Evening star., 1928-01-08

vealed never so brilliantly it.
IL billions Of facets, the blue
flashing rise of wavelets. Mist
gcld.shot. hung upon the trees thai
shaded an out-jutting point of land.
With sigh that was eloquent oi
sheer soy in living and being. Dori.
Willing waded into the water.
With little cry. she plunged for
ward under fun headway I.,til. a,
lensth. she dived and cleaved her way
TO fioat.
Her head had Just appeared above
che level Of the flooring when. upon
the other side. A, figure bounded from
the water.
Il beg YOUR pardon, / suppose this
Is your fioat"" There was a pleasing
infection in the young mans voice.
Doris climbed TO the raft. Her gaZe
was frank with curiosity and admira
ton. He was obviously an athlete in
superb condition. His face was finely
modelled. The eyes were gray. and
above them dark, straight hrows.
This is my foat" She smiled.
"Do I have to leave it,"
'Well--l imagine YOU came out to
s0 im. not to occupy float"
They both laughed.
Are YOU a college man" You look
like foot hall player" Not waiting
fer reply. she hurried on: Every
time / see an athletic looking chap
around here thst don't know. |
wonder II he isn't that boxer who is
training AZ Seacliff, Every one has
been talking about him and I've been
crazy 70 see him She stopped
abruptly. staring at him. do YOU
know. I've Just come to suspect that
you are the famous Mr.. Norcross."
He looked away from her.
Yes. I ain Paul Eorcross.
Really" She regarded him with
no denisl Of her interest This /.
thrilling. l don't know just Why
she laughed. with note Of apology
but l had associated boxers with the
cave.man tNpe."
Modern boxing" he said stitfiv. lis
supposed 10 require quite a little in.
tellisence."
Forgive me- It's simply that yo,l
are So So---- | mean il is so tn.
expected. I've read So much about
you in the papers and / knew you
had taken cottage at Seaclifr.
Haven't | read, too. that yuu are--oh.
awfully retiring. really recluse ex.
cept. Of course. when YOU come forth
10 box? There I'm heinS rude again.
Still" she added. with playful impu.
dence, this is my float You are a
trespasser and must pay the penalty
OF my curiosity"
Sure I'm q trespaSser. I dope i;
cut that salt water is good for me.
My trainer doesn't. So l take il on
the sneak. before any one is awake.
and now I've got 10 beat it.
Mr.. Norcross." she interrupted.
raising her hand. you don't fool me
Q bit"
Fool you:"
Yes. II suddenly occurred to YOU
that you ought TO play up TO YOUR
role as boxer and talk in gruff
voice out Of the side Of your mouth.
using slang"
A gleam Of humor flashed across
his eyes. Il have TO be going. It's
been great 10 meet you. Miss--''
Il am Miss Willing"
"Goodby. Miss Willing" He held
cut his hand, and she took it.
Il shall see you again."
I'm afraid not. I'm a fighter"
nORIS sang throughout the process
q dressing for breakfast. She
had come TO rate incidents in her life
in accordance with their sensational
Or dramatic quality. This meeting on
the float had been rarely sensational. /.
the most unusual in its various per.
sonal qualities that she had ever ex.
perienced-with perhaps additional
chapters to follow. She savored every
detail In retrospect.
Her father. eminent In Wall street
q widower. had been unable to leave
business for Newport. and now wa .
at the table deep in his paper. Doris
came up 10 him, stroking his head.
He smiled up At her and returned to
his paper. Doris was the importa Mt
interest In his life-aside from finan nee.
Even 50. she was minor interest.
Doris took him 10 the station for
the nine.thirty train and. after lunch.
con. motored over to the club. where
they were holding a tourney. Chubby
Lannin. she knew. ought 10 be about
a. this hour Of the day. She sen, a
servant In quest of him.
Hello. Chubby" She extended 4.
hand as the obese young man a4.
pesred. Tell me something sbou.
this boxer, Eorcross."
Lanrln bltnked and looked irnpor.
tant. ''0'
Hes good. I've played him in
every one Of his fights, and he doesn't
o*e me cent. can tell you" He
granned. But he's q faker"
a fsker? She moved Impa tientty.
Just what do you mean"
Nobody knows much about him.
ne nlsw into This country three years
ago. Said his father ran eoDfs.
station in the South Sea Isla nds and
thst ne learned 10 box from a retired
EngLsh pug out there He keeps
away from the hghting crowd in fac,
ne klgh.hats every one And. since
ne tights all The time. practically. he y
relned money. In important fights
he's Put every nsn he's met 20 Eleep.
of course. THE mystery stun he pulls
is 1utt advertising bunk, But it gets
over"
He must be an inter sting chap"
I-annin shrugged.
Il don't know. We've tried 10 get
hsu:~Sftr 70 the club. But he wouldn't
come He's a-ciose bargainer. Doesn I
even nave manager. They say he q
made $500 600. Whe3 he fights Harry
s'Tunk a. The Polo Grounds the las,
o' THIS month he'll have $50, 900
more
Oh. 70 he's going 10 hghi-whom
did you cay. sttunk? are you going
70 bet On him"
"ho--on |0fcross; I don't know
yet. This strunk is n tough baby.
Hes won al! hiE fights. too. since he
came out III a I.nneso lumber esnip,
t$o years ago. The man aho vins
"i!i meet the heavyweight champion
Within q year, ana ils no cineh that
there won't ne a new title holder after
that fight
isnt that thrilling Chubby, I
want to ine. h.In. III set him 10
e<Jms ~ she club
re you %" t.snnin regarded
her sio"miiy 'DDris. !e' me- tell YOU
s3h'ethink Tor the sord q! yout~-
your tie paused.
soul. CbG1byr'
i " aA T.inz 80 seY thai But AS
o matter of fsct. dont think YOU
Eaae ore ="