Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-22

Anne Morris cabin and the
room was empty The sight OF
il sent Chris staggering back
70 his Stateroom. overcome Win d
revulsion so terrible that 1t all but
unbalanced his reason.
Anne had been The girl IN the chair.
Anne had worn the slippers and the
thousanddollar bill, Anne was tht
Girl who knew what had become OF
lady da We're, Anne. who had been
missing from her cabin all night!
For a long time Chris felt so III
that he could not collect his thoughts
Again he struggled to survive
stunning blow, but this time the
injury was deep. lasting, crushing ms
very heart out. Who could nave
dreamed of such a thing How couio
he have been so mistaken III
woman's character.
Ten minutes passed. Dawn was
stealing in through the window ana
Chris remained as one paralyzeo' ms
whole being ut a Standstill 1t hau
hurt to lose Anne as hancee. MS
heart was broken-at least ne
thought it had. but this was TAR iar
worse 1t was the most terrible dow
of his life.
He tried TO put all thought of the
Girl from him, thankful that he had
JOlO no one Vi tIlS NASAott 49, +'
that only he knew of her presence
there. AS far as the money was con,
cerned. il had been found in ChrlS
own room. Nothing connected IL IN
snv way with the girl. If Anne nao
been able to satisfactorily explain
her absence from her room. no sus-
picion would he attached to her.
Chris drew a long sigh or relieI as
this conviction took place but IL ulo
crTiaf and dis
appointment. He threw himseh
upon the berth fully dressed. miser-
ably weak and ill., his head aching
terrifically. Anne--his Anne-mercl-
ful God. what was it all about
His thoughts gave him no peace
but throbbed on and on, tortutiiS
him. Anne and Straine and Lazy ue
We're, Sonia, Fritz, the captain
winston. Recollections of the re-
cent absurd interview win inns
dotty youth crept into Christopher
mind, That blatant idiot was keep
ing a cat in a lifeboat, cat. OF all
the preposterouS-
chris sat upright, wild suspicion
taking hold of him. What if winston
had been stalling him. what II some
thing else had been in that hleooa'
Lady de We're, perhaps.
f2LlSue anu hIiS AAt'Ah
chris shot from his berth. through
the massage and up to the boat deck.
No one in sight, although the bridge
was occupied By the usual watch. he
was about to step toward the NE
boat and began detaching the canvas
when the ships doctor came up be-
hind him, calling him by name.
"Mr. Dahlgren? You ought 10 ue
IN he'd, I'll go down TO your cabin
a l.xatY, Hynf1
of medicine! You can't be Ill Wnen
we go through the canal. you know
.'The canal? I'd forgotten. When
shall we reach it?' =.
s'If all goes well we ought to be on
Panama tonight, but the captain Will
of course, wait until morning to take
the ship through. You'll want 10 De
on deck for that trip, Mr.. DahlSreh'
the Gatun Lake is one OF the moSt
beautiful places in the world. In ad-
dition there is the intense fascination
of the canal and it's zone. Rest today
and You'll come around nicely.
Chris hesitated. Should he conflde
the lifeboat adventure Of last night to
the doctor, or might such a clue In
some way react upon Anne? Better
TO wait, for a time at least, and re-
luctantly he allowed himself to be led
below, dosed, and put TO bed, although
he did not undress.
II feel better in my clothes, he in
sisted, II promise to lie here for the
next couple of hours
The doctor left him. with many In
structions for his welfare, and Chris
was alone once more, chating at the
incident which had prevented his
search OF the lifeboat.
There's something in that boat. |
know there is" he declared. "and it's
not a cat with kittens. II l could
hope to get anything out of that fool
Winston Id have him PACED, but
whatever he was covering up then,
he'll protect now, And Anne. Where
is she? What did the captain IND
out?"
The doctor had evidently admins
tered a sleeping draught, for an IN
tense drowsineSs now overlook CHRIS
topher, and presently he gave up the
battle and fell into a sound sleep. a
respite which did much to restore his
normal balance, in fact may have
been the final thing which saved his
reason when-but we are going too
fast.
1t was noon when he again aWoke,
scorching tropic midday when even
the decks are deserted. and passen-
gers stretched themselves in their
berths. thankful for the breeze from
electric fans.
Silence reigned in the passage out
side Christopher's door. No sign Of
Anne Straine or the Stew3rdeSS.