Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-26
LADY SLIPPER
~ Bv Ella Wistey HdineS
EssTs Author of "MYTERIOUS SWEETHEART"
Copyright. Service. Inc
Copyrisht. 1925. Thompson Feature Service Inc

"I'm waiting for the truth, Mr.
Winston. l can wait until doomsday
il necessary, but it would save time
if you'd come clean, Immediately.
"You want to know why l WASH
in my room?"
Exactly that"
"Well, l was on deck"
'What deck?"
What deck? Why the one that's
never been shuffled"'
sober down. young man! What
kept you up?"
"She had Just accepted me. ! was
enraptured. l couldn't believe my hap
piness. You remember how the moon
looked? IL seemed to see her in it.
l wanted to think, to dream-ah,' his
voice died away in a rapturous sigh.
THAT Is very plausible story. Mr..
Winston" the captain agreed. but 1t
doesn't explain one thing. How do
you account for our finding Miss Nor.
ris in your room?" And as Chris gave
a bound, landing on his feet, beside
the captain. his eyes glowering. that
official went on, 'Oh, yes, we found
her there, Mr.. Dahlgren, and quite
alone"
Aubrey appeared dumfounded.
"Geerusalem!' he exclaimed. what
| do you know about THAR
miss Morris has explained to me
| that your mother was so nervous over
your actions that she took pity upon
| her and promised to stay with her
all night. She says that when the
steward couldn't locate you. your
mother was convinced that you had
fallen overheard, so Miss Morris went
to your room to make sure you weren't
there. 1t is a most unsatisfactory
mother will do nothing but weep when
questioned, and seems hopelessly
mixed up about the events Of the
night. Miss Morris is placed in an
embarrassing position, which a word
from you might easily clear up
But l just told you that l wasn't
in my room at all, captain" Aubrey
| insisted, and for once he spoke like
a normal person. do you suppose I'd
let the girl l love go to my room.
Why. what do you take me for!"
do you usually cause your mother
such annoyance and worry that she
has to appeal to other people to pro-
tect her from your vagaries?"
well. she's a nervous type; you
can't please her. She made me stop
work because she said l had gone
dippy, lost my mind, you know, just
because she doesn't like my being in
the movies, you know. I think she's
plain bats, myself, doesn't she strike
you that way?"
"Mr. Winston, have I your word of
honor that you did not know Miss
Morris had gone to your room last
night?"
you certainly have my word of
honor, sir. love the lady. Her safe.
ty is more precious to me than my
poor, but respectable life"'
Thank you, Mr.. Winston, you may
go now, and please say nothing of
what has occurred"
Winston hesitated.
Captain" he said dfff1dently, a
strange shyness creeping over him,
you won't marry my girl to another
man, will you? Not without giving
me another CHANGER"
The captain repressed smile.
"You may be quite certain that !
shall not marry Miss Morris to any.
body, Winston" he said kindly, don't
worry" And as the youth went off,
beaming his gratitude, the captain
turned to Dahlgren. Now, then" he
said, resuming his businesslike man.
ner. Il am ready for your story, Mr..
Dahlgren. ! have the doctors report
Of finding you ill last night. I also
have learned from your cabin steward
that he found you stretched upon
your floor, delirious. Miss Morris re.
ports that she heard the sound of fall.
ing. Had you been i'll during the eve
ning?"
''No, was on the deck"
"Alone?"
yes" Christopher was thinking
quickly. Dared he tell the captain of
the vision he had seen through his
window? No doubt. it was his duty
to report this extraordinary sight,
thousand-dollar bill and all. but such
tale would be the final link in the
circumstantial evidence against Anne.
Already, the captain was half inclined
to believe the slippers hers! No,
Chris couldn't involve her. He must
find some other way out!
did you go from there directly to
your room, and when?" the captain
continued.
Yes, about midnight. think"
"You felt ill.,"