Evening star., 1928-03-15
The DEVILS S MANTLE
A MYSTERY STORY.
By FRANK L. PACKARD.
couyrsht by rankr. packan
continued from Yesterdays Starl
BY FRANK L. PACKARD.
Copyrieht. 1927. by Frank Z, packara


bit more, I finally ended with Capt
Mumm on the Break O. Dawn, the
trading schooner that went down ou,
there tonight-and the rest you know.
Yes" she said, II, see. And to.
night-this is the sequel. isn't 1t? I,
seems so unbelievable. So" She
stopped abruptly. What is that?" she
asked quickly.
There was sudden confusion OF
sounds aboard the ship-movement,a All
increased vibration. voices. footsteps
along the deck.
Peter turned his face to hide the sud-
Gen Tightening Of his lips. His mind
in q torn. frenzied way, had already
formulated the same question. What
was 1t? Had they, after all, picked up
Var Lal or one of the others? He was
Alec Dunn now. 1t meant disclosure.
1t was a beastly. horrible thing to
measure his own safety against the life
Of one of those poor devils. Well. thank
God. deep down within him he was
conscious that he was doing nothing OF
the kind-it was the thrill at the turn
Of the card. the catch of the breath as
fortune toyed with the stakes that were
q mans all.
He made no effort to answer her
question.
Footsteps came nearer; a voice called
her name:
'Marion."
Yes, father" she answered: TIN
here" And then, as two figures ap-
peared around the corner OF the deck
house. she rose from her chair again.
What is all this sudden disturbance
about? But first-you know Mr.. Dunn.
but I don't think Mr.. Rand does. Mr..
Dunn-Mr Rand"
Peter found himself staring into the
face of the man who had scowled at
him at the gangway. He took the prof
fered hand, conscious of a certain sense
Of antipathy-conscious that it was mu-
tual
BY Jove." said Rand. with a quiet
laugh, II should have imagined that
after your experiences tonight. Mr..
Dunn. you'd have been tucked away in
bed!''
mo-" said Peter a little brusquely.
I'm none the worse for them"
Then you must have the constitu-
tion of an OK. Mr.. Dunn: though, after
all, I'm not so Sure"-Rand was laugh
ing quietly again, but apparently now
with a desire to make himself genial
and agreeable-"since Miss Garth's
company would be q panacea for
any ILL.,
The words grated, and there was
something in the others intensely black
eyes that belied the genuineneSs of the
laugh that had accompanied them.
Peter, by way of answer. dug his hands
in his pockets. His mind was restless
EEain-upon Var Ial again
Nj. Rand should have been a
Latin" said Marion, with a smile. But
my question, father-what is the sud-
den commotion all about?"
We're getting in the boats and going
On again" said Mr.. Garth gravely.
Going on!" Marion drew in her
breath quickly. "But-but those poor
ton. doesn't it?"
II was Rand who answered.
Desertion! Not at ALI" he declared
amphaticaliy. You mustn't think of
anything Ike that, There wasn't q
chance after the first half hour-and
we've been here for hours now. AaIot
longer than any other ship would stay
under the same conditions
There was relief in Peters mind
that somehow pricked his conscience
because it was relief.
81 am afraid there Is nothing else to
90, Marion" said Mr.. Garth heavily
Capt. Stone says that with the heavy
Ssxel that's running, even IL any Of them
,Jflad managed to cling TO bit Of floating
wreckage. they would long ago have
been out Of our reach. AS a matter OF
fact. for the last hour we've been run
ming little with the drift ourselves
with that idea in mind and as a last
hope"
Peter. standing close behind Marion.
saw her turn her head quickly away
but not before he had seen the blue
eyes suddenly dim with tears.
Yes-1-I suppose that Is true" she
said IN low voice "Eut-but II is
very terrible-and-and we are so safe
here"
IT'S one Of those things that can't
be helped, Miss Garth" said Rand.
Wouldn't you like little turn along
me deck? II VIII perhaps do you good. -
Marion shook her head.
"Eo-thank you." she said. I think I
viii 90 below now"
i think We would better all turn In, s.
faid Mr. Garth sobeYly. Come aionev'
They moved away along the deck. Mr.
Garth and Rand leading. At the saloon
entrance Peter held out his hand-the
t@o men had already gone inside.
But aren't you coming in?" Marion
stked In surprise.
NO" said Peter quietly. mot yet
! couldn't sleep" He smiled quickly
e4sarmingly. 'I'll keep the deck for a
tt. hy minds TOO active. and II
j. wouldn't be fair. you know. to toss
around down there and keep old Mumm
swake'
II do not think that I shall sleer
much either" she said.
Her hand lay in his.
But your thoughts and mine, though
they may keep Us both wakeful, will BE-
far apart" he answered Yours or
those poor chaps. mine selfishIy on my.
Perhaps" she said: but PERHAPS
TOO. they viii nnd something In com,
f2on.
His hand frightened little on hers
what DO you mean7" he asked
quickly.
Wei. for instance" she said-ane
e1dcsniy her face lighted and a CLEAN
II sszan " wondering little DeYnaps~-
because could never, never picture
you On a nigh Etool in London count.
She was gone.
Peter went slowly back along the deci
ana came 70 the two chairs again IN
the shelter of the deckhouse and "a
GOWN ia fils own EnAir agsin--Ans
stared Al the other. Her cnairl sh,
had been sitting there Here out o
al the world they had met again. An.
he W&E Alec Dunn
5leep' IL MAS nockery 70 think o
sleep.
He sat for the most part with h,
clli1 Ia his hands. Sometimes he move,
slightly, utterly unconscious thst he re
spofaded " protest from cYanpe.
limbs oYeriong subjected 10 one ,yIsi
tloD. II was quiet here~-lus. the shin
noises. the steady Fob u the engine.
the wash of the ira. 30 one came rea