Evening star., 1927-11-19

to my rooms and everything was all
right. l went back to the smoking
room because left my cigarette case
there 1 stayed few minutes watch
ing several hands of bridge and when
went back to my rooms again
found my steamer trunk open ana
case of papers on the floor.
Anything missing?" asked Capt.
Francis Newcombe.
mo. Not so far as know" Locke
answered. what do you think had
better be done?"
Il think we had better switch that
light off and stand away from the line
of the window
The young American shook his
head.
NO" he said. Its hardly likely
that the same game would be tried
twice in the same night. Say, what do
YOU make of it? 1t seems mighty
queer that you and I should have
been picked out for some swine's at
tentions. What should be done?"
What have you done?"
Nothing so far" Locke replied.
IT came here at once to tell you about
it and ask your advice. l suppose
the commander ought to be told"
Capt. Francis Newcombe sat down
on the edge of his bunk.
II can't see the good of it," he said
slowly. Were landing tomorrow. 1t
would mean the shore police aboard,
and no end of a fuss; and an almost
certain delay, nobody allowed off the
ship, and all that you know. l can't
see how it would get us anywhere.
You haven't lost anything, and l.
we'll, I'm still alive"
T. 10
staring at the bullet hole in the wall.
"And worst of all there'd be the re-
porters. Threeinch headlines. I'm
not for that. 1 agree with you. Well
say nothing"
Capt. Francis Newcombe inspected
Locke's back.
"How much of a crew do you car
ry on this fifty-footer of yours?" he
inquired softly.
why, not necessarily any one but
the two of us and your man, If you'll
come along" Howard Locke turned
around suddenly to face the other.
"Why?"
"Well," said Capt. Francis New
combe, quietly, "under those condi-
tions as the two victims of tonight
we'd form n sort of mutual protective
society-and perhaps, If the offer is
still open, it would be the safest way
for me to reach my destination. There
wouldn't be any windows for any one
to fire through"
Howard Locke lighted a cigarette.
That's n go"' he said. I'm very
keen to make the trip with you. And
if all this has decided it, I'm glad it's
happened. That's fine! And now
what are you going TO do for the rest
of the night?"
"Why. I'm going to bed" said Capt.
Francis Newcombe casually; land
at the risk of appearing inhospitable,
1 should advise you to do likewise"
Right agreed Locke. There's
nothing else to do" He stepped to-
ward the door, but paused, staring at
the bullet mark in the wall again.
THAT bullet hole seems to fascinate
you" smiled Capt. Francis New
combe.
Yes" said Locke, as he opened the
door. II was thinking what a rotten
thing it was to be fired at cold-blood-
edly in the dark. Good-night"'
The door closed.
Capt Francis Newcombe did not go
to bed With the light out again
he sat there on the bunk.
Long minutes passed; they drifted
into hours.
The mans figure became crouched,
became a shape that lost human sem.
blance, that was like unto some crea-
ture huddled in it's lair; and the face
was no longer human, for upon it was
stamped the passions Of hell; and the
head became cooked curiously sidewise
i'm n strained attitude of attention, as
though listening, listening, listening,
always listening.
And there came a time when he
spoke aloud, and called out hoarsely:
"Whos that? Who's whispering
there? Who's calling Shadow Varne
Shadow Varne Shad-
And in answer the ships bell struck
the hour Of dawn.
BOOK 1.-THE ISLE OF PREY.
The Spell of the MoOnbeams.
1t was night of white moonlight
a languorous night. 1t was night of
impenetrable shadows, deep and black;
and where light and shadow met and
merged the treetops were fr1nged
against the sky in tracery as delicate
as a cameo. And there was fragrance
in the air, exotic. exquisite, the ira
GRANGE of growing things. OF semi
tropical flowers and trees and shrubs.
And very faint and soft there fell upon
the ear the gentle tapping OF the water
ON the shore.sas though in her mother