Evening star., 1926-12-10

tered from the wind. Trash
was obdurate There was
method in his insistence, too. For
ward he had seen the goddess. ana
as she was good to look at, he de
sired to see her again.
Trask was not vain as young mer
go. He possessed rather less OF thai
quality than the average of his tel
lows. But he was Overwhelmingly
c,,rious And he knew. as even roo
might that the girl in white f1annels
had displayed a particular interest III
himself.
she and the dragon We're seated
now. and a third woman had Jolheo
them-a quiet, colorless ana appar'
emily timid person, VINO pore suchi q
strong resemblance to the goddess as
~ make the relationship OF mother
and daughter unmistakable.
a'put me over here" ordered lrdsk,
Indicating a position against the ran
tI1at commanded an unbroken view OF
tha girl and her companions:
Keeler obeyed, backing the chalr
jnto a secure position, after Whlch ne
was at great pains to tuck the steam. !
er rug securely about the legs VI ii'
patient.
"Your overcoat, SIR"
,"No."
The goddess saw him. but this time
eha sunnressed any evidence OF pc
ruIiar interest. Her glance was cam cam
and imporsonal: there may nave peeil
: faint trace of annoyance IN II. lrash
,yas not sure. For once, at least. nei
attention seemed to be occupied pS
fbe conversation of the dragon, WIlch
flowed swiftly and uninterruptedly. :,
Tha dragon also saw him and
r,o1rned heavily. For an instant
Trasl, thought she was about to rise
from her deck chair and move 10 the
attack. but if such was her lntentlon
She changed her mind, as even
drogon may. Thenceforth she 1g-
,ored him. +ho
The Gulf Stream was finding the
seas heavier and the wind OF lncreaS-
irg force. She plunged into the mol
lows and rose to the crests. ana, as
che took the seas on her quarter, she
also ACQUIRED Il rolling motion tnat
complicated the problem of the pedes-
trIons She made her way after the
fashion of a d&kscrew.
Ohyio1,slv. her behavior bothered
several of the passengers. IrasK
noted with stern satisfaction tnat tne
>tell dressed young man had dlsao
neared. Several of the deck chalrs
were empty. A youthful coupe stallu-
ING ot the rail gazed mournfully INTO
tho direction Of the forward state
rooms their steps halting and un
certain. their faces rejecting inward
tragedy.
,pnt there were many who stayed.
some Of them were palpably old hands
af the game. They paid no more at
1antion to the plunging OF thelr ma
zinc steed than a cowboy to the antics
of an untamed broncho
y Trask. quite unaccustomed TO tne
experience of q voyage at sen was
surprised to find that the motlon OIL
the shin disturbed him not IN the
Ieast His lungs tingled with the salt
ladan breeze: he felt like a man
trained to the final minute.
. Vet no remembered ViVidly the part
ta nIaved for he crouched back In
his chair with an air of languof' MS
legs limp. his body passive, ms eyes
as nearly devoid Of luster as the pos.
session of perfect health Woulo
permit. .x,
With the capable keeler things
we're going differently. lie stood ms
Guard camelv, but there was some
ming wrong Now and again his laws
rlenched convulsively. There was
ouner, drawn feeling under his ears,
an occasional blur in his keen VISION
a +oo-fre0uent uneaSineSs somewhere
underneath his vest. lie breatheu
daeply. but it did not suffice to make
things better. His face was grim
With determination and his spirit as
brave as a lion; but keeler was lace
To face with a new antagonist anu
the attack Disconnected nm,
presently Trask looked up and
snnsed the situation.
"Seasick. Keeler?'
moo. indeed, sir. I've never been
seasick." ~,
Ever been to sea before?'
s.''Well-no, sir.
Trask laughed unsympathetically.
"You can go back to the stateroom'
II YOU like. keeler.
u wouldn't think of It, SIN
I'm all right here, YOU KNOW IL
roaad ANYTHING | can send for YOU"
keeler sulped and looked doupt1 ul'
I'm take YOU back With me- he
suggested.
mot for a minute. Keeler. I'm en-
saving things. But if you stick
a,1und here the first thing YOU know
Vcu he changing places. Better lie
down"
Keeler hesitated.
Run along. now. | won need you
for couple Of hours: al ieas''
,"WeN. sir, if YOU feel that you re
al right. there's some things l would
1fke 10 attend TO in the 'Stateroom'
..Of course. Run along.
THANK YOU. Sli :.
Eeoloy concealed his humiliation in
aYruick retreat Rather. he hoped tnat
h did. Trask WAS Grinnlng pro&oIN
as he made his way aft.
The girl in White tlannels wa : ik.
~" row. ana Trask found himself
<tudving her with renewed interest
~l,e had awakened as ii from Il trance
har face was animated. her hands elo-
e9,ert her lips we've moving SWlItlE:
Il was evident that something hau
ltouspd her Cor even the dragon llau
nauSed and was hstenlnG, Whlie tne
mild faced woman was utterly ap-
sorbcd. 49,,
e. Deeper ANA ofteper the bow OF the
CNIf Stream walloVed IN the green
sa;ts TraSk. amazed at his own lortl-
e,tSa found the motion eXhilaratinS.
his body even in the confines OF ms
,,.Ileel chair. Swaved rhythmically TO
ms swing of the ship. The corkScreW
r>aathod of progression soothed nun.
Tire swift rush of air made MN sleepy.
Je closed his eyes contentediN, even
rl,,,,ich the goddess was within dlrect
y.,1ce Of their vision. He dozed.
= \ newly impaired motion brougnt
rrask from his half slumber with az
~slptneSS. The deck Seelheu ~ ~ oe o..
,,t.. from underneath him. The cork
screw motion was still MANIFEST ou,
added 10 il he seemed 10 have acqulTeu
@Sforw3rd impulse. He opened his
a~a. widely and looked about.
: Ills chair was no longer backed
scainst the rail where keeler had
STIrefully placed it. 1t was nearly
,,alfway across the deck, More than
shat. it was In rapid motion pointed
,esolutely for the opposite rail with
D ilear track ahead. 49,,
Trasks first impulse was 70 leap
o,ir Then he remembered, for the