, 1923-03-16

Already she was taking his curious
bluntness for granted. She said now.
simply. gently.
II know. I'm sitting out here at
midnight with a married man. And
I don't seem 10 mind. OF course
you're not exactly married. Still
\ few days g L wouldn't nave
thought it possible"
"of course. I ought to lake you
back. now"
II don't feel Is If I were doing
wrong. On, a little but "
II ought to take you back"
She rested a hand on his arm. 1t
was no more than a girglish gesture.
She didn't notice that he set his teeth
and sat very still.
I've thought this. though" she
said. "If I'm to meet you out here
nke-like this"
But you're not to-"
We'll here we are!'
Yes here we arep'
Il was going to say. it's dishonest,
1 think. for us TO avoid each other
during the day. If we're friends
III we're friends we'd better admit
it."
Yes. I mean that"
He fell to working at his pipe with
n pocket knife. She watched him IN.
I'll he was smoking again.
Mrs. Hasmer won't like it,"
Il can't help that"
mo. OF course" He smoked
Suddenly he broke out. with a ges.
ture so vehement that It startled her:
ON, It's plain enough-we're on a
ship, idling dreaming. floating from a
land of color and charm and quaint
unreality to another land that has al.
ways enchanted me. for all the dirt
and disease, and the smells. It's
that! Romancel The old webb It's
catching US. And we're MOI even re-
sisting. No mi could blame YOU
you're young. charming. full of nat
ural life. But I I'm not romantic
Tonight. yes! But next Friday. in
Shanghai. nor
1T is simply a thing I can't help
said she
They fell silent. The pulse of the
great dim ship was soothing. One
- hgaiAlths W. utll6. lnIee..
A man of Jonathan Brachey's
nature couldn't know the power his
" bold thoughts and words
were bound to exert in the mint Of
a girl like Betty.
In her heart already she was moth
ering him. Every word he spoke
now. even the strong words that
startled her, she enveloped in warm
sentiment.
To Brachey's grabbed. self.centcred
nature she was like a lush oasis in
the arid desert of his heart. He could
no more turn his back on It than
could any tired, dusty wanderer. He
knew this. Or, better. she was like a
mirage. And mlrages have driven
men out OF their wits.
So seized them. They
walked miles the next day. round and
round the deck. Mrs. Hasmer was
poweriess. and perturbed. Her hus-
band counseled watchful patience.
Before night all the passengers
knew that the two were restless
apart. They found corners on the
BOAT deck. far from all eyes.
That night Mrs. Hasmer came to
Betty's door; satisfied herself that
the girl was actually undressing and
going to bed. Not one personal word
passed.
And then, half an hour later, Betty
dressed again. tiptoed out. Her heart
was high, touched with divine rock
lessness. This, she supposed. was
wrong; but right or wrong, It was
carrying her out Of her girllsh self.
She couldn't stop.
Brachey was fighting harder; but
to little purpose. They had these
two days now. That was ALI At
Shanghai. and after. it would be. es
he had so vigorously said. different.
Just these two daysi He saw,
when she Joined him on the deck,
that she vas riding at the two days
as Il they were 10 be her last on
earth. Intensely. soberly happy. she
was passing through a golden haze