The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-04
CHAPTER FoRTY-FIVE

- to one side and leaned over the
rail, peering down into the clear
water. The moon silvered it SO that
it was like mirror to one looking
down from above.
Bates jumped almost as quickly
as The Fly had and seized him by
the arm.
What do you mean by speaking
to Miss Hardness that way?" he
demanded, shaking the others wise
like grip loose from the rail.
BY a visible effort of will, De Lo-
ma got his emotions under control.
He bowed Stif1y from the waist to
Mary.
MY apologies" he said. IT for
got myself" He turned and left.
The others had rushed to the rail,
and were offering suggestions about
the recovery of the stones.
"You can see them by daylight.
Why not leave them there till morn
ing?" was Louise's surprising sug-
gestion.
And have them washed off the
reef, perhaps? Nonsense!" Bruce
snapped.
Mr.. Jupiter remained seated. He
was apparently unruff1ed by the
mishap and called up to the bridge
| to Hendricks
The captain ordered two men over
the side to dive for the necklace and
in ten minutes one of them had
found it and returned it.
But the truce was over. Before
long what remained of the party
broke up. Bates walked with Mary
to her stateroom.
HE gave himself away that
time" he growled. Il wish I'd
thrown him overheard"
Hes like a crazy man. Why
isn't he allowed to drink?"
Bates did not answer for a min
ute.
"a man who is-not himself-is
hardly fair game" he said.
THREE days passed, as like as
peas, except for the heat which
grew steadily worse. The glare of
the sun on the water was so bright
it scared the eyeballs.
The heat on deck was frightfuI,
but below stairs it was sitting. The
temperS of all on board the Gypsy"
were strained to swapping point.
| The boats master alone remained
tranquil and appeared to be enjoy
ing himself. Every morning, be-
fore dawn, he was out in the dinghy,
sometimes returning with a catch,
sometimes not.
Bates stayed behind, smoking in
terminably, in the shade of the
bridge, unobstrusively keeping an
eye on things. There was no longer
any pretense of association among
the others.
All were tense, waiting, while
overhead, in a corner of the chart
room, the tinkering with the radio
apparatus went endleSsly on.
Mary kept to herSelf-the monot-
ony was wearing on her, too-but
she did not go near Dirk again. The
invalid'S ankle was so much i'm
proved that he was able to be car
ried on deck, and there he and an
amiable steward played bridge for
hours on end.
De Iona had gone to his state
room the night the necklace had
taken its unexpected plunge over
board and came out only rarely.
Louise was the restless one now.
She had developed a savage temper
and lashed at all who crossed her
path, even Bruce
Deprived of the services of a
beauty parlor and still wearing the
same gown in which she had come
aboard, she began to look less the
siren and more the shrew.
That night-the night of the
fourth day-Mary lay in her bed
staring wild-eyed into the darkness.
Sleep seemed farther away than the
hot stars that hung low and burn
ing bright in a sky that pressed
down smotheringly just above her
portfolio window.
II r
CHE tried to shake it off, but the
~ sense of impending disaster was
; heavy on her heart. The crowded
events of the last few days-Dirk's
fight with De Iona, her anxiety
for the necklace, his fiery resent
ment at being brought aboard the
yacht, and then this unforeseen
mishap-had been almost too much
for her nerves.
1t was breathleSsly hot. Mary
slipped on thin black silk coat
and stepped out on deck.
Through the open portfolios of
Mr.. Jupiter's Stateroom came the
sound OF his heavy breathing. He,
at least, could sleep, and she was
thankful for that.
ITO Be Continued