Evening journal., 1922-06-09
CHAPTER III
THE MYSTERY CRAFT

II d1NO6hd hdPA4Nf sNH wv -
name. The Bacchante' is writte
under II. and the date"
"oh yes But by whom? Who's
writing is that?"
Never mind that now. What i
that shore line? Do you recognize
il? Take my glass"
Dick studied II intently anC
minutely for some minutes. g
wanted your opinion. Now look a
the next one"
why - that's Brock-at th'
Wheel"
Here's another, Of a party
Glenn, Ruth. vira-"
And that other girl is Rae
Larue That fellow in back is Jack
Curtis
Garrick slowed the gir's hat and
the films away in a chest.
well. what's next?" asked Dick.
Il suppose they'll all be at the
club tonight at that Subscription
Dance
Garrick nodded silence. He was
calling Greenport where he had a
friend. a boat builder.
Seems that she's a mystery ship
-on mystery cruises" he frowned
as he turned to Dick from the tele-
phone. "They know her out there
all right. But no one out there
seems TO know who owns her. She
slips out on these mysterious cruises,
then back Just as unexpectedly
then away again. From the descrip-
ton I'd say that Brock often handles
her as captain. There's nearly al
wsvs some Of that crowd Of young
folks on heN too; sometimes a party.
Ny friend says he will telephone II
the 'Bacchante' comes in. She went
out yesterday"
II was after dinner and a little
ansent-minded knocking about OF
1.-THE billiard balls alone, that Gsrrick
was recalled to the matter in hand
bv the penetrating tuning up OF the
orchestra in the ball room.
Y He sauntered out on the wide club
,rch that faced the harbor and
rooked out straight ahead through
the wide opening OF the two head
lands into the Sound II was
beautiful starry night. with no moon
par ont in the Sound could be seen
one of the big New England steam
ers. a majestic mess of lights here
and there, knots of young people
had begun to gather.
He was endeavorlng to select
oulet corner where he could watch
when three girls, arm In arm IN
light shimmery summer froeks saun-
tered across the lawn and up the
steps.
aoh. Guy" He turned. 1t was
ruth. nearest, with Vira on the
other end. and a piquant little
bobbed-haired snappy-eyes' hthe' |
animated girl between them. We've .
been talking about you-and Rae .
wants so much to meet you Ruth
presented Garrick TO Rae Larue'
Garrick was an adept with polite
persifiage. He needed to be. 70 cover
IN the eagerness with which he
studied this interesting young per-
son.
ave heard so much about you,
NJ Garrick." she explained
keenlr. with a come-on smile and
,esi+ation after the mfr" that hint
. at the irksomeness Of formality
You live at the Club, don't you?
m staying with Beth Page; you
aust know the Pages. I'd seen you
round when we've been over here
nd l thought I knew you were
ou,"
Rae had that sometimes fatal
lift OF hattery, a way Of leading
nan on to talk about himself and
4 appearing TO be exclusively in
crested in his tastes and pastimes.
sny studied her as she devoted her
entire attention to him TO the ex-
clusion Of her companions. Was she
attractive because she was so young;
or was it because she had had so
much experience in being young?
From his life at the Club they were
soon far a-field leaping lightly to
the visit TO the sea Vamp." then
ever westward like an explorer, to
the city. the shows, the hotels the
sght life Was she questing to
debonaire. sophisticated club-man
took him? For his purposes Car
rick conveyed the impression that |
the Dnly limits known TO him were
the sky and the horizon. Somehow,
however. he had a feeling that this
,rI was learning pretty much what
he wanted TO know; though for !
he life of him he hadn't quite fig
red out yet what that was.
Far down the porch Vira caught /
ght of Glenn and had no intention
T playing the lay figure longer.
iris and fellows were passing and
ith a nudge at Ruth, Vira broke
p the party and the three con-
nued down toward the ball room,
aving Garrick to figure il all out,
pecially Ruth. who. the moment
ey were gone, seemed to resume
adership.
Dick had been sauntering alone
'out the Club. speaking few
ords to friends loiling in wicker
airs nodding to others. when he
ard the nosy entrance of group
young people.
Dick Defoe was the quieter type
man undoubtedly destined TO
AXE any reasonably normal girl
appy A gracious, ifreserved. man.
'f seemed to announce to the world