, 1923-07-18

Romance
of the
Bahamas

what Seligmann was like-an AmerI-
belonging, o probably, to one of
the numerous clubs on the Florida
coast, and Mrs. Seligmann-or was it
Miss-Or not even that?
One thing was certain, Seligmann
was rich. They were not robbing a
poor man.
At the end Of the third day Jude
gave out, not from WEAKNESS, but
from d~istaste.
Lord! haven't you had enough of
this old truck?" said Jude. II don't
feels If l ever wanted to see a ZENITH
Of rope nor a cringle again."
Radcliffe felt pretty much the same.
"Tll finish the business myself"
said Satan. you can knock off II
you like. Con hunt for turkles' eggs
I'm going" said Jude.
"I1l come along, too" said Rat
cliffe.
Satan ferried them over to the
sands. 1t was about two hours before
shutdown. and an easterly breeze was
blowing, fresh and cool, shivering up
the lagoon water and whispering
among the sand-grains.
Jude walked despondently as they
trudged along close TO the sea edge
and discovering nothing.
"D'you know" said Radcliffe, we've
eve started to hunt for a sign
of the Nombre de Dios? I wonder II
she's sunk. really, anywhere near
here?'
II dunno" said Jude; don't care,
nuther. Satan's so full OF his pesky
old fittings he's no time to think of
anything else"
Cheer up, Jude"
I'm all right"
mo, you're not. What's wrong?"
Lots of things"
when we get back to Havana
began Radcliffe. She cut him short.
II don't want to go back to Ha.
vana.' said she. "Ain't going"
She sat down on the sands plump,
nursed her knees, and stared over the
sea. casting her hat beside her. He
He knew at once, knew what had
been working in her mind for days.
You're b~othering about what Sci.
lers said. dirty scoundrel, I'd have
punched his head, only the whole
thing happened so quick and you
landed him with that mop-don't
worry"
No reply.
whats the good?" went on Rat
.tsaco .hon ..,tN,.I. ~ rott,- IT.,
he was treading on dangerous ground
"see here. there's no harm In being @
girl. no more than there is in being s
man."
No reply.
A laughing gull passed and jeered
at them. Jude followed 1t with hei
eyes. She seemed almost unconscious
his words. He watched her profile
against the sky, noticed the eyelashe:
which seemed longer and more curved
up than ever, the nice shape of the
head, free of the old panama.
Then she turned. leaned on her ell
bow, and looked up at him-then She
looked down.
what made you think I was both
erin about Sellers?' asked Jude.
II don't know" said Radcliffe, ~
just thought 1t. I've been thinking q
lot about you'll car for you a lot,
that's about It,"
She looked up at him again. full in
the eyes, and with a new expression
he had never seen before. n puzzled,
half-startled look, like that Of a per,
son suddenly awakened in strange
surroundings.
Then her eyes fell away from him
She took u handful Of sand and lei
the grains fall between her fingers.
Just that" said Radcliffe.
She was still playing with the sanu
letting II fall between her fingers
carefully as though trying to count
the grains. Then she threw the stun
away. brushed the palm OF her hand
clean. and sat up. Drawing a little
closer to her. he put his hand round
her waist. just rs he had done wher
they were on the sandspit. and Jusr
ms IN the sandspit, she let IL rest
therefor n momen Then. with q
queer little laugh. she removed the
hand and struggled to her feet.
fTO ne CONTINITEDl