Evening star., 1926-12-15


right this time"
1T might be some other time. sir,
answered the man. shaking his head
But I've got strict orders to let nc
one pass while they're counting up
In the first cabin"
Counting up?"
"To see which one OF 'em Is miss
ing. They've got an idea, but they
want to make sure
But, don't you see, they'll have me
missing II I'm not there. protested
Trask nervously.
''T'll send for a steward. sir" said
the deckhand, to close the argument
He walked three or four PAGES tc
a spot where an electric push button
had been set in the wall of the deck
house.
Ahead Of him. just across the rail
Trask saw the stairway that led to
the first cabin deck. He did not
hesitate. Vaulting the gate. he took
Il on the run and was already half
way up the steps when he heard @
yell from the guardian below and
then a heavy clatter of pursuing
feet.
Trask darted across the deck and
around q corner. Just where he was
going he had not the least idea: he
wss merely resolved to make his
escape from the guardian at the gate
A sheltered recess opened at his left
and he bounded into 1t.
AS he did so, his shin encountered
a sharp obstacle and he went sprawl
ing-into his own wheelchair.
Like flash, he squirmed about
until he was in the seat and drew the
steamer rug across his knees. Then
he leaned back Imply and tried to
check his painting breath.
He had been none too soon. for the
deckhand went charging past HIM
Trask waited until the man was out
of sight, then reached for his shawl
and drew 1t closely about his shoul-
ders. He found his hat and put 1t on
Here was luck, indeed, he reflected
even if his shin ached. Why. come
to think Of 1t, he had never been out
of his chair at all! The very thing
he decided.
Presently he saw the dark figure
of the deckhand returning. The man
was shaking his head and muttering
He cast a careless glance at the IN
valid. but went on without stopping.
For several minutes Trask heard
nothing more save the steady throb
Of the Gulf Streams engines. Then
came a sound of footsteps and low
voices. The footsteps halted just
beyond the range of his vision.
Come. Lucille. you must go TO
your stateroom now"
Trask believed 1t was the voice OF
Mrs. Kent. Certainly it was not that
Of Aunt Mehetabei.
"Not yet: not yet" he caught the
answer, in q broken voice. L coulo
not sleep. 1 want to be alone a
little, mother. I'll walk for a few
minutes and then I'll come"
There was a feeble protest on the
part Of the first speaker, and then
Trask saw the figure Of Lucille Kent,
advancing slowly along the deck
alone.
she paused opposite the nook
where his chair had been securely
chained by Keeler and glanced to-
ward II. shaking her head wearily.
In the gloom Trask doubted II she
could see that the chair contained an
occupant.
with a sigh that was audible at
a distance of several feet, Miss Kent
resumed her melancholy walk. There
was a. sudden tickling sensation In
Trask's throat and he coughed. unin-
tentionally but loudly. The eHect
appalled, him.
There was a piercing shrek from
the lips Of Miss Kent, who stopped
faced him, stood for an instant as
rigid as stone and then quietly coi-
lapsed into a heap on the decK.
Trask was half out Of his chair
when the noise Of running feet caused
him TO pause and huddle back.
An officer hove In sight and bent
over the limp form on the deck. ae
uttered a little exclamation OF De-
lifted the slender ngure
and carried it to where a agnt
shone on the pale face of Miss Kent.
Then. It seemed to Trask, everybody
In the first cabin arrived.
"Shes only tainted, think, SAID
the officer. (Which is her state
room?"
Nobody seemed to know, but six
women Immediately. volunteered their
seryices in the work OF resuscitauon.
Trask sat weakly back In his chair
in the semi darkness. He felt like
a criminal. He dared neither to move
nor speak, but watched through
alf-closed eyes the havoc he had
wrought.
"Ah. she's coming to now" said q
woman. "There-don't hold her head
too high"
Miss Kent's eyes opened very
SLOWLY and stared wonderingly at the
circle Of faces about her.
"Feeling better" inquired one Oh
the volunteer attendants.
Her lips formed words, but tne
whisper was too low to be hearo'
Then complete consciousness re-
turned and with 1t her voice.
"In the chair!" she exclaimed.
"Who? What chair?"
She pointed over the shoulder OF
a auestioner, directly at the spot
where Trask sat huddled in his
wraps.
"The chair:' she cried again.
She was standing now, without as
sistance, and the officer made his
way through the crowd and ap-
preached the shadowy nook. Trask
shut his eyes and breathed softly.
There was a touch on his shoulder
and a face was thrust so close to
his own that he could feel the mans
breath on his cheek.
"It's Mr.. Trumbull!" exclaimed the
ships officer.
The crowd surged forward. Some.
body with an electric torch fiasheo
its dazzling rays into Trask's race
Trask, whose mind until that IN
stant had been in a whirl OF appre'
hension and doubt. suddenly became
as cool as ice. He would play the
game through. now. no matter wha'
the end. Slowly he opened his eyes
and blinked at the light that was
held close to them. He yawned
nrodigiously. stretched his arms and
q