Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-08

late and there were few vacationers on the
island. The lighthouse keeper and his wife,
who served as cook for them, were the only
permanent residents.
IN the mainland, telegraph wires and tele-
~ phones buzzed newspapers were printed
and hawked and thrown hurriedly away to
make room for the next edition; letters were
written, and in New York they were delivefcd
as often as six times day, but the islands
sole contact with all that metropolitan madness
was the launch that brought provisions and
stale papers once week, and that would come
for Nancy only when her week was over.
By the second day. Owen was making love
to Nancy in the light collegiate way that she
could not quite object to.
you're swell egg Nancy, great old horse
Ready, mosquto?" all murmured with a soft
voice and look of abject devotion.
On the third day he said Say, Nanc, how
about being engaged to guy? Come on, wear
my pin"
why thank you, Owen, but shall never
marry"
A faint surprise Swallowed his bright eyes
Lord, who said marry?
"Oh, that's all right. fellow likes b park
his pin somewhere. Come on, be a good egg"
"Well-oh, all right"
What difference does it make, she thought
what difference does anything make remember
ing suddenly Saints crinkling blue eyes and
his slow, hestant IT adore you"
Anyway Owen wasn't afraid every girl he
met was going to get him for breach of
promise.
The next evening the lighthouse keeper blew
in on them in wild excitement. Fifteen years
he'd been operating the radio station at the
tower, and never message had come for him
that wasn't o S. And here, from an official
marine station, was a message to girl on his
island He had decided it painfully and serb
bled it out on brown wrapping paper. Nancy
caught the contagion of his excitement, but IL
faded quickly as she read the message
Miss Nancy Chatham care of Judith
Lighthouse Brooke Island Tournament
oDer MdrUfn i0on stop Wonderful tDeatheT
stop Arrfved NeU York today stop When
are you coming back impatient to see
you stop st Laurence Vail
What answer, Miss?" the lighthouse man
asked, hoping he would be able to send the
answer more quickly than he had decided the
message itself.
mo answer" Nancy said sweetly.
That was just like Saint. He would use all
his influence and connections to send a silly
message like that, which said precisely nothing
Impatient to see you
Owen caught the temper that underlay her
sweetness.
Must be important-a message to the light
house station" he hazarded as feeler afte-
the man had gone to radio over and over to
a surprised operator mo answer no answer no
answer
Who is the ardent chap2"
TITS nothing" said Nancy, "just a message
about golf tournament from a man used
to know"
Used to know!
JUDITH arrived the next day, in a special
~ launch she had hired to bring her over
"Oh, by the way, Nancy" she said in
nocently. having already noticed the paarl-set
pin on her sweater, saint is back in town.
He rather expects you to return tomorrow
said the three weeks are up. told him not
to count on it. Wait he sent you a present"
1t was another large package. Nancy took
OIL the paper in quivering interest, but when
she saw the familiar box, Susskindi's Sweet
heart Chocolates, she didn't even open it.
Judith smiled as she threw it on the table
Owen came in a little later, voIubly grateful
to Judith for sending Nancy to brighten his
exile.
Shes great old turnip. Judith, and we're
engaged on, chocolatesi Judith, you'll spoil
the boy yet"
He bounced on the box and opened 1t.
Hey. what sort of trick is this?" and he
dropped the lid in disgust.
Judith smiled.
Nancy crossed to the box with sudden IN
terest. All the chocolates had been removed
There was little grey velvet jewelers. box In
the large one.
She opened it quickly and took out slim
bracelet of sapphires and blue white diamonds
AS she slipped it on she read the card Saint
Lawrence Vail" and in his sweet scrawl, ~To
my wife"
Eyes bright, while they both watched her.
she stopped to consider Did sheer didn't
sne-haVe grounds for breach of promise?
Turn it over, darling" Judith said
Nancy did
L guess maybe I will go back tomorrow.
Sorry, Owen, but you'll have to find another
hangar for parking your PIN"
Nancy was again looking at the other side
OF the card where Saint had scrawled Exhibit
A-one diamond bracelet"