Evening star., 1926-12-15

you"
"But that's prcposterous!" OK
claimed Trusk. You say Keeier
reported me missing? Fetch him
here.'
Somebody went to find Keeier.
Miss Kent had edged her way
through the throng grouped about
the chair ana hesitatingly laid her
hand on Trask's arm.
"It is really you'll" she whispered
huskiiy.
"why. OF course" he said. smiI-
ing.
"And thought thought
I'm sorry IL you were upset.
Somebody seems TO have made "a
very foolish mistake"
"The lady just tainted, SIR" ex-
planned the officer.
I'm very sorry" murmured
Trask.
There was sudden jostling and
a black -garbed figure plowed Its way
through the ring.
"Mr. Trumbull! Thank heavens,
sir!" cried Keeler in shaking
voice.
"Keeler." said Trask sternly.
whats the meaning of all this7"
Keeler stood staring at his patient
amazed to the point of helplessness
"Wel1, speak up, mani"
But you were gone. sir." stam-
mered Keeler.
That's the second time I've heard
that nonsense"
But. sir. I'll swear that you were
not here"
"When?"
| after the alarm was given. sir.
| AS soon as heard there wss o
man overheard I rushed to see il
you were all right. sir. I'd just been
looking for Miss Grimm, as you told
me to. And you were not in your
chair"
Had you been drinking anything.
Keeler?"
| st never drink. sir"
yet that sounds rather impossi-
b1e." said Trask quietly. "How
could I get out Of nv chair? And
how could I get back?"
Keeler shook his head aimlessly.
| Ibid anybody but Keeler come to
look at my chair, after he reported
that I was not in it?"
! II didn't" admitted the officer.
I'VE gave our whole attention. of
course. to looking for the man who
went overheard. Somebody was seen
to go over the rail-"
| perhaps some one did," suggest
| ed Trask.
| "But there's nobody missing, now
| that you're accounted for"
| Trask surveyed his nurse with q
glare Of studied severity.
"Keeler. you've been seeing things"
"Mr. Trumbull. sir"
! 'Tt appears that you are respon'
| sible for all this trouble"
I'm not responsible for whoever
went overheard, sir mumbled
Keeler, awkwardly clasping and un-
clasping his great hands.
| ''At least you're responsible for
a wild yarn about me-"
| "But. Mr.. Trumbul1. / saw with
my own eyes; felt with my own
hand! You couldn't have been
there, siri"
Il was Miss Kent. now quite
rallied from her shock, who ven-
tured upon a new avenue of specu-
lation.
s'Wouid It have been possible that
you fell asleep-and then got up and
walked?"
hopeful eyes, but Trask shook his
head.
| II have never been accused of
I! somnambulism," he said.
But in your present nervous state,
sir! It's possible, you know. Mr..
| TrumbulI It's on account of your
nerves that your legs won't work.
Now maybe your nerves are all right
when you're asleep"
"Do you mean to stand there and
tell me-" demanded Trask, that II
I ever expect to walk again I shall
have to fall asleepT
"Not that, sir. But while your
nerves are this way your legs are
not doing their duty in the ordinary
way"
"Together with his bullet wounds"
supplemented Miss Kent sympatheti-'
cally.
Keeler turned to stare at her, re-
membered and nodded.
"And you know, Mr.. Trumbull.'
she added, that under stress of eX-
element you did jump out OF your
chair while / was with you this
afternoon"
keeler riveted a quick glance on
his patient, but Trask bore it with
fortitude.
"It is really kind of you, Miss
Kent" he said. "to try to help my
man out of a difficult situation. But
fear the explanation will not stand.
I never walk in my sleep. keeier
has been guilty OF an exceeoingy
stupid mistake. The most cnarltapie
way to account for it Is to credit
IL to his excitement when he heard
that somebody had fallen over
board. Keeler, you may thank Miss
Kent for trying to help you. but 40
not ever expect me to believe your
preposterous story"
"Thank you for your good inten-
| tions, ma'am." said Keeler. bowling
to the goddess.
"weli. don't know what kind of
a report to make of this, muttered
the ships officer, scratching his head.
'sYou might put it in the log that
| I've had q pleasant nap, suggested
Trask, "and that all the dreaming
was done by my nurse: thinK III
60 to bed now, Keeler.
eyes, sir"
! and made way for the chair. aIte.
| Keeler had released the paddock and
chain. AS Trask passed Miss Kent
she leaned over and gently pressed
"Fm so relieved and happy" she
whispered.
| He did the only decent thing under
the circumstances--he blushed.
| Keeler said not word until his
| patient was inside the stateroom
and the door closed. Then he sat
down, mopped his moist forehead
and regarded Trask with an express
sion that mingled bitter reproach
and incredulity.
"On the level. now. Mr.. Trumbull,
what happened?" he asked: just
between us. I'm getting little bit
| puzzled about you, sir"
| Trask yawned genuinely.