Evening star., 1924-01-27

thing in him capable Of overwhelming
this passion of youth-the pride of
youth in its undertakings. He sat
silent.
well, goodbye, Charley" I said.
I'D think 1t over a bit. maybe This
girls a bit too reckless for you. I'm
thinking"
] ] passed out. I felt better.
I made point Of keeping my eye
on her durins the next twenty four
hours She strode about "a deck
with one or two Of the more seagoing
passengers, plunging through showers
Of spray forward and staggering as
we rolled.
She came down to dinner beauti-
fully undressed, to my mind. Charley
Hansen came striding down the main
stairway into the dining saloon just
| as she was leaving. He stopped and
stared at her, face to face. She re-
turned his look coolly. turned easily
to a woman with her and passed on
up the stairs.
- x = =:
| THE last full day of our run was
as bad as you'd choose. blessed
the fact that next day would see US
In Southampton water, warm and
tucked into our dock, if only for
three days.
We were in just tho right spot for
heavy weather-north Of Biscay, and
a wind bursting down the channel
BY noon It was thicker than ever,
and the Old Man slowed her UP to
| twelve knots and ordered all pas
sengers to remain below deck, but
about sunset the rain cleared up a
little and the Old Man showed her up
| to full speed again. When night came
down we were pounding into It like a.
batternig ram. went down to dine
rather late, just in time to find Char
ley finishing. I happened to see his
face as L went up TO my chair, be-
fore he saw me, for his eyes were
| fixed on the slim girl with the strong
| shoulders who was dining merrily
with a couple Of women. Her self
possession was an extra ordinary con-
trast to Charley's expression.
Charley, 1 wouldn't have your job
for something, till midnight" ! said
as sat down beside him.
TITS bloody" he growled. The Old
Mans put her up TO full again, dash
it. Just my luck"
When do we sight Bishops Light?'
Bout II. l fancy. Depends on the
weather. Well, I've got to go and
pile on clothes; so long" He leaned
back and felt for his pipe a-s he pre-
pared to get up and his eyes wan
dered over to tho Lamar girl again
and fixed there intently I glanced
over and found her regarding him
fixedly.
AS for Charley Hansen, his jaw
frightened. Heavens.-he was a hand
some lad. He stood up, with an alb
rupt jerk Of his chair and strobe out
Of the saloon without glancing at her
With the faintest Of smiles she turn
ed to listen to one of her friends.
Again I rejoiced at Southampton in
the morning.
1 tucked myself away IN my arm
chair with tin of 'baccy and read
nigh three hours, when my mind
drifted back TO that girl and the way
she'd spoilt the run for me, for she
had. My thought naturally drifted
on to Charley. ! thought of him on
the bridge amove me. ] found myself
reaching for my heavy coat.
/ went through the empty grand
salon; IT was seven bells. half after
eleven, and everybody was below.
] made my way forward into the
deck officers quarters, which are
Immediately below the bridge. All
was deadly quiet here. There was
glow OF light through the Old Mans
| hooked door. showing he was awake
and alert. and would be till morn
ing, if I knew him.
I climbed through the lower wheel
| house and up the companionway to
the main wheeelhouse on the upper
bridge. AS 1 went up 1 began to
hear the intense scream Of the wind,
and an icy chill of air swept down
on me.
The scene in that wheelhouse was
weird, even to me. We were just
entering the Channel, at full speed,
and Hansen was outside in the open.