Evening star., 1927-10-31
CHAPTER XII.
An Alternative.

~ ESPITE the night rendered
sleepless by her care OF
Janet and fear Of the storm,
H.. Lucy put in an industrious
day cleaning the wretched
shack as it had never been cleaned
before, struggling with the wood
stove and scrubbfng the salt-crust-
ed windows till they shone.
It was evident that the three pris-
themselves, but with no restraint,
since there was no possible means OF
escape for them from the remote
sandbar, and Lucy was glad Of the
arrangement for, as she conflded to
Janet while they. heated water to
bathe the invalid's wounds and
bandage them afresh, Mrs. Crole made
her flesh creep and she wouldn't
undertake to keep her hands on her.
Janet was dazed with the revela-
tion of the morning. The storm OF
grief had swept her heart bare and
now something new and warm and
tender had sprung up within 1t,
even though after that first ecstatic
moment she realized the utter hope
lessness Of 1t.
Little enemy" he had called her.
and enemy she must remain until her
duty was accomplished. She must
tell him so, but for one blissful hour
she delayed, knowing that with its
passing all happiness would go from
her forever.
Lucy evolved a weird concoction
from cans upon the shelves and tea
in a cracked little earthenware pot.
but the keen salt winds had given
them all an appetite and they ate
heartily, tht gh Janet was shy and
silent, and lilip Marriott grave. The
maid cleaned his closet of room
while they dined. opening the little
window to Fl oods of light and air, and
later Janet sat by his cot while they
watched the sun sink below the level
of the sea. and tried to frame the
words which must be said.
"Philip," she broke at last the ten
der silence which had fallen between
them, II don't think you know what
Norman told me yesterday"
About your father?" His voice
was very low. II heard, was just
regaining consciousness as you
tainted. It was brutal Of him, dear
Have you thought that 1t may not be
true? 1t may be ruse on his part,
a trick to make you tell him what
you know. Your father may be alive
and well. and moving heaven and
earth to find YOU"
Janet shook her head sadly.
II don't think 50. Somehow,
feel that IL he were not dead he
would have come to me. It will be
two weeks tomorrow since we landed
on the Sudanic, and no word from
him has reached me. only lies! You
don't know daddy He would have
reached me in spite Of all the world
You knew, or at least suspected it.
didn't you? You told me that he
had disappeared. vanished from the
face Of the earth. but I couldn't be
1ieve 1t. / thought your information
was misleading"
II feared it. Janet" His hand CLOSED
over hers. Many people have beer
looking for him. but with all the re
sources at their command no slightes
clue could be discovered. Try not t
think OF it, dear! 1t is over and h
would not want you to be unhappy
You must try to forget the whole
swretched affair, for 1t will not bea
the light of day, and as soon as / cal
get you away from this place and ou
OF the hands of this ruffian :"
"But I must think of it. Philip,
she interrupted gently. Don't yo'
see? / must never forget il, neve
until l have accomplished what h
set out to do and made his mur
oereFb pay! i nave Deen trying a
day to tell you; we are enemie
still as far as this mysterious affai
is concerned. You are trying with a
your might to block my father
friends and take from them the thin
which was brought to this countr
and ] must work to help them, fo
that is what he would have me do"
"You are mad--mad" Mariot
fgroaned. You are alone and pit
fully innocent Of the world! Ho,
can you hope to pit yourself agains
o gang Of murderers bent on tremei
.dous gain and great power and II
fiuence, on the other hand, that wi
use every means in it's grasp to regal
possession of that which was stole
from them?"
"Stolen?" Janet repeated. This
this thing of great value was stolen
II swear it.' he rejoined solemnl.
or thought that you knew"
II didn't" Janet confessed. "Philil
i want to tell you something. I dl
really run away from that conver
end ] asyex heard Qf-Q1 this ala