The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-28
CHAPTEH. *

He assembled the stairs to the up
pr hall. A dim light shone beneath
the door Of . room halfway down
the corridor that must Of necessity
Be Vanya's quarters, since the other
two girls were still downstairs.
Shene's room was on the ground
door. and Hong slept, If he slept
at oil, Heaven knew where. He
paused 1t the door; probably had
. moro lock than his own, he
thought.
~ "Trial by Fire!" he murmured,
, end raped sharply on the panel.
Y 3Yes7" called . voice-Vanya's
rvoicel
He deliberately turned the knob;
the door gave and he stepped in.
vanys looked up in startled sur
prise rs he closed the door behind
him. He glanced about the room,
very similar, save for the single
window, to his own-furnished with
. narrow bed, = single straight
chair, q bureau with Q mirror, and
ewooden wash-stand with . pitcher
and basin. Vanya sat on the bed,
with the long evening gown she had
worn the preceding night crumpled
In her lap: she was apparently
naonding It. The single chair was
bedseked with . scanty litter Of
,Sther clothes.
n; The girl, % she stared wide-eyed
] a. Marks unceremonious entrance,
It'll wore the tattery costume Of her
Let dance; in the rooms heat she
.ho6 discarded the lowered robe
aeross the foot Of the bed. She
,sprang to her feet and reached for
E - Il to drape it about her semi
!, Jovealed figure.
\ sYou aRainl" she exclaimed.
what do you want here?"
Mark made no answer; % she
tumbled with the scarlet-howered
pobe, he suddenly advanced . step,
swung his arm about her waist, apd
pressed his lips against her full.
popting ones!
~ vanya neither screamed nor
!. struggled, nor did she yield; her
BODY was pressed rigidly against
hi1 BY his arm, but her soft lips,
e1cept for their warmth, were -
! G1responsivs a. those Of . stone
I1x1tue. A moment only Mark held
~. then he released her. She
n 1u1eed her fingers across her lips
II backed slowly away from him.
1akine to the bed with her eyes
I 6Eo0 dazedly on his face.
HWell," said Mark, why don't
ron call for help7 Why don't you
Dc1eam?"
sScreaml" said the girl duly.
sWho'd come? Your friend Loring?
/. Or Hong3 Or Pearly Shene?
Aren't you q paying guest?"
SIG tried to shift the rags 70
eovor her bare white knees. Mark
. enodo no answer to her words, but
eoated himself on the bed beside
IN. Suddenly he again drew her
!, q him. bending her back across his
4 knaes: be leaned forward and once
i EIro pressed his lips 70 hers.
There was q violence in this sec-
~ kiss that he had hardly intend
Y 81 10 was suddenly involved In his
go plan in . manner somewhat
}aNneRpected. Vanya was rigid and
:sS5 INVADING in his arms, but some
II n Marx felt, Or thought he felt
q !, change in her. Then suddenly
- WAS struggling. twisting. with.
~ In IN attempt to escape from
. circle Of his arms. He With
drew his lips, and she lay motion.
q 20, her eyes closed, and her breath
1ounding In little gasps.
Why don't you ScreomI" MARI
Please" she said in low voice
epleaso-let me- 60"
~ way Of answer. Mark cupped
sAie great brown hand beneath hel
n 1k11. and holding her firmly agains!
NJ 5P otru9gles, kissed her again. And
~ So midst Of this procedure. she
81 1oeod to struggle; she was passive
an HE embrace, and . curious and
" pected thrill moved In Marks
e tsins.
~ she responded Had hs i'm
I'd scarcely perceptible duttel
H. 1Gs warm npsf He wondered