The Washington times., 1927-06-03
IA Novel Of Ships and SaIOrmen That Will Make You Long
for the Tang Of the Sea and the Shrek
ing Symphony Of the Gale

Miss Damarest," observed Arson
quickly and with q serenity which
belied his feelings. And death
by your hand must have been 3,
gracious favor to your adn1irer,"
He paused. blandly smiling. 'But
DO not worry as Tar as I'm con.
cerned."
She .scrutinized him through
languid, narrowed lids. II am
your hostess" she went on, ''be-
cause you are a sailor. l have
never had the pleasure of talk
with seamen. You have seen the
world from new angles. You have
seen life. You have culture and
erudition. You should be interest
ing. / am suffering from ennui.
If you can dispel 1t / shall be
your sincere friend" The odd
little accent in her precise Eng
lish had & pleasing quality.
They were discussing a play
when a maid, a young mulatto,
dressed In the plain black and
white of domestic service, en-.
tered the room with a tray carry.
ing coffee cups, liquor glasses and
other paraphernalia.
Where win you have 1t, Miss
Damarest?"
The beauty in the chair seemed
to debate the question in her mind
for a moment and Arson wondered
at her hesitation. Her vivid eyes
were scanning him keenly, ap.
praisingly, and he returned her
gaze, frankly, admiringly.
Il believe / viii treat you as an
honored guest, mon ami" she re.
marked at last. This duh cham
Der" she glanced around some
what CONTEMPORARY, lis no
place to entertain an interesting
visitor" And to the maid, she
said: "Set it down inside, Myra.
We will take our coffee there"
CHAPTER Is
The mulatto drew aside the
dark portieres concealing a door
at the rear Of the prosaic parlor
and, after entering with the tray,
reappeared a minute later to IN.
nounce that all was ready. Rising
to her feet, Miss Damarest glided
with swan-like grace towards the
curtained entry to the private
apartment, and standing within
the doorway, beckoned to her
guest with a motion Of her arm.
The place appeared unusually
spacious in the subdued illumina-
ton, but large as 1t seemed, its
furnishings were placed about in
such luxurious profusion as to
inspire suggestion Of overcrowd-
ing. It s@vored more of a mus.
cum than a ladies' lounging room.
Rare tapestries and paintings GOV.
cred the dark walls. Choice pieces
OF statuary in alabaster and
bronze stood on wondrously
wrought pedestals Of wood or
marble, or rested on the tops
OF cabinets and bookcases Of eVi.
dent antiquity and exquisite de.
sign.
Books in hand-tooled leather
bindings lay scattered on the
tables and divans in companion.
ship with ornaments Of bronze,
china and ivory. A magnificent
tiger-skin sprawled at Anson's feet
in tawny splendor and Wed in
coloring with rugs of Oriental
WSdNO uPS4I q A1OOE IlCAllS SLlOOls
lished in a parquetry of con-
trasting woods. Costly, rare, ex.
otto, the tout ensemble exhibited
the careful selection and discrim.
nation Of q connoisseur.
you appear somewhat sur
prised, my friend" Her voice
came out of the shadows as his
eyes roved the room.
IT am, and yet am not" he
answered slowly. at is in har.
mony with its owner" In his
mind, he had her now definitely
catalogued.
They drank coffee and liqueurs
together and she offered him
cigarettes. Unlike most sailors of
that time, he smoked them.
These are Russian-imported.
Try them, IL you like. They har.
monize." She ignited a fusee
and blew a fragrant puff from
her lips.
you have lived on the cont.
nent," remarked Arson.
Eyes; one acquires these habits
there. England and America do
not tolerate smoking by women
yet" She drew her limbs UP on
the deep chair and he caught a
glimpse of silken hosiery, its
sheerness simplifying her physical
perfection, ere she yelled them
with the folds Of her negligee.
His bold glance caused her to