Evening star., 1932-05-09

JIM KEITH.
lection of these gems. to a man who has
only short time to live, and more sat.
isfying, for these lovely trinkets had
color and brilliance an In the end they
would clasp Joyces white throat or
sparkle on her fingers.
Something Of youth seemed TO fow 70
him through Joyce. Those who had
known the silent, almost dour gray man
OF Riverton would never have recog-
nized this new Roger Cameron.
But perhaps 1t was In Joyce herself
that the greatest change took place.
Very different, Mrs. Roger Cameron
from the rebellious Joyce Allen Of the
Commercial House.
The old mans indulgence did not
spoil her. She recognized It for what
It was, pathetic eagerne8s to grasp lie
before it was too late.
There was in Joyce rare sense Of
fair play. This was . bargain which
she had struck. Roger Cameron was
giving her escape-travel--luxury. In
return, she gave him devoted COM
panionship. She collected little inter-
esting anecdotes on her daily walks.
and brought them back 10 Rogers In
valid chair to display to him Is he dis
played the gems. Together they read
the histories Of the different countries
they visited, and It was enriched to
Joyce by the old mans shrewd onserva-
tions on human nature
She grew to appreciate the depths and
the true delicacy Of Roger Camerons
mind, never guessing how her own was
deepening and growing every day.
Three years Of travel ana intelligent
companionship and there was little LETT
Of the sullen red-headed girl who had
ran away from Riverton. This was o
poised and polished beauty Of the world.
A cosmopolitan from the crown Of her
shining bronze head 10 the soles Of her
extensively shod feet.
"She has everything a woman could
wantp exclaimed the wire OF o French
banker, whom Joyce had met in Paris,
and there was the acid Of envy in her
tone, beauty and youth and wealth
=. o husband who adores her. And
such clothes-my dear! Such clothesl"
| Kitty overheard the remark and she
quoted It TO Joyce with much glee.
The girls smile echoed Kftty's BOOM
ing laugh, but that smile faded when
Joyce was left alone.
Hes, the French bankers wife was
correct--she had everything. She, who
had risen at dawn to the drudgery of
the Commercial House-she who had
! the luxury wealth could buy. She was
lucky lucky What If there was
lonely little ache deep in her heart.
What If there was a strange restless
ness seizing her at times-a restless
ness amounting almost 70 panic. Life
was slipping away fast Z. fast
Life was o beautiful shell, inclosins
hollow emptiness -.
Jim Keith, first oficer Of the liner
Neptune bound from San Francisco to
Shanghai glanced sharply along the
table as he took the chair placed at its
end
This first meal was In the nature Of
an index to the voyage. The modern
ocean liner Is like some mimic world
afloat on sea Of space. The little
handfuls of humans are vastly depend
ent upon one another-like the pres
be content and companionable with
those who have also shipped passage
for the voyage.
These people, reflected Jim Keith,
sitting along the table headed by his
own chair, were his enforced COM
panions at meal times. Moreover. it
was his duty to mingle with them
amuse them-fiatter them with his at
tentions, that their voyage might be
pleasant one and they book their fu-
ture passage ON the Neptune.
This was the part Of Keiths work
which he liked the least. Something q
little mocking in those dark eyes as they
Travelled down the table.
The usual fat couple yrom the Middle
West who had sold the old farm to
an advantage and were setting out To
see the world The inevitable hirtatious
widow determined to catch his eye. To
avoid the widow, Keith turned quickly
70 the other side Of his chair.
This prospect was better. Across from
the widow was o big framed whole
some woman with swapping blue eyes,
and hair streaked with honest gray.
Jim Keith caught his breath.
The red-headed girl ne had seen
come aboard with the old man In the
chair. A beauty. and no n1istakel
Outside Of his social duties as first
| oficer of the Neptune, Keith was not
especially interested In women. But the
sight of this girl coming UP the gang
plank had moved him 10 unusual In
terest He had even been prompted to
find out her name Let's see-Cam-
eron-that was It'll
He leaned forward.
by the way Miss Cameron, I'm glad
to have this opportunity to ask how
your father is standing the trip I
saw them bring him aboard this after
noon"
Startled violet eyes sweeping up TO
meet his own dark gaze. A sudden fiush
passing over her face.
"Mr. Cameron Is feeling very well.
Hes used to travel, you Know, and he's
splendid sailor. But you--you've made
O mistake Mr.. Cameron Is my hus-
band-not my father"
The others at the table might not
have existed in that moment while
their eyes chung together. A queer
change In Jim Keith's face--the merest
differene of expression as when q wind
ruffies the surface Of q pond.
Though her lips were set In polite
little smile, Joyce felt her cheeks burn
ing ct the suspicion Of q sneer In the
mans dark eyes. Antagonism leaped
like fame between them.