Evening star., 1926-12-15

general. But he doesn't use that
title; he Just calls himself captain.
He fought in China, too. He was also
a passenger on a ship that was at.
tackled by Malay pirates. and he took
command of the crew until they
fought them off. And, let me see
Oh, yes. he fought in South Africa,
where the natives had an uprising.
and he killed the chief with his own
hand!
''Quite a fighting person." COM
mented Trask. HE told you all this
| himself, did he?"
"Oh, yes, and lots more. He has
the most exciting adventures. But
you mustn't think he boasts about
them. What started him was my
saying that 1 liked adventures. He's
been an explorer, when there wasn't
any fighting to do. He's been up the
Amazon twice, he's been through the
heart Of Australia and once he was
lost for six weeks in Siberia. His
whole life has just been one excite
ment after another"
Evidently" said Trask dryly.
whats the name of this remarkable
person?"
capt. Ferriss. He's an American,
you know, but he's fought under SO
many flags that / should think he'd
forget his nationality sometimes"
1t was foolish, but Trask found
himself dislikig Capt. Ferriss even
to the extent of being slightly jealous.
Suddenly she asked the time and
he told her it was 10 o'clock.
81 must take an instrument read
ing for father" she said. rising. $50
will say goodnight, Mr.. Trask."
He walked little way along the
deck with her, and as they passed a
| couple of pedestrians Trask heard one
| say:
"They had to give up the search.
knew they'd never find him."
The girl uttered a low gasp and
| shuddered.
"The poor creature! she half whis-
| pered. do they know who 1t was
yet? I'll be dreaming about it all
| night, / suppose"
"You mustn't think Of 1t again." he
assured her.
"I can't help it,
She paused at her stateroom door
| and extended a small hand. Trask
| felt remorse. He did not particularly
| mind stopping a ship and making an
hours hard work for a boats crew,
but he did regard it as sinful to have
done anything that might disturb the
slumbers of Sidney Sands.
I'm going to tell you something
that will relieve your mind" he said
in low voice, glancing about him.
"But it's strictly confidential"
She nodded expectantly.
| Nobody has been lost at sea from
this ship
"But-why. can't understand"
| "Sh-h, I'll explain some other
time. / just happen to know; that's
all. Now will you promise not to
dream about it?"
But how
| Goodnight" he said, quickly,
dropping her hand mot a word to
anybody, remember"
| She stood watching him, bewil-
| dered, as he moved forward and dis
appeared.
Trask halted in a shadow and
leaned against the deckhouse, think
ing rapidly. There was another
problem to be solved-the return to
the first cabin. If he achieved that
there. would be still another, even
more MISUNDERSTANDING where he
had been.
Climbing back to the upper deck
over the route whence he had come
did not appeal TO IraSk. lie uoupted
his ability to perform the feat with
out discovery.
II guess there's nothing for it but
to walk back, if that man at the
gate doesn't hold me up" he NUT
tered.
He found the barrier and the gate
readily enough, but the guardian was
there, pacing slowly.
Trask stepped forward briskly. laid
his hand on the gate and had partly
opened 1t when he found his pas
sage barred by an able bodied deck
hand.
What is it. sir?" asked the man.
IL want to go to the first cabin"
Against the rules, sir
But / belong there"
"Then wnat are you doing in the
second-cabin quarters, sir? It's
against rules for first class passen-
gers to visit the second cabin.
Il didn't know that. I'm sorry if
I broke a rule. But that can't pre-
vent me from getting back"
You'll have to be identified, sir.
nm send for q steward"
ThaS EA. ths lsss thing that