The Coolidge examiner., 1933-10-27
BITTERSWEET
CARGO
g
By Thayer Waldo
G. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.


wNU Service
.NTROLLING the deck. at FIVE
@ O'Clock the second day out.
~ Peter Kerry saw her and stood
still.
Her hair was blue-black and her
dress was magenta and her figure
was divine.
These Kerry noticed In one
glimpse Almost. the further de-
tails were unimportant. Not that.
of course; but so perfectly fitting
the first impression as to delight
without surprising him.
Pleasurably, he was aware of
dark eyes, deep-set; of full and
mobile lips; of strong slender
hands that lightly held a cocktail
glass. And with deepening interest,
he saw that she stood alone at the
bar.
Peter Kerry was an imaginative
man.
At once the query presented it.
self: When a woman. especially a
lovely woman, visits a ships bar
unescorted. what's the matter? Re
tlection offered two possibilities,
and only two. Either she was trav-
cling alone, or her companions had
proved boring. And here, he told
himself. it din't really matter which
was true. Her presence. whatever
the circumstances, intrigued him;
that was enough.
He went forward and in a mo-
ment was beside her.
Carelessly graceful. she leaned
upon the polished counter, slipping
Martini.
The steward approached Kerry,
and he said:
"a sidecar, please"
She turned a little at the words.
and looked with deliberate fullness
ut him.
He became aware. then. OF
charm and loveliness far more en-
trancing than the brilliant beauty
which had caught his eye, and
thrilled to 1t.
His cocktail came and the instant
was gone.
Pleasantly, the steward asked:
Enjoying the passage. sir?'
VERY much" said Peter Kerry;
'1n fact. seem 10 like II better
all the time"
A taste Of the drink and he
smiled approvingly. adding:
"And | must say you help make
things pleasant. steward. A good
mixers always welcome"
The man beamed. modestly ap-
preclative.
But it wasn't he who spoke. The
voice was low and lifting. 1t said:
$50 there. Next time. perhaps,
you'll take lady's word"
without pause. she turned
again toward Kerry and explained:
II tried to compliment him on
my Martini. but he pretended it
was only fiattery."
Her ease OF manner had dis
solved at once all formal barriers
between them. Kerrys admiration
for her grew.
I'm afraid" he answered. smil-
ing. that every true artist is sus-
picious of a charming woman's
praise. Maybe it's the inferiority
complex"
She laughed little then. The
sound had a fringe of warm. soft
huskiness.
That" she said, ''is almost like
an epigram. or something. |
thought people only wisecracked
nowadays"
"They do" he agreed; "but |
seem to be always out of step"
She continued smiling at him;
frank smile, yet possessed. he
found, of a subtly disturbing quail
ity.
$50 out OF STEP" he went on,
that | took swim this afternoon
instead of attending the tea dance.
You see, nobody told me it wasn't
the thing to do. certainly had
the pool to myself"
The smile became a quick little
grimace as she answered:
THAT was sensible. Those af-
fairs are really awful. went but
I couldn't stand II long. Tomorrow
I'll follow your example"
Peter Kerry raised his glass.
"Splendid" he exclaimed. 81
drink to that prospect. After all.
it's much more pleasant TO defy the
established order when you have
company"
She Joined him. laughingly. and
lifted the goblet in her left hand.
Suddenly Kerry caught the CLEAN
of tiny diamonds from the platinum
band that circled her third finger.
And in the next instant, he saw