Evening star., 1927-10-17
THE BLACK JOKER
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER.

| her. 1T is beautiful here, and yet
there is something about it that you
don't like"
"Oh, it's not that" Janet dis
claimed. II don't think I've ever
seen anything more lovely even in
Switzerland, but there's something
about it | can't explain. I've never
| beeen here before in my life. never
seen q lake or mountains like these
and yet there is something familiar
about it. Is the Black Joker's camp
on one of those islands,"
"On the largest one, Lions Head"
| Mrs. Kerr waved toward it. You
have never seen a camp of any sort?'
"Only one Janet's memory went
back to her first meeting with Five
of Diamonds. Could it have been
week ago today? "It was a little
tent, scarcely big enough for one
and everything was packed in---"
Mrs. kerr's tinkling laugh inter
rupted her.
"This one is quite different Do
you see that boathouse? We land
there"
Janet was silent, consumed with
suspense. Would the Black Joker be
there? What sort of man was he?
Remarka BILE, surely, since he could
types, and every invention of the age
was at his disposal! If he were a
friend of her father he must be a
fine character and yet, recalling the
odiouS Basil Ferrars at Daneholm
to say nothing of Duncan Burt, the
private secretary. she reserved her
decision.
The rustic boathouse was charm
ing, with its low gallery and the
launches and canoes tethered to the
little wharf. but when they had
walked up the winding path between
great trees to the clearing she was
lost in amaZement.
The long. low building before her
was built in the same fashion as the
boathouse, of unhewn logs. but here
all imitation of the primitive ended,
for its broad veranda was bright
with awnings and cushions and the
interior which showed through the
open doors appeared to be luxuriously
furnished. The clearing itself, car
peted with pine needles and moss,
was dotted here and there with lawn
chairs and umbrellas and in openings
between the trees rustic arbors and
pergolas could be seen.
Groups of men and women in
flannels and dainty summery gowns
or rough sport clothes were moving
about the island or rising from their
chairs on the veranda, but they came
quickly forward to greet the new
arrivals, and glad exclamations of
angie! Angie Kerr!" arose on every
hand.
Mrs. Kerr threw her arm about
the girl and drew her forward.
Folks" she began, you can intro
duce yourselves later as the occasion
arises, but whom do you think I've
brought with me-"
I The campers had been regarding
her companion with polite curiosity,
around among them, and an older
man in knickers with sharply
clipped, gray Vandyke beard ad-
vanced step or two.
"Not-nOt Richard Danes daugh-
ter" He extended his hand. "We
knew that Mrs. Kerr was one of the
scouts, but we hoped it would not
be necessary to call on them, that
Five of Diamonds would win through
safely with you! May l speak for
all of us, that we are most happy to
have you with us?"
Thank you." Janet laid her hand
in his. Are you the Black Joker?"
For some reason the question
they glanced from her to one another,
but Mrs. Kerr broke in upon the
pause.
mo, Janet, he isn't here now.
Didn't / tell you? We're expecting
him in few days. This is Mr..
Clinton Hollis, the Seven of Clubs,
but do for goodness sake let us
have done with our-our professional
names while we're all here together.
| don't know who's playing hostess.
but do be charitable to two way
farers and remember we've eaten
nothing since we left the house in
the hill this morning."
At her designation ,of Mr.. Prothe-
roe's strange dwelling Janet noticed
that another stir ran around among
the group. but they made no COM
ment, and after luncheon, which was
served on the veranda, Mrs. Kerr
laid her hand lightly on the girls
arm.
You're perfectly safe now, Janet.
Wander about the island wherever
you please, but don't venture out
on the lake alone. And don't any
of you bother her about her adven-
lures! They were enough for her
to endure without talking about them
afterward, and she needs quiet and
peace. TIL tell you all you want to
know!"
The last words were significant
and Janet understood that confer
ence of some sort was about to take
place at which her presence must
be dispensed with. Quite content to
have it so, she wandered off by her
self along tiny path which seemed
to lead to the borders of the lake
on the far shore from the boat
house.
Everything was dreamy and still,
and she felt as though in another
world from that of the past week
with it's constant dangers and hair
breadth escapes, but the air, of
mystery fingered still. On the sur.
face these cultured people in their
picturesque costumes might have
been characters from the stray So
ciety novels which had found their
way into the convent, but the under
lying note of secrecy prevailed.
Musing. she had wandered quite
to the end of the small island and
as huge oddly shaped shadow fell
across the path she glanced up.
Towering above her was a huge rock,
with the rough, but unmistakable
contour of a lions head, which had
given a fairy like spot it's name. but
1t was mot that which brought a
smile to her face.
No wonder it had seemed familiar
to her; that rock was in the back
ground of the little photograph of
himself and Horace Gray. which her
father had sent her! His feet must
have trod the very path on which she
stood. All was we'll!
Continued in Tomorrow's Star0