Evening star., 1926-12-09

least; a forlorn lady aboard shiI
even If young man Is playing lnva
lid is by no means a prospect to b'
ignored. Her white flannel suit was
spotless, severe. but wholly becoming
He could see billow of closely coilet
dark hair under the brim of her white
felt hat There was a faint suggestion
Of paint in her cheeks, otherwise sht
was pale-and interesting.
She turned slowly and their glances
met. Trask did not intend to be rude
yet he made a point of never f1inchine
under such circumstances, In order
that he might not he able to reproacf
himself with faint theartedness.
Even at the distance that separated
them Trask could see swift change
In her dark eyes. His heart speede6
trifle. She was-No, she wasn't
She was just plying him. There was
pity in her eyes, as unmlStakable. As
though she had voiced 1t with her lips
just plain, ordinary pity. j.. .
Then she turned away and walked
slowly down the deck, her head halt
bent. as If in quandary.
"Confound her sympathy" NUT
tered Trask But l supposeit bet
ter than being ignored.
Beg pardon. sir? You asked for
eOnetnlng!
The solicitous voice of Keelel
reused him.
Il didn't ask for anything, but
got something l didn't ask for. re
: marked Trask Got match?"
AS the somberly clad keeler reached
into a pocket Trask' drew forth his
cigarette case.
Reg pardon. sir" said Keller
apologetically, and he took the silver
case from Trasks fingers.
The man in the chair frowned, then
laughed.
Help yourself. If YOU want one
Keeler. I didn't know you smoked y
~ never smoke. sir.
Then hand me the cigarettes"
Keeler shook his round head regret
fully.
It's against DIR. Van Norden's or
ders. Mr.. Trumbull. You're not to
smoke, sir"
What"
Yes. sir I'm to be particularly
careful about that. Smoking is one
OF your troubles
Trask half rose from his chair. sud
denly remembered and settled back.
There was flash of diSmay and an
ger in his eyes as he watched Keller
pocket the cigarette case.
You mean to say I'm to go to Gal
weston and back without smoking"
Yes. sir. I'm sorry; hut that's the
way it's TO be. It's not my doings
you know: it's the doctor. But the
doctor and I agree on that. sir"
There was a SNUG vanity in the
nurses tone.
Consider yourself something of a
diagnostician. Is that it?" demanded
Trask satirically.
We'll. something like that. Mr..
Trumbull."
The cool gray eyes OF Keeler sur
veyed his patient with critical Vet
friendly glance. The patient checked
an outhurst. He was there to play
; the game. even If the rules We're
against him. Not smoke between
New York and Galveston, He sighed
ANY other things I'm not to do
Keller" he asked I'VE may as well
have all the tragedy at once"
You're not to drink, sir
That doesn't bother me. Go on. .
You're to go to bed at in the
evening. sir"
Trask scowled.
whatever"
Huh. No excitement? Well. now
tust suppose, Keeler. that something
came along and sunk us. Not that it
will: because 1t won't. But suppose
II did. That would be excitement
wouldn't it?"
Yes. sir"
Well. how would you stop it.
them"
I'D do my hest. sir" said Keller
duietly-yes. even confidently.
There was something comically con
vincing in his tone. Trask involun
tsrily glanced down at the knottH
hands and the apelike arms. He was
almost ready to believe that keelel
could even catch torpedo. II he sci
about II.
"Keeler. were you ever a human
being"
A flicker Of change appeared ir
Keeler's eyes. 1t was incongruous-
perhaps incredible-but 1t produced
upon Trask a distinct impression that
the nurse was smiling. even though
his lips remained impassive.
why, I think I'm human. sir.
said Keeler. gravely. will you have
q glass Of milk. sir?"
milk, Do ! drink milk"
"you do, sir
but I hate the stuff"
Sorry, sir; but DIR. Van Nor
den-''
ITO blazes with him"
was very particular that you
should drink two quarts
Hanged II do
Every day, sir. And he tolt
me-
Forget IT,"
s-4o see that his orders were car
ried out" droned the quiet voice Of
Keeler. completing the sentence with
respectful pauses at each interruption
from his patient.
The eyes Of the pair held each other
steadily. Trask'e were defiant; Kee
ler's were placid. Unconditional again
The patient drummed q finger tat
tct on the arm Of his chair. frowne6
and chewed his lip. Being an invalie