Evening star., 1923-04-29

You have struck me. grandfather
struck your own little Jil-Bett, for
the first time"
His arm had fallen to his side; the
streak across her lovely young face
as she said. the first time he had ever
raised his hand in anger toward her
recalled him to his senses as nothing
else could have done.
II did not mean to go so far as
that, but you provoked me TO it, he
added in self-defense. You should
have realized I know best; I'm for
your good
81 owe you a, lot. grandfather" she
unlike his own joyful Jil-Betts. star
tied him.
"Of course. you do" he interrupted
land haven't | been father. mother
grandpa and all the world to you
child? You've never known a want
that ! did not try my best to procure
for you. We've been very happy III
our love and devotion to each other
haven't we?"
She nodded.
He was heartily glad to note the
imprint OF his hand was slowly dy-
ing away from her young face.
He felt that this girl, to whom his
will had heretofore been her law
would win out-get the better of him
in this encounter. After a moment :
pause he turned to her, saying: I'm
sorry | struck you. my Jil-Bett: for
grandfather. We shall compromise
to pay for 1t. You shall go to the
hospital this once with my permis-
sion. providing you never ask 10 go
again. Will that satisfy my little
girlH'
JIl-Bett smiled up at him. through
gathering tears. holding up her lips
mechanically for his kiss. But her
kiss lacked all the gladness and love
of the years that had gone before
He felt this kcenly.
THANK you. grandfather" she re-
sponded. II shall never ask TO go 10
the hospital again" a moment later
the door closed after her.
He wondered what she meant that
her words should convey.
With all haste Jil-Bett made her
way to the hospital. The thought
young stranger once more drove the
thoughts of all unpleasantness from
her mind.
He is sitting up. fully dressed" the
attendant told her. adding: "The
doctors predict that he will regain
consciousness within the hour. There
will be a surprise in store for you. He
IS fully dressed and placed in his
chair. The authorities hadn't the
heart To put the ragged old clothes
he wore in here on him. and voted
him AN entirely new suit. The doctors
laughed when they beheld him. de-
clarinE he looked quite as much the
sentleman-to the manner boru-as
any one of them"
Jil-Bett'S face grew radiant as she
heheld the handsome young stranger;
the attendants description Of him
had not been overdrawn.
Il ought not to tell you this con-
fided the nurse. but he was con-
scious for little while this morning
and during that time one Of the doe
tors told him where he was and ali
bout you. and of how YOU found him
just in the nick of time. He fell
asleep soon after. but is due to waker
again al any moment. Isn't he fine
looking" ."
jill l-Bett heartily agreed with he,
IN this opinion: he was more than
fine looking: indeed. the handson,est
man she had ever beheld. 1t was
with much trepidation she watched
him stir uneasily, then the hazel ewes
opened slowly.
All unconscious of the events OF
such vital Importance to him which
were transpiring. the stranger, whom
the hospital authorities had chris
tened Jack. was slowly recovering
from the head bruises he had sus-
tained. as well as the exposure 70
bitter cold he had experienced. He
had struggled desperately TO recall
the past. but II was quite useless
II was completely. blotted out
shrouded in darkness. through which
no ray of light pierced.
The first face he saw was Ill.
Belts. He, wondered vaguely who
this tall slip of girl was. viii
southern richness of coloring in the
warm white and deep rose of hel
abundant hair. red lips. and wonder.
ful dark eyes. half-veiled by the
longest and darkest of curling lashes
He was still more puzzled to see
tears come to the wonderful dark
eyes as they met his: the little hand
soft and warm. trembled as il lay
for moment on his forehead. Are
YOU .Iil- Bett?" he asked. They ha6
he owed his life to her, and how she
had come and nursed him through
his Illness. She nodded. blushine
ho,iy under his earnest gaze. They
tell me | am in Arabia" he said. 81
am trying to think who I am. bu1
I'm in a fog-I cannot remember
She had taken a seat by his couch
and was regarding him earnestly
Don't try: some day il will all come
back to You with rush: that is
Rett; and Jack was obliged to fol
low her suggestion. You will be
fine and fit for work by the beginning
of next week. the doctor announced
1
fishing. after the assurance the doc
tor would pass him. Much TO her de
light. Jack consented.
THE next time l see YOU will be
suit" she said. as she held out hei
hand to him at parting. "Now thai
you are practically we'll. there viii
be no need to come here again"
She could never have told him thai
she had been forbidden to set foot ir
the hospital again. She left happy
beyond words that he was not tC
vanish out of her life. As a pear
diver she would see him each day
her. thoughts went no further thar
that.
During the week that followed Jill
Belts face haunted Jack. He look &c
forward with pleasurable anticipation
TO the time he should see her again
He felt grateful to her beyond words
Jil-Bett was thankful that the
Arab was away on the business he
had stated and would not return for
some weeks. Had he been there Jack
possible to secure the work
At daybreak on the morning Jack
started diving. The steamer Bolivar
had just been sighted in the dim dis
first mate and Staples. "It is Won
derful thing to see the sun rise in
this atmosphere" remarked Staples
sweeping the horizon with his marine
glass.
And quite as wonderful, sir. to
see the pearl divers commence their
work. There are guns booming this
moment: that's the signal for going
down. You are just near enough to
get fine view through your glasses, >
returned the mate.
Staples watched intently. 1t was
indeed a most wonderful sight, and
an uncommon one-the scores OF
fearless divers in their bulky divers
dress, their brass trimmings flash
ing in the sun as they were lowered
by rope and pulley down into the
depths of the briny deep. their
baskets strapped to their sides.
Staples was deeply impressed. II
seemed to him an enchanted place
Of golden dreams. He had never
imagined far-off Arabia anything
like this The costumes of the ma