Evening star., 1927-09-29
Continued from Yesterdays starD


as Janet could tell by the feel OF the
wind against her face. as well as the
intensified cold She would have frozen
in her thin cloth gown. but she
bitterly resented the need of having
obeyed Marriott even in the matter of
protecting herself.
How high We're they now? She
dared not look down, fearing re-
turn OF giddness. and she could have
seen nothing but possible specks of
light, for the darkness was impene
| trable now and the sky solid black
blanket.
They had steadied now: they ap-
peared to be flying straight forward
and the wind had stea died, too, ceas-
ing to buffet them with angry putting
blasts. Where would they be when
dawn's light enabled her to see?
Janet had not deigned further
speech to her new captor and indeed
communication would have been we'll
nigh impossible with the roaring in
their ears, but now as it lessened
Marriott turned his head toward her
and his raised voice came to her dis
jointedly.
You may not believe it. butt am
still at your service, Miss Dane.
could have warned YOU on board
against the Carlin woman even though
I wasn't sure then, but you wouldn't
have trusted me-
He paused as IL awaiting a reply
and Janet lifted her voice above the
| wind.
Gould you have expected it," she
shrilled. Il don't wish-to talk"
But / do"' he returned. Il want
to take back what said on the ship
about you, l mean. I don't think
ho L,nnW what
being involved in
Does it natter" Her scorn cut
through the turmoil about them. You
could never be of service to me, |
i would infinitely have preferred being
left in the hands of the man called
Norman
Norman" shouted Marriott. You
saw him? So it's his crowd? l
thought as much, but he must be
extra keen on it to show himself to
YOU That means war in the openr'
Janet shut her lips tightly, angry
| with herself at having given him even
| this information. which seemed to be
of value to him, nor could his further
efforts to break her silence prove of
avail. He desisted at last and sent
| the plane forward through the night.
A faint glow rose from far below
| them and now Janet dared to glance
! down. A vast cluster of lights with
| a glimmer Of fainter ones reaching
out on two sides of it, but separated
from the main scintillation by narrow
, ribbons. as OF waterways, met her
view. Was it New York? The dull
ribbon on the near side was cut by
strung necklaces of pnpoints of
| sparks with tiny moving glimmers be-
tween them. Bridges and ships.
They were over it and beyond in
a twinkling and now darkness
enveloped the neither air once more,
with only smaller, fainter patches
Of glow like widespread, half-buried
embers. She observed that when
Marriott moved the stick. these clus-
ters Of light seemed to rise up to meet
them or drop into space. and only the
dip or soaring sway of the plane told
her that it was they. and not the
earth, who rose and fell.
| II only something would happen to
the engine which would force him to
make a landing. however dangerous.
| She knew nothing about planes and,
moreover, was strapped securely in
her seat. or she might have been able
to cause some mischief. If only the
gas would give out.
She was numb and drowsy from the
long rush :thrnhgh the air with the
| freezing cold and sWirling blasts of
wind beating upon her. She had
never realized it was possible for hu.
man beings to travel at such terrific
speed as they appeared to be going
and it seemed that hours had passed
since they scared over that silent city
of light! Her thoughts grew confused
and she drifted at last into fltful sleep.
| After what surely had been a very
| long time, Janet opened her eyes to
| find that the clouds had gone or they
| had flown through the threatened
| storm. for the stars sparkled amazing
| ly close and the moon bathed them in
A paling radiance as before the COM
ing Of a greater light. Below them
shone vaguely. through a gathering
haze. the dim effulgence OF scattered
sparks over wide yet compact area;
another city, perhaps, but what? The
unknown young man who had helped
her from the cottage said she would
| reach Brookmead in about an hour,
under Mats care, but IS Mariott's un-
willing passenger she had travelled al
| most through the night. How many
hundred miles must she be from home.
Turning. she glanced at the tireless,
silent figure beside her. hunched over
the wheel and stick, and at that mo.
ment realized that she was no longer
NUMB with cold. that something soft
and feecy touched her neck and
shoulders over the leather coat. 1t
appeared to be mans sweater or
inner waistcoat, and in an instant she
knew.
you have taken this off from under
your coat to put around met" Her ac-
cusing cry rose above the humming
OF the engine and shiek of wind. You
shall take it back at once! 1 will not
have it,.
For an instant he turned his head.
and Janet saw face bluish-white and
drawn with fatigue and strain, and
eyes deeply encircled behind the
goggles.
Don't move. please. We've struck
cross-current and you'll rock the
boat"' he called in return. II don't
need the jacket--you do. Keep it on"
Janet was struggling desperately to
relieve herself of the warm, clnging
folds. furious that she had permitted
him to deprive himself for her, even
in her oblivion, but now at the ring
OF command in his tones she desisted
although her heart smote her.
You are freezing" she protested |
angry that the words were forced |
from her. She didn't care, she !
couldn't! He was her fathers enemy
hers.
He answered her unspoken thought |
in her own words Of few hours be- |
fore.
Does it matter? Sit quiet, please. |
We don't want to get into a pocket |
II we can help it"'
Janet noted now that the plane was |
rising and falling jerkily. darting here |
and there like a storm-tossed blvd !
seeking shelter, and she held her |
breath. She had not know fear for |
moment s:ace their flight began. but !
now the mysterious forces waging war |