Cren-
shaw"
Paul hailed a thin. quiet man
walking slowly down the deck. Il
say. friend. come stay a minute
with my little wife here. while I trot
off 10 see what's happened-don'
know. do you?"
The man shook his head. wish ]
did" he answered, dropping into
the vacant chair beside Polly. "Bui
I'd rather stop and chat with Mrs.
Dawson than fuss around in the
crowd.
Paul hurried OF, and Polly closed
her eyes so as not TO see Violet
Rand clinging to his arm.
Crenshaw was the man with the
kind smile and the prematurely
gray hair who sat next TO her at thC
table. She liked him. He gave out
gentle friendliness unobtrusive
but definite. and had a restful wa,
Of keeping still when you didn'i
want to talk. and OF saying the
right thing when you did.
II Polly had followed her i'm
pulse. she would have put her head
down on his tweed-coated shoulder
and sobbed. Instead. she sat for
another moment or two with shut
eyes. trying TO command her frayed
nerve-forces into placidity.
How sensible you are, Lite
Lady. not to go squawkng about
like-lilSe these people who think
Il is the mark Of the experienced
traveller to sec disaster in every
unusual happening"
"Then you don't think it's any.
thing dreadful?"
Il think lots OF things look dis
quieting on the surface that have
perfectly commonplace explana.
tons"
II Crenshaw had any fears. h
gave no sign, and in his answer
Polly somehow found comfort.
Still-why didn't Paul and viole
Rand come back?
(To Be Continued)
Copyright. 1929. NEA Service)