Evening star., 1923-05-16


eted supon a raan standing at the rail
OF the other boat.
He was taller by half head than
the other passengers. He wore q
broad, light felt hat with black
Striped tie. whose long ends fiuttsrad
in the breeze. He was ciose-shayen.
with sharp. dark eyes. whose piercing
gaze was riveted upon Jill Bett.
The momen. her gaze had restea
fro 1PSn si shs mnsss her
grandfather had given Of him as the
American agent who had left the
jewel with him. Within the hour ne
would land in katar. discover wnat
had happened, then search would De
instituted for the jewel
A sudden faintness seized Jfl- Bett.
Jack noticed 1t, helping her back to
her steamer chair.
II will get you glass OF wind ne
said.
mo. no" returned JILL Bett. Not
for worlds would I take anytnin8
that stupeffes the brain. J would like
glass of water"
He brought it to her hurriodly;
she took long draught OF II. ne
wondered at the shudder that passed
through her slender frame.
Don't you think you had better
go to your stateroom. l-Bett? he
queried You are very pale. even Vo
the lips"
She shook her head. II should like
you to sit with me here. il YOU Will.
then we will examine the contents OF
the box"
Would you mind if went down
to the lower deck for a smoke? Will
come to you later.
II will wait for you here" she re-
piled.
After he had gone Jil-Bett gave
full vent to the tears she had str1Ven
so earnestly TO suppress in his pres
ence. He knew she needed him. but
he had not cared to remain where
she was The little book she had
been reading emphasized the SEN
tence: Indifference and love are
never found together in the heaft'
for the one-the stronser-alWays
crowds the other out, taking full pos
session"
That was it-Jack was Indifferent
to her. On the next page she had
read: 1T is easier to move noun
tain than to change indifference 10
love"
She realized with sorrow that was
most pitiful that her marriage to him
was not OF his choosing and that.he
had been unceremoniously hustled
into the yoke.
The great fear was taking posses
sion of her that he was gradually
learning to detest her.
The hours dragged on The full
moon mounted higher and higher IN
the star-gemmed sky. yet he did NOT
return. She heard the ships bells
each time they tolled the passing OF
time: the deck on which she sat was
by this time wellnigh deserted.
lack has forgotten he had an ap-
poiAtment with me here" she sobbed.
With all of womans patience, sne
decided to wait a hah-hour longer.
IL in the meantime the stewardess did
svo ~
been so generous in sharing her state.
room with her. Jil-Bett could not feel
justified In causing her annoyance by
not retiring when she did.
Jil-Bett had been quite right. Ihe
taA man on the passing steamer was
Staples. She was also correct In her
conjeetures that he would seek her
grandfather at once upon landing
This was exactly what Staples pro-
ceeded to do. The house was In dark
ness. which looked as If the old man
had retired His impatience to view
,the result of the aged lapidary's work
was so great he could not wait until
morning. therefore he knocked loudly
upon the door. Again and again he
knocked. There was no response.
The sound of the knocking brought
Nudge, next door. to his window.
When he saw the tall. spare figure
standing at the Bannock door ne rec
ognized him at once as the stranger
WQOm ne ndu ~ Ahnt hOuSS
several weeks before.
Il am anxious to see the lapidary.
with whom I have important busi-
ness" exclaimed Staples. adding:
He must be very sound sleeper.
have knocked loud enough to awaken
the dead"
THE dead cannot awaken, str. The
hand of man can never disturb one
in his last sleep. as Is Daniel Ban
mock"
Staples drew back in alarm. Are
you trying to tell me the old lanidary
is dead?" he asked sharply.
That is what has happened. sir.
The old man passed away quite
week ago."
Staples leaned heavily against the
door frame.
The granddaughter. where is she?
I must see her at once; 1t is evident
she is not within; where can find
her.?
You will not be able to see her,
sir. Jil-Bett is no longer in katar
Gone away. Where to-" cried sta
Piles. lily repressfng his deep aEita-
tion.
"She married very suddenly and un-
expectedly and has gone with her
young husband across the seas You
must have just passed their boat,
which is bound for America"
Staples instantly recalled the incl
dent of the passing of the other host.
His brow darkened and q gleam not
pleasant to see flashed into his eyes
He was man who could conceal his
emotions. hold them in leash. In
voice whose calmness surprised even
himself he asked Nudge to come out
and tell him all about 1t. adding he
would make 1t worth his while to lose
his sleep for the next half-hour er 80.