Evening star., 1922-09-10

ness, but of a sudden the instability
Of his own position sank deeper into
his mind and he lost his smile.
why, my dear fellow" said Ma
cartney. 1.-The only orders I've got so
far are to defend my ship"
The other man gasped.
You mean-you've come here In
command of an American war vessel
and when 1 tell you thirty Innocent
American citizens have been starving
in a filthy native Jail for nine days
you're not going to start something?
Good God. man. what are you here for !?
tell you Americans have been shot
Americans are being held for ran
som, houses robbed, oil wells flooded.
Up north they don't understand. The
consul"
Never mind going all over 1t
again." said Mccartney. I'm sorry.
but I've told you what my orders are,
and il you don't believe it I'll show
'em to vou." He hesitated. went ahead
a step, and put his hand on the other
mans shoulder But look here" said
Mccartney in different tone. 'ff I'm
any judge of human nature. this ship
Of mines going to stir up an awful
lot Of curiosity in this rancid little
village for some considerable period.
You take my word for it. Mr.. Con-
verse, San Fratello'll be just as safe
as San Francisco-and maybe safer
until these boys find out what's up
my sleeve"
"Or what isn't" said Dyer in the
background. but nobody heard him.
II can't send you a police force
right now, and I.can't heave a couple
of shells into your city square to-
night, much as I'd like to, but. one
way or another, I'm going to try to
take care of you-and Miss Converse
and the rest of your crowd" He
glanced at the girl. The first thing
l want is facts. Why can't you both
stay here and dine with me. and send
ashore for the consul to come out and
make it official?"
The oil man blotted his forehead
dejectedly.
Thanks. but I've got to get back.
I'm safe enough for while. They
won't shoot me UP. You see, I've
paid. And the consuTs laid up with
influenza. He can't even talk in
whisper. But II 1 may leave Katha-
rine with you I'll come out about ten
and get her."
Mccartney turned to his executive
officer.
Mr.. Dyer, we're having a guest for
dinner" He stepped nearer to him.
And. Sam. 1t looks to me like four
more boatloads of white folks off the
port bow. We've got to say some
thing to 'em. Just tell 'em to sit
tight and we'll try to look after EN-"
Mr. Dyer saluted gravely. but his
lips formed the word:
How"
Mccartney stepped nearer yet.
Don't be so damned technical.
Sam" he said in an undertone. II
don't know" He paused and then
added savagely: But II we don't
stick out our chests and talk like off,
GERS for moral effect they're liable to
take the Sampson for a tanker"
NOW. from almost the first minute
Mccartney began to see visions, and
this was a multiple compliment, be-
cause he was still seeing through q
mist of resentment and chagrin. She
was a girl who instantly appealed to
him. not merely because of her fea-
lures, but because of her whole self
and the way she took bad weather
She gave him an immediate impress
sion of deep intrinsic value, Of
strength and courage and character.
Her carriage pleased him. She was
as alert and active as a boy. Her
voice pleased him. 1t was rather low
and refreshingly direct and honest.
Her attitude toward himself pleased
him-her prompt acceptance of things
as they were. And then, of course,
there were always her features-her
eyes, brown and steady; her forehead.
white and high, with thick. wavy
chestnut hair above 1t: her round. al
most sturdy little chin; her mouth,
framed for smiling.
He came to himself with a start.
He had been staring at her.
There's one thing I want to tell
you right now" she said, half apollo
getically. I'm awfully ashamed you
saw me crying. 1 don't do that once
a year"
I'll bet you don't" said Mccartney.
But it has been a strain, and it's
spoiled all dads work for ever so
long, and so many of our friends have
had such perfectly terrible expert
ences. and-and then when saw you
1 couldn't help 1t. just for a minute.
though. will you?"
Mccartney looked astonished.
Honestly. I don't believe 1t would
ever have occurred to mo-"
She smiled up at him cheerfully.
"All right. Now tell mo where to
keep out of your way. You've got
enough to do without having a woman
under foot"
Mr.. Dyer, after watching her Of
face herself. observed:
Mighty pretty girl. Pinky."
"Is she?" asked Maca-tney. as
though 1t were genuine news. 'I
didn't notice"
The stars had long since come out,
and under the stars tho sordtd little
town of San Fratello lay, transformed
and glorified. in peaceful white and
silver. Over the water came. hushed
and delicate. the tinkle of stringed
instruments and the Tilt of soft voices
singing. The night was sweet and
fresh with all the mystery, all the In
efrable charm. of southern waters.
Mccartney. in his best undress uni
form, leaned against the rail- and