Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-30


perienced a great thrill. The
l. gray cloud was not atmos-
phere; it was land! And with
this discovery came another no less
thrilling. The ship had stopped.
Christopher sank back into a chair
trying to grasp the meaning of the
latter happening. How long had the
boat been standing still? Why had he
not been aware that the engines had
ceased?
The wind. the heavy sea and the
uproar OF the tempest had probably
drowned out the engines; still the
boat certainly had done its usual vi
brating. No, it was not moving now
and in addition it was heavily listed
to one side. Instantly Christopher
knew the worst. The ship was
aground.
And now a tumult began to arise
on board. All around him were
sounds of stirring, people running
along the upper decks and mems
voices shouting orders.
CAN passengers ordered to dress and
report on deck immediatelyr was
heard above the din, While bugle calls
aroused the sleeping.
at won't be hard for me to Dress"
Chris said to himself. I've never
been undressed since can remember
But how to set to the deck is another
matter. l suppose I'm still locked in. Z"
Yes, the door would not yield to his
persuasions, and. leaning from the
window, he began to shout but in the
deafening noise his voice was drowned
out and his calls of no avail. Again
he tried to reach Anne by taps on her
wall. No response. Where could she
be? he asked himself in growing
had tn
After several minutes of calling and
knocking he went back to his window,
but not soul passed by. the passen-
gers naturally seeking the boat deck
Was the ship leaking? It must be-
for captain does not land his pas
sengers unless they are in danger.
Chris studied the shore line, now
plainly visible, and saw that it was in
reality a green jungle, it's vegetation
growing down to the very waters
edge. The boat lay about a quarter
mile Off, probably embedded deep in
the sand.
Our rudder must have been struck
by lightning" Chris decided, cor else
our shaft was broken during that
awful tossing. At any rate, the ship
became unmanageable and ran onto
the ground. The captain has no wire
less, and probably dares not take any
chances of further disaster. Now,
I've got to get out of here and look
after Anne if 1 have to break down
that door to do it,"
And Selling the chair, he began
beating it with all his force against
the panels of the door
1t was a vain attempt. The door
was solidly built and the chair made
no impression, breaking into a dozen
pieces under Chris hands. search
Tor further weapons proved fruitless.
There was nothing of the kind in the
room, and the situation was begin.
ming to look extremely serious.
Looks as If I'd live and die on this
boat" Chris was forced to admit after
he had tried his own strength against
the invincible door, with only bruised
body as result. "And / must get to
Anne-I've got tor
What was happening to her now?
Surely the captain, who had evidently
forgotten Chris imprisonment, could
not be so neglectful of Anne. She
would be placed in a lifeboat, and
without doubt Straine would be al.
lowed to accompany her. 1t would be
the most natural solution for the cap
tain to trust the girl to his care.
The very thought was torture to
poor Chris. The faint dent he had
1Iidu6 III Anne determined hOStliitV
would all be wiped away by the older
mans clever maneuvers. Straine was
a diplomat if there ever was one. past
master in the art of courtship.
Straine! Who was he? Where had
he come from? What was a man of
his undoubted gifts doing as a mere
assistant to Prof. Morris? Where had
Chris seen him before, for the more
he pondered the matter the more con-
WINGED he became that Straine had
come into his life at some distant
time, perhaps during the war. Chris
racked his brain, but found no solu.
ton, only a tremendous and growing
resentment at the turn of fate that
had separated him so persistently from
the girl he loved with all his heart
and soul.
Broad daylight now, and from the
sounds above Chris knew that life
boats were swinging out on their div.
Its. passengers were being placed In
them. but still no one passed his way
or heard his frantic shouts.
He was almost beside himself not
knowing what to do next, when relief
came. The key turned in the lock,
his door was flung open, and Winston
appeared.
Thank God, you've comew Chris