Evening star., 1928-11-04

Dig fireplace a cnunk OF OAK
~T gathered a big batch of fuel this
afternoon" Whitney continued. He in
dicated the heap thai overfowed the
wicker basket beside the hearth. u
suppose some of this flotsam must have
Travelled thousands of miles, from the
ends of the earth. Look at this, fol
instance. Spoke from a ships steering
wheel, and a big one at that. See
where it broke and splintered? What
ship? What happened? 1t gives one
the creeps to think of burning such a
thing for warmth and good cheer. And
this chunk on the fire! Perhaps it's
a crumb from submarine, and its
been drifting, drifting ever since, a
floating tombstone over dead mems
bones. 1t came from where mon
Ncll!"
For heavens sake, Fred" the girl
cut in sharply, whats the matter with
you? You and your wrecks! Here
finish this highball."
She put the glass down on the smok-
ing table at her side and smiled. Il
was a peculiar smile. 1t was pretty,
but it was feline It fitted Nell Com
stock, however: it matched everything
about her. She stood now with an
easy, relaxed grace. supple, sleek, soft
yet somehow hard. Her hair clung
close to her head, blue-black and
and deliberate, arrestingly mellow.
''They are dancing in the hail. Fred.
Come on; let's take turn
She drew close, linking her arm in
his. and tugged coaxingly.
Whats the matter, Fred?"
Il don't want to dance: don't feel
like It," he answered shortly.
With that she Indignantly dropped
his arm and faced him. "Boor! WHATS
the matter? Are you worried? Is
Eleanor-jealous?" The last word
came after a barely perceptible pause
for emphasis, and with a hint OF
mockery.
Jealous nothing" he arowled.
She laughed gayly Then every one
ought to be pleased, including Will
Chisholm"
Look here, Nell, you leave Will
Chisholm out of this. Do you hear?
And if" He stopped short, and his
head turned toward the doorway,
through which were visible the figures
of the dancers. The girl looked also:
and then, without haste, she put a
distance between them.
"Ah!" she called out briskly. There
you are! We were just wondering what
look positively moonstruck. Eleanor,
I wish you'd cheer up this husband of
yours. He won't dance, and he in
sists on frowning portentouSly, talking
about death, and taxes, and wrecks. Is
he that way with you, Eleanor?"
Eleanor flushed, but Chisholm smiled
genially and looked down on them all
from a height; hair iron-gray, skin
dark, eyes prominent and of peculiar
brown. The face was fuller than it
should have been: the muscles of it
sagged little; the mouth f1eShy, full
Tipped, handsome, and little slack.
Eleanor and l." he said, have been
tramping down the beach; and what
with her and the moon, I return, as
you Justly observe, my dear, moon
struck. We didn't translate what the
wild waves were saying, but here's
what thev brought for the decoration
OF your fireside, Fred; it's almost as
good as a real one. Hold it up, Eleanor" !"
Eleanor held up to the light gro
tesque bit of wood. At one end was
a round knob, rudely carved to the
proportions of a head. -obliterated
daub3 OF paint suggested features-fia
round-eyed, staring, like some grinning
Oriental god Around the object, tied
with string, was faded blue calico
rag. fashioned to the semblance OF a
dress.
"A child's doll" he said. Once her
eyes flashed a glance at her husband
and the idly interested face of the two
guests; then back to the object in her
hand. She was lingering the coarse
texture of the blue calico. "These things
come in from the sea like symbols" /"
she said softly. Wood for our fire;
but what stories they hint of! I Won
Cler-did she lose it overboard?"
Nell gave a loud laugh 1.-TWO of
kind" she Knocked. "Fred has been
strumming on the same glad note"
Chisholm yawned. "Oh, don't let's
be halfway gloomy" he suggested sar-
conically. Lets go the whole way
The kid, of course. fell overheard. The
Eleanor, that imagination of your keeps
you thin" He extended his hand.
Give the darn thing here"
She perched the doll carefully on the
mantelpiece. "You can't have it. It's
been long time," she went on lightly,
''since I've had a doll. This cne ap-
peals TO me. It's simple and sincere,
the way we aren't. I wish I knew
where it came FROM"
Chisholm snorted. You're incor-
rigible Come on, Nell You look
cheerful Let's dance, and leave these
married owls to mediate on life, death,
come from. So long, you two"
ELEANOR nodded perfunctorily and
A. smiled. But Whitney, leaning
against the massive chimney, gave no
sign.
Eleanor had sunk into a chair. He
regarded her with an intentneSs that
strained his eyes, like an effort to read
fine print. He saw how the light ac-
centuated this feature and Softened
that; how it made shadows; how it
suggested mysteries of personality that
once had thrilled him. Even now they
did not leave him cold. After all, Nell
her. He knew it. He had long known it.
The. chunk of driftwood was burning
brightly now, clad in fiery coat Of
many colors. The music, raucous,
syncopated jazz, reached them in loud
rhythmic jerks and exaSperated lapSes.
He drew out his watch, then returned
1t decisively to his pocket. "One
o'clock" he said. Lets start that
crowd to bed It's the only way to
choke them Off"
II suppose So" she said listlessly
~You do it."
did your walk make you tired?"
His tone was idly conversational; it
implied nothing save what she might
read into it.
YES" she said deliberately. That
the word. 1t made me tired"
He flmbled mechanically for a cigar,
found it, lighted it; then, with sudden
vigor, threw it into the fire. I'm tired
too" He spoke with an even intensity
that made the words sound bitten off
one by one. Tired of the whole
bunch"
do you know what I think about
Eell?" she asked abruptly.
Il could probably guess" he said
dryly.
Not quite 1t isn't what you think