The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-03-16
HER HAIR LAY LOOSE OF THE Pillow WITH ONE HAND
ENTwINED

cork fender: she calls me her
friend. ana I'm Jake to her. Only
for you. we'd have"
BE carefulr' gritted Drake angr.
lily. Don't make a show OF your
friendship with Miss Manning Cool
down. acd set your grinning men TO
work. And please follow my wishes
in the matter have spoken about.
Mary sat on deck all the after.
noon. summing herself. working with
stuiious care with stlken binding
and needle upon border for the
sheepskin that covered her knees,
Every now and then she glanced
from under lowered Iashes at the
staEwart figure OF Drake a. he
paced the deck. smoking his well
blackened CID biar pipe that had
come out from home with his out.
fit. He looked as near unbending
then as he had ever looked since
taking command. She had TO con.
Tess shat he was sincere In his at.
tltude toward her. Nobody look.
ing at him with intent TO sec things
as they really existed would dare
deny that Captain Alden Drake was
living only ard entirely for the
splendid vessel that quivered as IL
with life beneath his feet HIS
eyes flashed with pride. his figure
stiffened With seamanly admiration
when he glanced aloft and meas
ured the splendid trim Of his ship.
He was courteous, too. Mary
could not deny that He came TO
look at her work many times. He
asked where the skin came from.
and smilingly recalled having seen
stevens superintend the staying OF
the sheep. He was kindly. humor
Gus, hantering even: and he could
smile down upon her as sunnily as
he had ever done; but Mary was
not satisfied with that. Any man
would serve, IL that were all.
When Stevens appeared, coming
on deck for walk after his sleep.
she beckoned TO him. He hesitated
with queer grin on his ruggedly
good looking face, glancing towards
Drake.
II want your advice about this
Mister Stevens" she cried. "Oh
don't mind the captain. He only
srowis when l speak to the officer
of the watch. Walt. Perhaps we'll
ne safer down on the maindeck."
She ran down the ladder, with
the sheepskin, and waited for him
beside the mizzen hatch. Stevens
followed. wondering why Drake did
not below at him.
What's the trouble. Mary7' he
asked gleefully, joining her.
Nothing" she retorted in an
undertone. II wanted to see how
far he would carry his absurd or.
ders."
"Oh, 80 you think they're absurd,
hey?" He gazed long and deeply
into her face. handling the sheep.
skin meanwhile for an excuse for
being there. She shivered under
his gaze: she was conscious that
Drake came to the rail above them
every few minutes, but appeared to
take no notice OF them. Jake's
fingers met hers in the soft fleece,
and she tried to draw hers away;
but he gripped them passIonntely.
and muttered so that only her cars
heard:
SOS know how you feel about
that. Mary, he can go plumb to
helll You come up and talk to me
tonight, see?'
He stepped on the ladder again,
turning midway TO call out, as a
covering lie:
"The less frills You put on them
pelts the better they are, Mlss
Mary. Like lot OF other things
We know Of"
Six bells were struck, and Mary
remained out of sight. She had
permitted discretion TO temper her
valor at the last. stevens had in
truth frightened her more than she
would have cared TO admit She
heard all the bells strike, however,
for sleep would not come. Seven
bells sounded; and soon after some.
body came down to awaken the