The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-01

ached with utter WEAKNESS.
"A cup Of black Coffee she told
herself determinedly. will brace
me- right up. I simply can't get
sick"
TN the corridor she met Jack
J. Smythe. on his way to the pur-
ser's office to inquire for Mona. He
listened grayely while she told him
what the doctor had said.
I'm sorrier than 1 can say" he
declared. cts perfectly dreadful
thing. Mona is an utterly irrational
woman, and uncomfortable hysteria
has brought this upon her. The
whole thing was nothing but sort
of phantasy of her diseased mind.
However, 1 am profoundly sorry"
But 'Pariah-Girl!" cried Ashto-
reth. Didn't you write itP"
"Of course I wrote i'll" affirmed
Snythe, and seemed annoyed at
the question.
And you didn't have Mona in
mind?'
He pursed his lips refiectively.
well" he admitted, IT suppose
in writing man can never get
very far behind his own vital ex-
periences. I wrote, to be sure, of a
woman as I knew her. But that
woman was not simply i,5ona. She
was composite. Mona, in her CO.
colossal copceit, took all credit for
the model"
He smiled.
She was" he added refninis-
Gently, "the best of all possible
sweethearts."
Ashtoreth remembered Monas
inYectiyes of the night before. :.
Snug. -sufficed.
She turned quickly from him, and
flung parting taunt over her
shoulder.
Among the compensations of
dying, I've no doubt" she ex-
claimed, Mona counts you'll"
He bowed as in acknowledgment
of compliment,
"And you," he retorted quickly,
ARE to be counted, my dear, among
the compensationS of living"
She turned then, and came back
to him.
II never want you to speak to
me again." she commanded, IF you
come back on this boat, I hope you
will remember that. If Mona dies,
1 shall feel as if you were her
murderer"
He flushed uncomfortably.
II wish you wouldn't talk that
way!" he protested. II tell you
Mona is a victim of her own pas
sion. She has the most devastating
temper in the world. Is it my fault
if she loses her head, and ruptures
her lungs?"
THE more you talk" Ashtoreth
told him acidly, "the more I hate
you"
NXTHEN she reached her cabin,
w she found steward waiting
at the door,
"The captain wants to see you,
Miss" he informed her. He jerked
his finger toward her. He jerked
1.-THE doctors in there with her
now. I guess she's going to die, all
right"
Ashtoreth put her hand on the
knob.
She's just had a hemorrhage, y
the man said. You don't want to
go in now, Miss"
Sick at heart and nauseated,
Ashtoreth turned away.
The captain was kindly man,
whose blue, far-seeing eyes had
looked on life and death-and
many seas. He took her hand
warmly between his great brown
palms.
THE doctor tells me-" he began
without preamble, that Mademoi-
ellie de Musset is dying. He tells
me, also, that you are rooming to-
gether.
II have talked with the purser
about that, and he assures me that
he knew absolutely nothing about
Mademoiselle when he assigned you
the same cabin. I regret the mat
ter very much, and extend my sin
cere apologies"
The captain paused.
Now about Mademoiselle de
Mussett," he continued briskly. 1--WE
have cabled Guadeloupe, and learn
that she has kin living on the
island.
I'VE will carry her there, and
leave her in their charge. There
is a French physician In Point a
Pitre, and we have made arrange