Evening star., 1935-12-27
CHAPTER XIII.

II ing beauty on my shoulder
Is Cissie Means. Bob and escaped
from a bachelor dinner and found
Cissie somewhere. She keeps falling
into the harbor so have to hold
her"
Bob said sternly: "You didn't say
where to, Kay? Can't you say where
TO, Iadyp You can't expect me to read
your mind?"
Bud chanted lugubriously: "You
can't expect COW to read railroad
sign"
Kay sat very still. Bob Dakin?
That legendary figure was reality,
after all! His shoulders bowed over
the oars for moment and then he
let the oars trail and fumbled between
his feet.
tBut I'm neglecting duties of a
host" he said cheerfully. He turned
half around to Kay with something
in his hands. Were provisioned for
O long cruise, Kay" he said amiably.
'You needn't hold back. This will
loosen your tongue"
He pressed a paper cup into her
fingers. Something spilled on her
hand. She tried to demur, but he
said sternly.
mot a word out of you, huSsy?
Disobedience and I'll maroon you on
the nearest mud fiat with the crabs.
Toss it off, Kay! Sol"
The hour had about it an unreality.
In this small boat among the larger
craft at anchor all around they were
remote from the world. CiSsie, in the
stern, had not stirred at all; only
once or twice she murmured sleepily
against Bob's shoulder.
'I know you, Kay" said Bob. "You
live with Genevieve. That big mutt
calls you jeff. You don't look like
jeff to me. I can't see any mustache,
and you're certainly not bald, but
you're no bigger than pint of cider"
He chuckled. And that reminds
me-" he exclaimed. Have pint of
cider!" He filled her cup again.
sWill you take me ashore?" Kay
asked. There wasn't any one free
on the Griffin"
Drink that and I'll take you any,
where you want to CO." he promised.
though to have to walk home from
b yachting party. Need water wings
on both feet. But have no fear now,
JEFF! You're in good hands. Behold
In me a man of honor, upright and
tnflexible. Trust your Uncle Bob!"
IT want to go back OF Boston," said
Kay in an uncertain voice. She was
unsure, forlorn"
RoI1 rotorfa1 tSUo'rn IN
our way!" \
And he swung the boat and began
to row more vigorously. Bud, in the
stern, made no protest. Kay thought
he might be asleep.
Once Cissie reused and wished to
go swimming. But Bud dissuaded
her. They passed along the flank of
O. big schooner, and in the dim
radiance of the riding lights Kay saw
that Cissie's hair was wet and stream
ing, her gown soaked. She shut her
eyes, shut out the sight. Then they
rubbed along a landing stage and
Bob checked the dinghy, held it steady
with one hand, himself stepped ashore.
He extended his hand to Kay, and
she stumbled up beside him. Bob
thrust at the dinghy's gunwhale with
his foot and it careened uncertainty
away from the landing stage. Kay
protested.
"oh. you've let the boat go without
vou!"
why, JEFF, this isn't Boston," Bob
reminded her. "You want to go to
Boston? Very we'll, my child. Bos-
ton it shall be. never do things
by halves. Start nothing I can't
finish. Damsel in distress saved by
b man of honor. know what's ex-
pected of me-"
"But your friends" Kay urged.
PAnd the race tomorrow"
Never explain" said Bob, in an
oracular tone. Your enemies won't
believe it. and your friends don't need
1t. I'll deposit you at your own door,
JEFF, and be back here in time for
the starting gun" And he hooked
his hand through her arm. This
HNay," he urged.
Kay would remember climbing
swaying steps, walking gingerly along
the stringpiece of the wharf. Later
they came somehow to where a car
was parked, roadster with the top
down. The rain had wet the seat,
but Bob forgot this and so did Kay
until it was too late for a remedy.
She protested once!
Are you all right to drive? You
shouldn't leave your friends so.
can get train
Man of honor" he insisted. The
starter buried, the gears meshed with
o clash, the clutch engaged with a
wrench and they were away Kay,
alert for danger, watched for while
En she made sure that he was not
too drunk to keep the road. Then
tnsensibly she began to relax and her
eyes closed.
Sleepy" he asked.
Terribly tired" she confessed.
He chuckled gently. Close those
weary eyes," he told her. "Put your
head here on my shoulder So"
Some time later she walked with
D sense of catastrophe; found herself
thrown forward and almost on her
knees. She scrambled back into the
seat in dismay and stared ahead. In
the glare Of the lights she saw
rocky road with grass between the
wheel tracks, and deep ruts, and she
asked quickly:
What is it? Where are we?"
Lost" he said gayly. Lost in the
storm! Lost in the impenetrable
forest! But have no fearl Like the