The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-08

him desperoteIy)-Stop and think
what you are doing! You're rush.
ing blindly into danger!
BLAIR f1oith frOtOn) Now. don't
be foolish little woman
INEZ (s0ith fren=y)-But YOU are
acting like a fool-a schoolboy!
Do you realize what it means to
give your life and safety into an
other mans keeping?
BLAIR (GnTiOWs to be 0f)-Oh, |
grasp the situation, never fear!
Old IIubert's found this treasure
and he's ravenOus to claim it. His
weird code of ethics not permit
ting that, however, he's using me
as a cat's-paw-
INEZ (d5strGctedIy) - You are
married to him all these years for
nothing! tell you there is
venom working in his mind. /
know his nature. 1t may cost
your life IL you do not heed my
warning
BLAIR (iOhtIy)-Your nerves are
in a furry!
INEZ (breGthIeSSIv)-Last night as
/ sat brushing my hair before the
mirror he entered the cabin sud-
denly and caught a chance
glimpse OF his face. 1t was, for
moment, as though mask had
fallen. His eyes were dilated and
his features distorted by demOni-
cal rage
BLAIR-A row with one Of the
crew, perhaps.
INEZ-NO! That's not his way. He
has great power and assurance.
He never resorts to anger with
BI.AIR-Then what, do you I'M
agine-
INEZ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS suspects
us!
BLAIR-Nonsense Ia trtfe xneGs-
iIy.) Why .. =. we've given him
no reason
INEZ (simplv)-He knows that i
love you. The truth has struck to
his soul. don't know how it was
revealed to him. Perhaps by the
very vibration Of our thO1ghts.
Or perhaps by disconnected
phrases, impulsive glances, un-
conscious acts. Oh, we have sent
a thousand messages that we are
unaware Of
BLAIR (8tMbOOrnIV)-I think you
are mistaken. AS you have grown
to hate him you ha' grown to
fear him. Has he ever questioned
you or insinuated--
INEZ-Never! But at night, when
he pretends to be sleeping, / hear
his heart beat-oh, like an i'm
prisOned beast against the bars of
a cage! l know why his heart
beats like that. 1t is because he
is insane with jealousy. He
knows the truth!
benson enters from the COM
pdntoHsaCdv, FOLLOWED By a seaman
cGrrvt1DO q chest
BENSON (cGlIing out Uith Shilling
dertStOn to Bldtr)-How goes it,
old chap? Feeling bit weak in
the knees!
BLAIR "a tride blGnkly)-No! Z.
I'm all right.
Good.
INEZ (StGring at her husband Nth
rGUGged face and speaking Nth
nUculty)-You are urging Alan
Blair to commit a great folly. Is
this in keeping with your honor
and dignity as commander of the
ship?
BENSON (tCitb a bursting laugh, as
though child had ebMked HIM
Bless me! Are you still med
ding? Go read a book and sit
quiet. ITO Blair in O business,
like t0ne)-Strip off your jacket
and slip into this rig.
INEZ (Wtth futile cry) - I'm
frightened :!
(She sinks into deck chair
and matches the operations help
leSSlU. as If enSnHred in q tor.
menttn0 dream. The Malay at.
tendGMt assists Blair to eQWjp.)
BENSON-Now the back-and-chest
weight-that's for ballast. There's
less tide at the bottom than on
the surface. Cad! I've been |
down with the sea boiling like a
pot and found peaceful green
garden with mildly swaying flow
ers. Just like twilight on SuM-
mers day. How about your heart |
and lungs? You're solid?
BLAIR (pGle)-Sure.
BENSON-The main thing is to
keep your head. Breathe through |
your mouth, remember--not your
nose! Keep your distance-line
coiled in your hand-that will
guide you. Signal one pull on the |
breast-rope when reaching the
bottom. And see that the shot
rope just touches the Sea-fioor
without slack. Do you under
stand?
D American Weekly. Inc. Great Britain Rights I