Evening star., 1928-09-09

'It's a long story" Peter might have
explained, had he been present and in
the mood to ex x.)lain, instead of being
at that moment engaged in pulling lob
ster pots offshore. His first and second
novels had scored surprisingly.
1t had all seemed simple. Until, that
is, he had tried to start a third novel.
you're a bit f-conscious-that's
ALL he had been assured. Go away.
forget about writing and sooner or later
you'll feel the urge"
This he had doubted nightly, but
getting away from New York and peo-
pie who asked about his next novel ap-
pealed to him.
A friend had jestingly spoken of
Thaxter's shack. and Pete had sur
prised him by buying it without even
seeing it. He had had no definite in
tention then of actually lobstering, but
that had proved something to do. He
had become, as he had assured Jean,
perfectly good lobsterman.
1T provides diversion If not much
nourishment for another novel," he
would have admitted had she penetrated
his incognito.
Yet this June afternoon as he pulled
his traps something was working in him
like yeast Thelma figured in that and
so did Pat. He felt that something
could be done with them both, partic-
ularly Pat. From the standpoint, that
is, of novelist seeking material
Then suddenly his thoughts took a
different turn. He had glimpsed bit
of glistening orange bobbing in toward
shore. He stared at it second, and
then surprised lobster dropped over
spring and tell them wild tales. Then
s,'iftly Pete threw the clutch in.
The boat he had purchased along
with Thaxter's was equipped with a
heavy duty engine. It's Staccato ex-
plosions could hardly be likened to the
music of the spheres.
To Pat, however, the reports seemed
just that. She turned, got another
little lapping wave in mouth and eyes.
yet managed to cry "Help-help!"
The rest of the rescue was no more
than a bad dream. until abruptly she
knew nothing. But presently reviving
consciousness informed her that she
was lying on hard surface that SEEM
ed comforting If not precisely soft. And
at the same time to her nose came an
unmistakable odor
She opened her eyes and blinked
Then her eyes became round with in
credulity. Having Salvaged her from
the sea. her reScuer was plainly going
about his business, which, at the mo-
ment, was letting lobster pot splash
overheard
well, like that!" she gasped IT
almost drowned and you don't pay any
more attention to me than if"
II paid considerate attention to you
for few minutes" he assured her in
a tone that matched his hair. Enough
to get you aboard. What were YOU
doing so far offshore. you little idiot?"
LAS matter of fact you've been fast
asleep and-snoring, he retorted. "Ob-
viously taking siesta after your swim
| -"
Il wasn't snoring. l never dol" pro-
| tested Pat, pasSionately.
Are you a qualified witness as to
what you do when you're asleep?" he
demanded.
Pat bit her lip 1t wasn't just what he
said, but the awful way he said it, And
tk2 way he looked at her, too. AS if
he hated her.
YOU might" she suggested. with all
the dignity she could command "at
least, have taken me ashore"
How did know you wanted to go
ashore?"
"But-where did you think I was
headed for?" she asked, witie-eyed.
| DO you know yourself where you're
headsd for?" he snapped. For all I
knew you might have been trying to
drown yourself believe a lot of half
baked young fools go in strong for that
sort of stuff nowadays"
IF you say I'm half-baked," she be-
gan violently, Till"
Doubtless do something to prove
I'm right" he conceded. But what else
are you? The trouble with you, and
people like you is that you aren't either
good philosophers or good soldiers. You
want life to feed your egotism. Life
won't, No matter where you turn it has
color and drama and movement. It's
| bigger than you are. You've got to adj
lust yourself to 1t. Fight for your share
in the show. You aren't willing to fight.
You phrase it differently. know. but
the truth is that-you're yellow. You're
| -"
He broke off abruptly as Pat made
an impetuous move toward the side of
the boat. What do you think you're go
! ing to do now?" he demanded. startled.
I'D much prefer TOTO staying here
and-and being insulted. /"
She got no further. He gripped her
shoulders. spun her around.
you sit down there" he commanded
savagely. and as Pat sat down, he
added: "1f you so much as stir before
get you ashore I'll spank you.
Absolutely. That's what you need, any,
way"
HER shoulders tingled from the grip
Il of his fingers. her eyes blurred with
tears. She hated him. But she dared
not move. He would. she realized, be
just brute enough to keep his promise
The wheel spun in his hands. the
boat headed ashore. He was taking her
in That was all she had asked of him
And yet
"He-he just wants to be I'd O. me
now," thought Pat
And certainly she had every reason to
believe that Peter wainwright wanted to
be rid of her, and at once The way he
took his pipe from his pocket. filled 1t,
and puffed at it furiously suggested a
man whose patience had snapped. Not
th7t she had ever credited him with
much.
Yet curiously enough, for all that
Pete had his eyes so determinedly
shoreword. with his back presented to
her, it was Pat he saw and not the
shore. She was darned little fool, he
reminded himself. And yet
At that point something in him
seemed to construct. He turned quite
without conscious volition
I'm sorry" he began impulsively. IL