Evening star., 1933-10-28
INSTALLMENT XI.

INSTALLMENT XII
m A BOUT half hour ago, maybe
~ n less" Delphine said, II was
II scrunched down in q high
1 \ backed chair in the writing
room. I'd pulled the chair
around, sort OF careless like, so the back
was toward the room. Why so modest?
Because was hiding from my mater
nal parent who has discovered a trick
count or duke or something aboard and
who was h-bent on dragging me out
to play catch with his niblets. I'd just
been In the bar-0ne needs q little
LIQUID courage with mother like
I was doing it on when I
heard voices-a man and . woman at
one Of those face-rrle double deaO Just
back of my chair. Their line went
The man: But tell you it Is inn
possible. sue hasn't been out Qf sight,
except for sleep. since I talked with you
make sure there would be no slip
THE woman: Then it's q ruse. But
how did she get Jeffrey Randall into 1t?
He said, very distinctly. she Is his wife.
He was most ungracious. He ordered
me not to address her again. I must
talk with him, he said
"The man: MY advice to you is to
ignore the entire incident. They are
probably having an affair-which women
like Sue and men like Randall have
for the duration Of the voyage
THE wo m n: Undoubtedly. It's
amazing how she picked up Jeffrey
Randall. He has a reputation as
woman-hater. I can only hope it Is one
of those ship affairs. II he should fall
in love with her, it might spoil every
thing for me. He has a great deal Of
money, and influence
The man: Forget it. When the ship
docks thatll be the end of it. The girl
Sue has no backing. Well work fast
and put it over before she knows what's
happened
Delphine reached out hand. jeffrey
placed a cigarette, lighted, In her
fingers.
That's my story" she said. "and I
hope I've not blown up a bank telling
it. Having known the two OF you for
a couple OF days, l judged you were the
sort who could take it"
There's no use trying to thank you"
Sues lips were dry. They stuck to her
teeth.
You can't thank regular friends"
Jeffrey said. All you can do Is to
stand by them and put out everything
you've got for anything they want"
I catch it." Delphine blew smoke
rings toward the sun. You have been
rather more than helpful to me. For
no particular reason at all, l gave you
a cheer from the getaway. II you're
having an affair-hurrah! II you're
not, there must be some good reason.
I'm one of those antiques, threwback
lieves in love. Naive, isn't 1t? How
about a drink, JEFF? Do we scott, or
do We not?"
We scoff What's your vote. Sue?
Will you join US or shall we send any
thing you want out here?"
Let's 60 places Sue rising. She
could not sit here supinely while plots
Matched about her Mrs Hume The
moon-faced man Agard, who had kept
her in his eye for weeks. For what?
Where was Mathilda? Mathilda might
be a solution. She, Sue. was risklng
her reputation, her future-some day
she must explain to the man she loved
this bargain marriage. She might be
able to make man who loved ner
understand how she had come to enter
into a bargain that was purely mer-
cenary. He might even be glad to have
her first love rather than a revival
Of love. burned out But scandal!
Court rooms, f1aring headlines, herself
accused as a husband thief. A girl
who sold her right to wifehood for
money. A girl accused of stealing the
affections of her employer. Such girl
would be difficult to explain. no matter
how needy she might be on the one
hand. no matter how innocent she
might be, on the other.
Wipe away the troubles" jeffrey
begged Sue when Delphtne had I'm
ished her bubbles" and gone for q
plunge in the pool where, she remarked
with glee. her mother. unable to swim .
stroke. could not follow her. Wen
finish the stroll around deck"
Il can't wipe them away" Sue said
wearily. What can they be about,
that man and Mrs. Hume? It's hor-
rible, trying to fend them on In the
dark, not knowing what they mean
to do"
I'VE won't be in the dark long. I'll
find out all about Mr. Agard and his
activities. He's detective, Of course,
hired by Mrs. Hume. 1t may be she
is just another jealous wife who wants
to know what her husband is doing,
and is willing to pay for the knowl-
edge. That's not unusual. you know"
In that case she would know my
relations with her husband are and
always have been strictly impersonal-
stenographer and employer. There
would be no reason for having de-
tective aboard to watch me. no reason
Tor her trying to force me to see her
or for her to make a scene"
You're right. The woman has some
thing furtive in mind. something that
will benefit her at your expense. Don't
let it worry you, dear. I'll attend to
her, and to Agard, too. They'll be lucky
not to wear steel bracelets"
Dear! Jeffrey had called her dear.
Quite casually. Quite naturally. AS
if the term of affection were familiar
one between them.
How strange the word sounded on
Jeffrey's lips. How strange and how
thrilling!
Mathilda Fetherstone was getting a
deal of vicarious joy from Jeffrey's plan
to present Sue to his cousins as his
wife.
"Covetous cats! Can't you see emp"
Mathilda chuckled. They've probably
got their heads together this minute
figuring how they can get their hands
on Jeffrey's fortune. Chances are they
didn't believe the hint to the executor
about Jeffrey's coming back with a
wife and after few cablegrams
they've found he has no wife listed on
this ship. So they're all set to give
him a proper welcome. When they
meet you, Sue-Mrs. Jeffrey Randall
I wouldn't miss it for the world I've
got to be close by for the first act
finale"
Suppose they won't believe I'm Mrs.
Randall" Sue, breathless again at
thought of the ordeal. Suppose they
demand proof"