Evening star., 1928-09-09

plicity of the life he leads isn't tf~ an
Swer to the structural overloading that
Galten suggests the race is suffering
from.''
II wonder" thought Jean, If you
realize how transparent you are, my
dear. in spite OF your casual camou-
fiagsn
Theima either did not SO realize or did
not care For her study OF the priml
tive male was to become daily af air.
At luncheon the next day Jean, yet to
discover that, suggested that Pat takE
her guest to the country club for golf.
oh, be nerciful'' protested Thelr1a
Strenuous activity never did appeal to
me. Whenever I hear anybody say that
they played a round of golf in rs, or Dc,
always feel tempted to ask, What
of it?'
"One," suggested Jean. striving to
keep her voice uncdged. might say THAT
about anything in life
Precisely" was Thelna's cool reply.
TT was after that that Jean discovered
Pat and Thellna again were go
ing out to sea with Pete. later SILL
it came home to her that there was
never need to ask what either planned
to do any afternoon. The answer wonlc
always have been the same. And it oc-
Cured to her that. for all this is an TN
chaperoned age, she was not without re-
sponsibilitics.
Finally she spoke to Fat. II wonder
he doesn't find you In the way" was
her approach to topic that she felt
presented difficulties.
oh, he and ThclnHa get along splen-
didly"
1t struck Jean that Pats voice was a
bit fiat. She glanced at her daughter.
but Pats face was mask.
Yet these trips in the lobster boat
there had now been four of them in an
ulabroken sequence-did puzzle her.
He doesn't suggest Thelma's type Or
she his she ventured, feeling her way.
Pat said not word. Yet the mask
slipped for a second, and something III
her face startled jean The child was
jealous, terrifically jealous. Either Of
Thaima's interest in Pete-that was '1cr
first thougft-or-tl1e second came
swiftly on it's hsels-Petcs interest in
her. was not so inDossiblc she Fc3 iaad.
IT rather think I'll get maternal and
call on the young man myself" she de-
cided abruptly.
This she did after depcsitfng Pats
father at the station next morning.
"Td like to drop everything and put
out to sea myself-evs1 IN lobster
boat" she unused es she came into
sight of the place that had been Thax-
ters.
Leaving her car parked outside. she
moved toward the door and knocked.
Good morning" came an easy voice
from behind.
Jean turned swiftly to meet the eyes
of the youngster she sought. And yet
nc. quite so much Of youngster as She
had thought Such was her immediate
reaction to something in his eyes. Her
first impression Of HIM had been hur-
ried: she had put him down as 20 or
%. But he was infinitely older than
that-even 80 perhaps.
Good morning" she replied. Their
eyes met. Then, II have been as
sured. jean added impu,sively, that
Tolstoy would have adored you, because
you ara so unspoiISd and so much the
child of Nature. Somehow, wonder
how ANYBODY ever got that impression. y
Ha grilned at her. quite ulabashed
by her dircctness And why nct?'' ne
demanded.
Jean hss.tatcd. Then, You're no
mere lobsterman than ami! she
assured him.
"Ol1, but you're wrong, ne protested.
Il haul hundred traps a day, and on
a good day come ashore with 50 to 90
pounds. That not only rates me as a
perfectly good lobsterman. but runs to
important money. I get anywhere from
So to 50 cents pound. Figure 1t your
self"
II never was good at figures-or at
riddles" Jean retorted May / ask
what you did before you took up lob
stcring?"
You most definitely may not" he
replied cooIly. hut his amused eyes re-
moved any sting there might be in that.
ASK me any other question"
well, then, why are you lobstcrlng?'
Because I'm none too good at riddles
myself" he retorted.
Jean studied him for an instant, but
h.; ewes revealed nothing, nor would
any amount of questioning yield her
more. she realized. Philosophfcally
being IS, she accepted that. She was