Evening star., 1928-03-13

DETER made his way slowly to-
- ward the deck His mind was
in turmoil now. He did net
i know Why he had told Capt.
Mumm he vas going TO her n
order TO make his decision Something
spontaneous within him had prompted
it. What vas it? He did not know.
1t would force the issue irretrievably. Of
course. one way or the other-but why
should she decide him? Was his de-
cl5!on to depend on her attitude toward
him, her actions, what she said, how she
looked?
He pushed his hand across his fore
head and found it damp with prespira-
ton. Why should this all have come
about? Why should he have been
selected as the sport Of fate? Why
could he not have gone to this girl, who
had come into his life that night years
ego in London. as a man fair-uamed
and free to win her if he could? A
savage fury came upon him, a railing
against fate. Impotencei
Would it be better-better for her,
and better for him-if he turned back
even now. returned 70 Capt. IIumnl.
and let things take their course? No!
He wanted to see her-wanted to look
into her eyes, wanted to hear her voice.
Fate could play its helrs tricks If It
would, but he would not be cheated out
of thiSi Afterwards there might be a
bitter price TO pay-but for few mo-
ments. even II he decided that he would
tell her he was Peter Blake before he
left her. he would have had the men,
ory of that little while, when. as though
he were a man with all his
franchised rights TO love and life and
happiness. she and he had been to-
gether. And judge thereby what the
might-have-bee could have held, And
torment himself the rnorel Well. sup
pose it did! Instinctively he squared
his shoulders A few steps from here
was the woman he loved. He was go
ing to her. come what would.
He stepped out on the promenade
deck and stood for a moment by the
companionway entrance looking about
him They were still searching in
fcrlorn hope for Var Lal and his mates.
The yacht was moving very slowly, With
scarcely any way on her at all The
fog seemed. If anything. more dense
than before; but the deck lights out
lined two forms who were walking to-
ward him from the direction OF the
bridge-Jaffray and the cloaked figure
OF a girl.
She was coming
He felt the blood surge suddenly IN
mighty, pounding blows through his
veins. Marion! II was her name-and
not strange TO himi Marion--as
Marionl He stepped forward. He
heard Jaffray speak:
Miss Garth, this Is Mr.. Dunn"
And then Jaeray passed on. and they
were face 10 iace-alone.
Her hand. cool. and vet it seemed
with sort OF strange ti.ridity. lay in
his; his own was hot. fiery. burning.
trembling little he felt He leaned
closer to her. drinking in every feature
Of her face with his eyes-the go!d OK
her hair. shining even in the misty
light; the daintily modelled little chin:
the ivory OF her shoulders beneath the
loose cloak; the full white threat be-
ginning to tinge with fainteSt pink:
the lips whose smile seemed suddenly
tremulous: the eyes. wide AZ first.
slightly hidden now beneath lowered
lids, blue with that blue he had come
to liken 70 the wondrous blue OF the
tropical S,,nlit seas.
She had not withdrawn her hand:
she did 81 now. almost as though II
confused and sudden haste.
You have suffered no III effects
from what you have been through"
she asked quickly. u am 50 glad, It
1t has been terrible experience. We
are all 50 grieve3, and father is almost
beside himself al the fate % those
poor men. We are Still searching Tor
them. you see: but Capt. Stone SAYS
there isn't the slightest hope. And
Capt, Munn. is he"
Quite all right" Peter answered.
He found IL an effort 10 steady his
yoice, HES y bit faSged out, that's all.
He'll be rs Mt as ever IN the morning"
\ silence fell awkwardiy between
them for n moment, Il VAS Marion
who broke It,
"You~Mr Jagray told me thar YOU
wanted 10 see ME" she said little hest
family.
Something within Peter tore restraint
ruthle$&ly aside.
nisl1 III London two wears ago" he
said hcarSely, THAT nigAt-~ycu have
not forgotten II! You knew ME AGAIN
as | Stood there az the gangway little
While ago Just ~ I knew YOU"
Yes she said III low voice, "H
Is very, very strange"
She had turned Slightly away, avert
ing her face
'Couldnt We md sone chaiFSe" Sug-
eeSted Peter abruptly That Is, unless
| am keeping you tGrm something
elSee"
Without answer Marion led the way
Ia where III a recess formed BY csse os
the deeShaussS there were Sesns
steamer chairs,
As she seated herSei retev, SIN
Standlns spoke aGaIn--~aS though the
interruption had made ao insEuSiga
upon his train of Thought
When l managed to set eut into che
street that night, SoU were gas,s." ne
said Afterwards. tgT weeks | haunt
ea the theatess. the hotelS. the supper
plaeeS / never SAW Soa AGAIN until
tonight"
Il sailed tor home Australia tho
next mofning she said
Il see, said Peter tie drew chair
close 10 hesS and sat down There Mas
tast light enough tc see her face, she
WAS net l>scklpS az him, her ewes were
tlxed an small gold StSnes ring sha
Kept twisting around aud around ea
her little finger And then" Peter
weat on, i lo>ksd teg yeu ia-~in ether
places"
"m other plaeeSs" she repeated
Wherever l MAS" pNteg EXPLAINED,
And I've been pretty well AL over the
glehs since then vas SaFe that sNms
tsaV would see NssN AEAlir~ hut 1 { a