Evening star., 1928-04-02
Continued nom Yesterdays Star,
oeDyrasA,, 1877, BY Frank L. Packard.


darkly.
Many times you have said that,
he muttered little sullenly. "It
pleaSes you! But did We not always
meet down there In the lower alleyway
when we had reason 10 talk together?
And was it not also by agreement we
met there on that night?-for after
had left the stateroom of Blake and
Can't. Mumna. Garth kept me busy. and
had a chance only TO give you q
signal to meet in the accustomed place
How else. without waiting untn the
morning. could have made known tc
vou what I had learned? 1t is true. Jat-
frav's door was open, but the cabin
was dark. Who would have thought
he was inSide2 1t was only a little
after midnight. and / had seen him
a few minutes before on the upper deck
And Is the blame all mine2 Is II not
tr4,e vnu also knew the door was open?
He must have seen us in some way OUT
there. and crept 10 his door to iSten'
and"
And was well repaid" Rand growled.
"Since he learned YOU had recognizeo
one of the survivors from the Break
O Dawn as Peter Blake. the man you
had seen through the window-blind In
NSsrchison's room on the night--as you
were also careful to mention!-that
vo,l and and Tajal Ali and our men
murdered Murchison and stole these
nearls That let Blake out. and
.Tsffrav had us cold. After that, Ii
was Jaffray's life or ours, not only on
account of MurchiSon's murder, put so
that we could keep in touch with Talai
Ali and bring the Isis and the prlg
together" He laughed out suddenly In
urly mirth. Thanks to Blake, though,
If was safe enough 10 get rid OF
Jafray-Blske has been very useiui
to usl" ...,
with Sullen note in his voice, II
was nv ears that were sharp enough
TO hear that little sound ike the snuI-
fling of a foot with which Jaftray
hetraved himself in his excitement. II
il had not been for me" He broke
of abruptly. and a puzzled look came
into his face. 1T is strange that Peter
Blake has not been found! ne ex-
claimed. Where has he hidden?"
Rand shrugged his shoulders.
'what does il matter?" he replied
.ndiferently, Hes probably still on
the Isis, and Mumm's helping him.
II he manages to get away 1t VIII make
no difference 10 uS-he has served our
purpose. II he got on the brig. or
gets on this island, he'll be Iouno
sooner or later, and vel make snort
enough work Of him. so that
The voice seemed to Peter to have
hecome lost. engulfed in some mad up
heaval ana commotion IN his own brain.
He was gripping at the door iamb until
the knuckleS were white knobs across
the back of his hands. Jahray!
Murchison! His throat was dry. His
lips were parched. Something was
snoldering within him, seeking to
break forth in eruption. something ne
could not define, save that all the emo
tons he had ever known as human
being were aroused, and seemed 70 be
massing into one gigantic effort TO vent
themselves In some cataclySInic, super
human way. Anger, fury, desire for
vengeance, q savage eagerneSs 10 launch
himself upon the two men. sitting SO
smueiy there, who had toyed and Jug
gled with his life. callous of everything
except the gaining of their own abhor-
rent and vicious ends. had seized upon
him: but. too, he knew q strange. glad
singing IL his heart, a surge OF upliit,
as though some monStrous weight that
had once crushed him down and pin-
tnned him in impotence and tortured
him was suddenly removed, and he was
free. He felt Marion's hand open
and close with tense, spaSmodic clutch
ingg at his arm as she clung 70 MN;
and as she stood close beside him ne
felt, too, the wild beating of her heart
but her face he could not see because II
was in shadow.
And then the voices hoated In upon
his consciousness once more.
Curse il, what's keeping Taial Ali?'
snaried RAnd impatiently again.
There Is yet plenty Of time, for there
Is still an hour TO daybreak," Lahat
Khan answered unconcernedly. "Tajal
All has much to do-Stores TO Land,
orders 10 give before he let the brig san
away"
But now Peter heard no more, for
suddenly his brain was clear and coldly
renorseless, intent upon plan that
had flashed into his mind, and. drawing
Marion with him, he edged noiSeleSsiy
back from the door-and, still guiding
her, moving as silently as they had
crossed the room In the first instance
he led her 10 the open window. And
now he could see her face again. and
though Il was as pale as IL the blood
had been drained from 1t, 1t was alighi
and radiant, and her eyes were wide
and shining as though mirroring Q
great Thanksgiving that had suddenly
filed her soul.
peter" she whispered. dent you
gee2 On, don't you realize what tins
means? You look 50 grim and Stern
and II feel as though ] should &c
down on my knees and thank God thai
al the world is 10 know the truth about
Daddy Tom and Jafiray"
-. ArRNa "a
this means 70 me-to us!. And in the
dayg 70 come we viii try 10 show ouI
tflankfulnesg: but now there Is some
thing else that We must do" He tool
her in his arms and held her close II
hlna-for be was afraid that what hs
had 10 say might bring her cisnay anc
fear. "You understand, don't YOU
Marion. that neither Of these men mus
be allowed 10 get aWay--or even have q
chance 10 hide those pearls!"
Yes, Peter" she answered, Il TN
ceFstand that~-n there is way u
DO r."
There is a way" Peter pointed
through the window. We must gel
wore 10 the Isis. It's quite likely thai
Lahat Khan has got a boat down there
on the beach, but IL not. then"
u seel7 she interrupted quickly
tTnen We must swim out 70 her"
That lis what was going 10 ask
you." said Peter. Gould you swim oul
70 the Isis7'
oh, easily" said Marion confidently
sfter quick glance through the win
dow "of course. could! It's no
far"
That's splendid said Peter quietly
''becagse that's what want you 10 do
Marion, II there is no boat. and al
soon AS"
'-You want me 70 do" she echoed ir
g puzzled way. But you, Peter2 YoL
SPEAK as though you~---~"
am going 10 stay here" he said
"Petert" She chung 10 him IN sud
Gen feaF~-ano with vide, anxious eyei
stared up into hls fare.
He drew her etili closer 10 him. hi'
arms ar00nG neT.