Evening star., 1922-03-26


that on the upper decks one
could have driven sleigh. In
side the smoking room Austin FORD
ordered hot gin for himself and the
ships doctor. The ships doctor had
gone below on another hurry calr
from the widow. At the first lunch-
evH vn board the widow had sat on
the right of DR.. Sparrow. with Aus
tin Ford facing her. Since then at
frequent intervals the i'll health of
the widow had deprived Ford of the
society Of the doctor. That it de-
prived him also Of the society of the
widow did not concern him. Her life
had not been spent uron Ocean liners;
she could not remember when state
rooms were named after the states of
the Union. She could not tell him of
shipwrecks and salvage. of smugglers
and Of the modern pirates who found
their victims in the smoking room.
Ford was on his way to England to
act as the London correspondent of
tho New York Republic. For three
years on that most sensational of the
New York dailies he had been the
star man, the chief muckraker, the
chief sleuth. His interest was in
crime, in such offenses against law
and society as are perpetrated with
nice intelligence. The man he
studied. pursued and exposed was the
cashier who evolved a new method of
covering up his peculations, the dis
honest President of an insurance COM
pany. the confidence man who used no
concealed weapon other than his wit.
Toward the criminals he pursued
young Ford felt no personal ami
mostly.
THE ships doctor returned from
his visit below decks and sank
into the leather cushion. close to
Ford's elbow.
u told her to talk to you." he said
fretfuily.
'-Her? who?" inquired Ford. "oh.
the wftow?'
You were right about that" said
DR.. Sparrow: "she is not a widow"
The reporter smiled complacently.
DO you know why I thought not?"
he demanded. because all the time
she was at luncheon she kept turning
over her wedding ring. as though she
was not used to. 1t. 1t was a new
ring. too. I told you then she was
not q widow
DO you always notice things like
that?" asked the doctor.
Mot on purpose" said the amateur
detective. IT can't help it,
1T is gift" said the doctor
mo, It's a nuisance" laughed the
reporter. II see so many things 1
don't want to see. I see when women
are lying to me. can see when men
are ON the verge of = nervous break
down, and whether it Is drink or debt
or morphine"
The doctor snorted triumphantly.
You did not see that the widow
was on the verge of breakdown
mo-" returned the reporter. us
she? I'm sorry."
IF you're sorry" urged the doctor
eagerly. you'll help her. She is go
Ing to London alone to find her hus-
band. He has disappeared. She
thinks that he has been murdered or
that he 10 lying i'll In some hospital.
I told her if any one could help her
to find him you could. She's very ILL.,"
London Is a large town." Ford re-
marked.
'She has photographs Of him, and
she knows where he spends his time,"
pieaded the doctor. "He Is COM
pAny promoter. It should be easy for
YOU"
Maybe he doesn't want her to find
him" said Ford. Then it wouldn't
be 50 easy for me-"
The old doctor sighed heavily. "1
KNOW" he murmured. II thought of
that. too. And she is so very pretty.
She must stop worrying" he ex-
claimed. "or she will have a mental
coflapae. I have tried sedatives. but
they don't touch her. want to give
her courage. She is frightened. She's
left baby boy at home. and she's
fearful that something will happen to
him. and she's frightened at being at
sea. frightened at being alone in Lon
don. It's pitiful!s The old man
shook his head. "Pitiful! Will you
talk to her now?" he asked.
"Nonsense" exclaimed Ford. "She
doesn't want to tell the story Of her
life to strange young men,
S"But it was she suggested it," cried
the doctor. "She asked me If you
were Austin Ford, the great detec-
tive
Ford snorted scornfully. "She did
notr" he protested. His tone was that
Of q man who hopes to be contra
dicted.
'Bat, she did," insisted the doctor.
''and told her your speciality was
tracing persons. Her face frightened
u once; it gave her hope. She will
listen; to you"
"Whsre is the. lady now?" asked
Ford.
Dr. Sparrow scrambled eagerly to
his feet. ''She cannot leave her cabin"
ho Apewered.
xs* \ y
THE widow, as, Ford and De Spar
= row. still thought of her. was "
Inn. on the sofa that ran the length
Of the stateroon. She was fully
dressed, except that instead Of her
bo9jce she wore kimono. She had
bAAa. sleeping. and when their en-
TRANCE awoke her her blue eyes
regarded them uncomprehendingl
Ford. hidden from her by the doctor.
observed that not only was she very
pretty, but that she was absurdly
Young, and that the drowsy smile she
turned upon the old man before she
noted the presence Of Ford was as
INNOCENT as that Of baby. Her
cheeks were ffushed. her eyes bril-
liant, her yellow curls had become