Evening star., 1927-11-01
THE BLACK JOKER
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER.

tsAesAsesASesAAsesMeSssS
Marriott and Lucy as well as herself
| to disappear" as precaution against
future trouble. and she would die. any.
| way, before she would tell him. 90
that was that!
Rising. she made her way back to
| the hut and found Lucy mending
| a rent In her frock by the aid OF the
single smoking lamp.
'Is Mr.. Marriott asleep?" she asked.
mo. miss. At least. gave him a
drink of water not two minutes ago."
Lucy looked up. "'E's q bit restless,
drop OF to sleep soon with the drop
Of medicine as I added to the water"
"Then / think I had better speak
to him now." Janet raped lightly
on the door. "Mr. Marriott"
Come in." he called, and she en-.
tered.
1--WE been all around the island and
there isn't any sort of q boat or place
where one could be hidden" Janet an.
nounced. Unless they have long
pole buried in the sand somewhere
that they can raise for dag signals
don't see how they can communi.
enough driftwood for us to make q
raft Of. even IL We could do 1t without
their discovering il. ] just thought
I'd tell you. Philip"
She had begun In q brisk. business.
like tone, though discreetly lowered.
but added the last with a softened. In.
| voluntary tenderness and he held out
his hand to her. She had not given
up, her spirit had not even faltered.
Though no word had passed between
them az to their captor's ultimate
L f,~fA eA tnA xtA~ 4v~ar
biiity of thwarting him she understood
and yet had not lost hope!
my brave girl.' There was choke
In his voice. "I'll be up tomorrow and
we'il find some way out Of this. never
fear!'
But when she had left him and
| long after the murmur Of the two
| girls voices on the other side of the
| partition had ceased he lay staring
| with despairing eyes into the night.
| while the stars dimmed and faded and
seabirds cried the coming OF the still
invisible dawn.
| All at once he sat UP. needless Of
the twinge Of agony In his strained
back, and stared hard at the bunch
OF grasses crowning dune. for some.
thing had moved there! Steaithiiy,
something was creeping toward the
hut, but uncertainty, as though doubt
| full as to which of the two hoveis to
approach.
Then a strange sound to be heard
on the sands Of an Atlantic Coast
island stole on the air, soft and low
and very sweet; the notes OF an Eng
lish meadow lark! Philip paused. but
! he had no need to whistle second
| time, for an answering call came from
the dune and a. figure, stopping low.
crept over 10 his window.
Got the cutter, Phil" A whisper
came tersely from the darkness.
'Rowed in four miles 80 they wouldn't
hear q motor. Surf's too high to risk
| 1t for the women now, but when
shall we come for your
Two days passed and then On a.
| calm, sunny afternoon when the first
heat haze OF the Summer hung low
over the stretch OF sea. one of Nor
mans three ruffians had the surprise
of his turbulent life. lie was guard.
ing the western side of the island
farthest from the huts-an utterly
useless proceeding from his point of
| view, since there wasn't chance Of
their three birds esca ping, but orders
were orders. One Of the three birds"
appeared at that moment over the top
Of the dune, and he grinned. 1t was
the only one Of 'em he felt any in
iterest in--that smart, little trick Of a
British girl, and she'd given him q
come -hither look more than once In
the past day or two,
Now she smiled brightly and seated
herself beside him.
"'Aven't fag about you. ave you,
old dear?" she asked conversationally.
He grinned again and rolled her a
) cigarette.
Say. you're about the livest wire
) I've seen. cutie" he remarked. ''Too
J bad you amt in with us?"
STOW that" Lucy jeered and then
added: you're a little bit Of all right
yourself. Light 1t for me and give me
luck, heavink knows we need 1t!
Thanks. Now don't move an inch OF
you'll get this through the heart"
That was the fellows surprise and
!. he swore softly and eloquently, fol-
the girl was holding a revolver pressed
against his side. and she had caught
him with both hands lifted to his
!. face in the act of lighting the cigar
:, ette. lie swore more loudly but will
n less conference a moment later. until
, halted by the pressure Of the weapon
for Marriott had also made his ap
a pearance over the top of the dune
|. and torn and knotted bedding make
e as good rope and gag as any. -.-