Evening star., 1927-09-23

They'd find you here. and even II
they didn't. they would know where
to look for the person who shot me"
What do you mean?" The mouth
of the revolver was lowered a trifie
and quick inspiration came to jane.
You took It for granted that / had
destroyed that book. didn't you? Also
that I was really travelling quite
alone? I don't know what my-my
friend will arrange to have done with
you when we reach port, but i can
promise you won't be molested till
then il you go away quietly and leave
me alone"
She marveled at the steadiness Of
her own voice and that her very teeth
did not chatter from the icy coldness
which was creeping all through her.
but she felt lightheaded. buoyant, car
ried along by strength greater than
her own.
What IL squeal?" the other
woman snarled. What IL I blow the
whole game? You know whatn hap
pon If you're found with Il? You'll
disappear quietly. without any fuss.
but-you'll never be heard OF again.
But I won't be found with it,"
Janet retorted. 'If thought you
would believe me I could give you
my word that what you seek is not In
this cabin. Moreover. everybody on
board could be searched and it
wouldn't be found! You don't know
who my-my friend is. and nobody
would even listen to your story. but
they'd listen to another that would
be told IL were injured-and my
pearls discovered in your possession"
Your pearls" the woman repeated
dazed. and then burst out in a sub
f,yrx, hn hxf ~ q
devil! You've beaten me now, but
I'll take my chances with your
friends as you calf them. when we
get ashore! How do know your
pearls aren't planted now?"
She added the question with sud
den. shrewd suspicion. and although
planted" was a new word to asso-
ciate with pearls In the girls mind.
Janet had heard many strange express
sions that day and the meaning or
the phrase was unmistakable. What
could she reply? The single strand OF
tiny, perfectly matched pearls which
was her most treasured gift from her
father was in the purser's safe.
All at once she smiled.
"They will not be planted until
the alarm is raised" she assured her
unwelcome visitor. my friends-we
do not settle our quarrels that way"
"I ought to know that!" There was
something In her short. almost silent
laugh which made Janet's flesh crawl.
"All right: it's a stand-of until we get
ashore. I ought to have figured you'd
be equal to this. but / didn't. some
how; you being such a kid. and then
the convent and all! I thought they'd
keep you clear Of the game. but I
guess they couldn't even IL they
wanted to. It isn't training with you,'.
it's a gift! And kidded myself into
believing you didn't know what they
were using you for, that you were
going 1t blind! Never mind. my dear:
next time I'll have your number!
Mrs. Carlin dropped the revolver
into the pocket OF her dark dressing
gown and slipped away. closing the
door silently behind her. For Few
moments thereafter a slight, muffied
stir came from the next stateroom,
and then all was stu, but Janet lay
as the intruder had left her. -.
Eeaction from the hideoue strain
had brought faintness and q deadly
nausea and she shook az with an
ague. gasping and fighting down an
insensate desire to scream. She nao
warded of the imminent peril, but
what could the future have In stors
before she succeeded In reaching her
father? She would be safe then. OK
course, but what q scrape to have TO
greet him with! To run away was
bad enough, but to be bounded by
criminals who thought she was Just
like themselves, that she had In her
possession something 50 terrible that
il 1t were found she would dis
appear" and never be heard OF
Why hadn't she gone straight to
the purser? Then Janet recalled tnat
until the last few minutes she could
accuse neither the Carlin woman nor
Philip Marriott OF anything definite.
and tf5 have made the attempt would
mean divulging her own identity:
daddy could never forgive her II the
story of her escapade reached the
papers, and she would hate to have
him think her helpless. unable TO take
care Of herself!
The woman, rs well as Philip
Marriott, had known her identity and
because, even with that knowledge,
they still believed she was In pos
session Of some dreadful. mysterious
thing. she could never have convinced
them that she knew nothing about
Il. There was something very strange
about all this-that Richard Danes
daughter could be connected, even IN
thought, with such an affair. Daddy
must know as soon as possible, Tor
there could be nothing!
Then, suddenly, Janet started up
and stared vacant-eyed about the dis
ordered stateroom. her thoughts wing
ing back straight as an arrow 70 nve
years before, on the occasion OF ner
fathers last visit to the convent, when
he had given her the pearls! He had
ole hA0ihAA n
tiny, square platinum wrist watch on
a narrow. gray ribbon, and his words,
gruft with feeling, seemed to ring
again In her ears. =
Never wind 1t. jamie; never change
the hands from where they are now.
The sisters won't let you wear 1t here,
but II ever you're outside these gray
old walls, alone and In trouble. and
you want help. put 1t on. Some
oneIl co,ne--I can't tell you how
ask IL you're sure it's =
seven o'clock. Whether that's the
right time or not. you ask. What
answer Is, It's always seven.' you'll
know It is q friend to trust. You
won't forget, jamie? IT'S always ;
Forget? Janet Dane smiled to her.
self, the childlike faith In her father
no surer than her trust In the
talisp,an now. The dangers just
passed, the dangers that still might
come before she reached homo faded
suddenly into insignificance. She had
I charm against them all!
Just before noon the next day the
great ship fioated mejestically up the
bay and. leaning over the rail on the
,tarboard side, we'll forward. Janet
rested her arms upon 1t with clasped !,
hands and eyes fixed upon the tower.
ne shafts Of buildings still vague and
misty in the distance. but glistening
ike fairy turrets with the sun on
nyriads of windows.
The lace had fallen away from her