Evening star., 1927-09-23

had disappeared on the port deck she
rose and went into the main saloon to
seat herself at small desk. The
| Mother Superior must know that she
| was safe on the last lap of her home
ward journey, and that she was sorry
for the anxiety she must have caused.
Also there were messages to send to
the girls who had been her in.
separable friends in that time which
seemed so long ago even now. and al
| though It wasn't an easy letter to
| write she bent to her task assiduously.
Deep in the second page, Miss Deane
was only subconsciously aware that
another passenger had taken the op-
| posite place, separated by the low
rack Of stationery, until she looked
| up and met the blue-gray eyes Of
| Philip Marriott.
Shall disturb your" he asked.
| She shook her head, but slid the
| blotter over the upper part of the
page.
II was just finishing
| In evidence, she added a gushing
| farewell and signed Julia Deane"
with very black. heavy strokes of her
pen, then addressed an envelope to
a fictitious girl on a randomly chosen
street in Paris. When she had sealed
it the young man bent forward and
spoke again in a low, hurried tone.
| May / speak to you for moment,
Miss Deane?" He stressed the name.
Twill you come over to the settee
beside the bookcase? We shall be
quite private there and this is ur-
gent"
! There was something almost as un-
| pleasant in his tone as there had
been in his earlier greeting, and 1t
was authoritative. actually command.
| ing. For an instant the girl was
| tempted to refuse, but curiosity got
the better of her pique and, nodding
coolly, she rose, strolling over to the
seat indicated. AS he followed she
| observed:
II really don't understand in the
least! You were almost rude yester.
day. Mr.. Marriott. and now? What
can you possibly have to say to me
in private?"
Yesterday I was curious about
you; today know" He spoke
brusquely. 1--WE anticipated your re-
turn to America about this time and
our people very cleverly picked you
up within mile of the convent"
| do you mean Mr.. and Mrs. Ora.
ham, from American" Miss Dean ex.
claimed in an incredulous but guarded
tone. "Who are your people, Mon
sieur- Observation-Disclosures"
"Your story of running away was
clever, too" He ignored her ques.
ton. Naturally. the sisters will
neither deny nor affirm it. Slick
work for little convent girl. but the
blood Is in you"
| He was jeering at her, actually
treating her with contempt! The first
| person in all her life who dared to
speak to her so! Her face went very
white.
"Are you trying to pretend that
you know who I am? I mean that
I'm not Julia. Deane?"
"Still bluffing?" be sneered, but his
eyes held look of disillusionment
that was almost pain. I've been per.
fectly aware all along that you were
Janet Dane; l wonder more clever
alias wasn't provided for you!
wasn't sure of the whole truth until
yesterday, but 1 warn you now you
can't get away with it. Your games
up and you're in danger; better drop
/ it before it's too late and turn what
you're carrying over to me! I can at
least protect you."
Protect me?" There WIS loathing
| in her voice and she shrank from him
| as though he were some noisome
thing. You insult me! am Janet
Dane, and I'm going to my father!
Do you know who he is. and what he
will do to you for this? Let me pass"
| She swept by him and out in the
companionway, but once beyond his
hateful view she fairly fed to her
| stateroom and. locking her door, sank
down on the berth, her face buried in
| her hands. 1t was not mistaken
| identity, after all! Both these horrible
| people thought she had something
| tremendously valuable in her posses.
sion and were trying to get 1t from
her. But what could it be; how did
they think she came by it, and what
| dreadful sort Of creatures were they?
She scarcely touched the luncheon
and dinner which were brought to her,
but paced the narrow cabin in a fever
Of resentment and fear. If only she
were on land. with daddy! Would to.
morrow never come? Il
At ten a discreet knock came on
her door and she asked, cautiously.
who was there.
"A steward, MISS" came the re.
spectful answer. 'I have something
for you from the doctor"
Janet Dane opened the door. A
steward indeed stood there alone,
proffering a jug and glass on a
tray.
Hot lemon squash, MISS" he ex.
claimed. "The doctor missed you at
lunch and dinner, and thought II YOU
were not feeling quite all right this
might help you to sleep, miss"
Janet took it, thanked him and re.
locked her door. She didn't know
ships doctors were so thoughtful
when their services were not called
in, but the concoction sounded de-
lightful and worry had given her a
burning thirst.
At the first sip. however. she eyed
the glass askance. 1t had an odd
taste. not quite like any hot lemonade
-? But she mustn't let her |
nerves get the best of her! OF course |
the doctor had sent it! Still, she |
didn't really need it.
Janet hesitated a moment longer. |
then poured it impulsively down the |
handbasin, and prepared for bed. II |
she could sleep a little it would bring |
the day that much nearer and then |
she would be free from those odious !
people forever!
How long she did sleep Janet never
knew. but she awakened to find a !
tiny. sharp gleam Of light darting
around the stateroom and to hear
the rustic of garments and tinkle of /
toilet articles being thrown about.
A thief! Instinctively her hand
sought the button in the woodwork
beside her and, in the sudden glare
OF light which flooded the room, a
crouching woman rose and whirled
about. Janet faced Mrs. Carlin's fu.
rious. desperate eyes and the glitter
OF revolver pointed at her breast!
CHAPTER iii.
The Watch That Didn't Go.
ToR tense moment the woman
- and girl stared at each other
and then Mrs. Cariin spoke
Il through set teeth.
"WhArA ia if2 I'm MT Roni. |