, 1923-08-22
CHAPTER xvII-continued.
oopynsh. By Robert ". McBrids = Co.

lou frightened tne SlZZdru out OF
me-" said Jude. land 1 wasn't the same
after-that night"
II remember. l heard you telling
Satan that hants were chasing you"
> You were the hants."
But you didn't care for me then"
Il reckon 1t was a sort Of caring
turned inside out" said Jude. She
turned her head to see If they were
making for the Dryad.
You're letting her of her course"
said she. unless you're making for that
brig"
I'D just as soon make for her as
anywhere else" said he altering the
course, unless 1t was the sandspit-
Jude!"
Yep"
Imagine II we were alone on the
snndspit, you and I, just as we were
that day. instead of in this rotten old
harbor-let's go therel"
I'm willing"
"WhenY"
'Soon's you like"
I'VE can get a tent and grub. INT
Satan can take us there and come back
toi US Ill httC thC
The first officer Of the Dryad was
leaning over the rail watching them.
The stage was down, and Jude brought
the dinghy alongside.
Then on the stage he watched her
rowing of. He waved his hand to her,
n she replied.
Then. when he reached the deck, he
found Shelton also at the rail.
Morning said Radcliffe. That's
Satan's sister,"
"Which?' asked SHELTON. "That-
er-person in the boat?"
"Yes. But you saw her on deck
down ut Palm island. didn't your
II had forgotta n" said Shelton. dis
missing the subject.
There were no guests. Ponsonby
was to have come. but he was indis-
posed yet the luncheon was Just as
forma an affair as though a dozen
had been present instead Of two.
Halfway through the meal, however.
Ratcliffe's spirits began to brighten
under the influence Of wine, and the
harlequin thought that began to dance
in his head. II am going for a honey
moon to the sandspit with Jude :"
He laughed occasionally at nothing
manner strange. heady, queer, and be-
gan to thank his stars that Ponsonby
was indisposed. He noticed also that
Ratcliffe's hands. despite scrubbing.
bore the evidence of hard work not dis
sociated with tar. There vas also
something queer about his mar.
There wasi Satan had barbarized
1t down at Cormorant with the pair of
scissors he used on Jude.
SHELTON, in asking Radcliffe on board
to luncheon. had considered himself a
most forgiving Individual. Leaving
aside their little quarrel at Palm island.
remained the fact that Ratcliffe had
left his ship. deserted him for the COM
pany Of those Yankee "scowbankers."
and, to make matters worse. Ratcliffe
seemed to have enjoyed the exchange.
Now, in closer company with the de-
iinquent. he was beginning to regret
his forgiveness. The man had de-
Perforated !"
As n result of this impression his
manner had stiffened he felt irritated
and bored.
The steward had withdrawn. having
placed the dessert on the table. and.
SHELTON was in the act Of carving n
pineapple in the only way a pineap-
Pile ought to be carved-that Is to say
by tearing 1t Into pieces with wv
forks-when Ratcline. who had been
staring at h fruit as though hypno-
tized, suddenly broke into a chuckle
Of laughter.
The pineapple. connecting itself.
maybe. with canned pineapples robbed
from the store room OF the Haliotis,
had suddenly brought up the vision or
Satan.
Satan In a new guise-satn as a
n.ofrhunQERr