The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-09-11

70 pc q tcal party
Now go on with the story.
He mixed whiskiesandsodas for
Lenore ana Mrs. Hardenworth
then started 10 mako tho rounds OF
the crew with bottlo and glasses
He did not. however. waste time
offering any TO Bess. Tho latter
had already evineed an innate fear
Of Il. wholly apart from sentimen,
tally and nonsense. She had lived
IN a circIa and environment where
strong drink had not been merely
a thing to Jest over and sing songs
about, 10 drink lightly and receive
thercfrom pleasant exhilaration;
but where Il was a living demon.
haunting and shadowing every
hour. She had no false sophlstica.
tion--her knowledge OF lirc was all
too reAl--and she had no desire 90
toy with poison and play with ftrr.
Both were realities 20 her She
knew that they had blasted life
on life. all as sturdy and seeming.
~ as invineihia "a her own. Her
abstinence was not moral issue
with her. II was simply that she
tkuew here was a foe that met men
IN their pleasant hours greeted
them In friendly ways. and then.
To- insldlous. slow attack, east
them down and left them miser.
ably to die: and shs was simply
|A.raid for her life OF n Ned. on
tho other hand. would havo laughed
a. the thought OF It's ever master.
inIg him. He felt himself immune
from tho tragedies that had afglic;.
ed other men. II was part OF the
coneeit OF his generation.
Bat Ned found plenty OF Gus.
tomasrs for his whisky. McNab.
At tho wheel. wished him happy
days over two fingers OF straight
liquor IN tho glass. and Knuisen.
hia pals eyes cleaning. poured
ahsa1s Nsd encouraged him when
tbs ss@-ran apotogszsd for hts
greatness. Tho sky's tho limit
tonight And Forest In tho en-.
gina room. and Julius IN the kstch.
en- absorbed a rlan's-zizo drink with
right good Will
Ned was able to make the
rounds sgain before tho call for
dinner: and the attitude Of his
quests Was changed In but one in.
stance. McNab seamsd TO be
measuring his liquor with exceed.
ing cara He was a man who knew
lhis limits. and he apparently did
mot intend to overstep them. He
toox q small drink. but Knutsen,
his superior. consumed as big a
portion as beture.
II was an eiated. spirited trio
that sat down at the little table In
the saloon Not one OF them could
ever remember q happier mood.
Julius served tho dinner with o.
flourish and they had only laugh.
tor when sudden iurch OF the
craft slid the sugar bowl off the
tabie to the floor.
Hello, the ships drunk. too"
Ned commented gaily.
They were really In too glad a.
mood TO see anything but sport in
the suddenly rocking table. Tho
truth was that the wind had sud.
denly sprung into brisk gale.
rolling heavy seas and bobbing the
little craft about like a cork The
three screamed with laughter. hold.
ing fast to their slipping chairs.
and Lenore rescued the bottle that
was tipping precariously on the
buffet.
wed better have little extra
one sho told them. I'm be sea.
sick IL ws don't"
She had to speak rather loudly
to make herself heard. The wind
was no longer laughing lightly and
happily at their port bows 1t had
suddesly burst into frantic roar,
swelling to the proportions Of a
thunder clap and dying away on
long. weird wall that filled the
sky and the sea. Instantly L.
burst forth loudly again, and the
snow whipped against the glass Of
the ports.
Ned stood up. braced himself,
and Immediately poured the drinks.
But 1t was not only to save Le.I
more an attack OF sea.sickness. He
was also swayed by the fact that
the heat Of the room seemed to-
be swiftly escaping. Fortunately.
there was still warmth In plenty
in the bottle. so he need not be
depressed by mere fall OF TEN.
perature. He glanced about the
room, rather suspecting that one
Of the ports had been left open.
The saloon, however, was as tightly
closed az was possible for 1t to be.
He turned at once. mnde his
way thru the gale that swept the