Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-09

SIlS asked III ALARM. WAlGLS
l. are we going, Mr.. Oaks
He shook his head
Nobody quite knows"
why am I being kept here?"
For your own good, my dear"
He sat down and drank his tea in
large, noisy gulps.
For your own good" he repeated.
'"There are all sorts of people after
you. That man Wade!" He shook
his head solemnly. What rascal!
What a villain un'ung! One of the
trickiest men in Mapping. Lives on graft
the india rubber men have paid him
thousands"
She could not believe her ears, but
Mr.. Oaks seemed very serious. He was
almost convincing, too.
I'm telling you" he said solemnly,
''that I wouldn't be surprised if he is
one of the india rubber men himself.
But Mr.. Wade couldn't do a thing
like that" she said, Indignantly.
"Oh. couldn't hep" demanded Golly,
with a sarcastic smhe. You never
know what a fellow like that will do.
What's his pay? A beggarly five pounds
a week. Do you think he can live on
that? No, my dear, he gets money from
people who've got to keep him sweet
gambling houses, for instance. He was
after your money"
MY money!"
Mr.. Oaks recovered himself quickly.
That's what I call a figure of speech.
He wants somebody who'll be a sort Of
servant to him-bake and iron and
wash and keep his house for him-for
nothing. A beggariy fellow like that
would want cheap kind of wife. He
couldn't afford
But you said he made thousands by
dishonesty" said the girl.
Mr.. Oaks coughed. He had fallen
into error again.
I'm a manner of speaking" he said
vaguely. Then, in an effort to change
the subject, PLENTY of books here
books that will amuSe you. Pity you
can't read foreign languages; that's
where all the literature is"
He indicated a very well stocked
bookshelf, at which the girl had not yet
looked.
Look after yourself. I'll send the
captain to see YOU
THE captain? You mean Mr.. -"
"Aikness his name is" interrupted
Golly. Never mind what you called
him before. The gentleman that used
to take you out to supper"
He was watching her closely as he
spoke.
Mice fellow. isn't hep More like a
father than anybody you've ever met,
I'll bet Fifty-eight, that's how old he
is. If he tells you he's 50, he's telling
a lie."
And after giving her this piece of in
formation, he went out with CHEEKY
wave of his hand.
He left her with plenty of food for
thought. The Mr.. Oaks she knew had
gone forever. This was a new man,
fantastic, unreal. But nevertheless, she
was glad that he was on board. She
felt safer now. Somehow, she prefer
red him to his wife; they had always
been very good friends, and he had
often told her his troubles.
The ship was scarcely moving now.
Lila had thought earlier in the day, that
ably a tug, but it must have been
powerful tug, for the entire vessel had
been shaken.
She went to bed early that night and
woke at 4 to hear curious Sound-the
lowing of a COW. Then it came a second
time. And then she heard cock crow,
and bell struck the hours. Cows and
chickens and village chimes did not ac-
cord with Mr.. Oaks statement that they
were lying in midstream at the mouth
of the Thames. Finally the creaking
of cart wheels was distinctly audible.
She determined TO ask Golly, when
she saw him, whether she could go on
deck. There was plenty of fresh air in
the cabin, but she wanted to scent the
sea breezes and to see the light of day.
Capt. Aikness called just before lunch.
He did not wear his uniform, but was
plainly dressed in flannelS and carried
a soft felt hat. He was SO tall that he
had to stoop as he came into the cabin,
and, for the first time, she looked at
him closely. Fifty-eight was more likely
his age than So, she told herself.
We'll, my dear, getting tired?"
He patted her on the shoulder and,
for some reason, she shrank from his
touch.
Wen have you ashore in a day or
two" he said. i've got a car waiting
to whisk you off to the west of England.
But, for a little while, I think you'd
better keep out of sight"
He asked her if Oaks had been to see
her that morning, and, she said No. he
seemed relieved
us Lord Siniford on board?" she
said. She had meant to ask Golly
the night before, and had forgotten.
Aikness looked as if the name of Lord
S1niford were distasteful to him.
mo, he's not" he said shortly. "You
can put that fellow out of your mind,
Lila. He's not worthy of you, or any
other woman"
This was a relief to her-a great re-
lief. Ever since she had come on board