The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-22
SYNOPSIS

In search OF adventure, Marx
Talbot sails from San Francisco
aboard the SIS. "Orient" bound for
Honolulu. He meets vanya Pro-
kovna, beautiful dancer, who 10 be.
ing deported. She ignores him.
Mark follows vanya to Tongatabu
in the South Seas trying to con.
vince himself that seeing her In her
dance hall environment will cure
his infatuation. Percy 1orin9, 81
beachcomber, informs Marx that
vanya dances at Pearly Shene's
Divers Helmet when the ships are
In but, At the present time, she 10
inland with the natives. Talbot
takes Mark to Z native festival.
They hide in the bushes and watch
the ceremonies. Mark utters an ex.
clamation upon seeing Vanya, re-
vealing his and Loring's presence
to the natives. They are captured
but vanya intercedes for them and
accompanies the pair back through
the woods still retaining her frigid
attitude. Marx 10 angry with him.
self for his interest In her and for
the embarrassment Of accepting
her aid In his trouble. A cobra in
their path causes Vanya to 90 close
to Marx for protection. He over.
comes the desire to take her in his
arms. Pearly Shene 10 at the hotel
when they arrive.
CHAPTER XIV
Now, on the following morning,
he had met tho redoubtable Pearly
Shene for the first time. A sandy
haired giant Of . man, with ! mas.
siveness nearly equal to the ele-
phantine Hong, but Of different ma
ture, hard, powerful, muscular. Al
great pearl in > ring on his left
hand and another, Is large - .
small walnut (but imperfect) in q
pin on his dirty shirt-front, had
given the man his nickname, Mark
Judged. He had accepted Marks
greeting with . casual gYunt, but
had looked him over suspiciously
with his cold. impersonal eyes.
So Mark wandered out into the
morning not 1t oil pleased with him
self. He looked over the usual scene
Of shore and ocean; Loring was
munching . bre2dfruit, lying on
his back with one knee over the
other, swinging . bare foot, beneath
the tree he called home. He looked
up at Marks approach.
~She's out on the point" he said
with . grin, indicating the coral
spit with . swing Of his brown foot.
Mark followed the gesture with
As. >v,>~ ~wA$k~ &c. $40 "a A.
far end Of the rect, staring out with
chin on cupped hands at the slow
heave Of the waves Of the blue Pa.
cifc. Even at that not inconsid-
cradle distance, Mark could see the
CLINT Of the sun on her trideseent
black hair.
"That's one place I'm not going"
he said In . firmly decisive voice,
intended to convince himself.
"I1l lay you odds you d."
laughed Loring.
"Confound your impertinence!"
bsrked Mark. "After Ill, owe her
an spclosy for the way ! acted last
"So you do" said LorinR agree.
ably. 1You're becoming expert in
exc :ss9,ss!ns yourself to y0ur'elf' aren't
sAt least I try to follow tho code
Of Q gentleman"
"What code does q gentleman
use" queried the beachcomber in q
voice expressive Of sardonic inter-
ct, when he doesn't consider the
lady q lady3"
"Ths code Of ordinary human de-
cencyi" Marx snapped. "She's .
human being"
And . real pretty one," added
Loring. which, Of course, has moth
ing % do with the code"
Marx turned sharply and walked
away. He had ct the moment no
stomach for Loring's acid com.
ments; the derelict's perception Of
his motives Vas too keen for his
peace Of mind.
Marx picked his way along the
irregular ridged top Of the coral
rect, disturbing in his progress var.
ions gulls and beach birds that were
resting there. His passage was &C.
eompanied By their raucous shriels
Of protest.
His confidence waned @ be A.
preached Vanya. He had the feel.
ing Of having come OF second best
In each Of their encounters to date,
and he was beginning this meeting
under . particularly heavy dis
advantage. He had TO begin with On
apology.