Evening star., 1935-12-26

to put me ashore? can catch & train
back to Boston"
I'm sorry" Dane said furiousiy, in
tone which made it clear that he
was not sorry at all. Forget it Come
on in and I'll play yoC game of back
CANNON or tiddle- -winks or something
equally exciting!"
You go in," she countered. "I'll
stay out here a little while, till my
head clears, Dane"
When he was gone, Kay got up and
walked to the after rail and stood
there, holding to the rail with both
hands, staring out with uncertain eyes
across the crowded harbor. Upon the
black, oily water streaks and spots OF
light, reflected, tossed and stirred rest
Iessly; single spots became zig-zag
lines, extending and contracting as
they were mirrored on the disturbed
wake of some passing craft. The out
board motor on a tender buZzed re-
motely: the roar of big Speedboat
hummed in crescendo, blared, and died
as the boat raced away up the river.
There were other craft all about, mo-
tor cruisers, sloops, SchoonerS, no two
of them alike except that each was
alive with the sound and stir of mer-
riment. On the lighted afterdecks
of the larger yacht, figures might be
seen moving in the dance, or leaning
on the rail, or sitting at their ease. Far
away was the dark blur Of the city,
broken by yellow pin pricks of light;
and above its jagged silhouette the
deep dark of the star-sprinkled sky.
Then Kay felt some one here beside
her; felt an arm around her waist.
Sally Hays. Sally said gently:
Don't feel badly, Kay. Dane will
be all right in the morning. Too many
drinks make him first amorous and
then angry. That's all"
II was a fool to come" Kay whis-
pered; and she confessed: Sally, I
was desperate. I lost my job, and it
seemed to me as though the-world
were coming to an end. don't know
what I'm going to do"
GO to bed" Sally suggested. THE
sun will shine tomorrow, Kay. Things
are never as bad as they seem. Dane
| is Just that way, that's all"
Kay shook her head; she laughed a
little miserably. Il feel like some one
drowning or on the edge Of precipice,
or something, Sally, Id snatch at any,
thing I suppose that's why snatchod
at this trip with Dane -. might
have known"
But then Freddie Bow came to sum-
mon Sally. and Sally squeezed Kay's
hand and went into the saloon. Kay
stayed where she was. She gripped
the rail till her fingers ached; she
stared straight ahead into the dark
ness where lights swan and blurred
before her eyes.
After a while she heard the sound
of oars and thought this might be the
tender returning from some errand.
If it were, the sailors might be per-
suaded to set her ashore; and she
looked into the darkness, seeking to
discover the approaching boat, and
saw it presently as spidery blot on
the water. 1t came near and Kay
perceived that there were two men in
it and 6 girl, one man rowing. the
other man and the girl close together
in the seat asterr.
Under the GrifSn's stern, the boat
paused, and the oarsman stood up un-
steadily and lighted a match to peer
at the name painted there. Kay, on
the deck just above him, could see his
face in the light Of the match. A
clean, firm jaw, a wide, mirthful
mouth. a good brow. The young mans
head was bare. He was dressed in
evening clothes.
THE good ship Griffin" said the
man; and as the match went out he
spoke to his companion in the stern.
This is Harry's floating palace. Bud"
he told his companion. Were lost
on the bounding main!"
The man in the stern sang tune
lessly:
a.. rollicking ship for an ocean trip
rs the Walloping Window Blind"
Kay thought she recognized this
voice; she hailed them softly. Alloy,
the boat?"
There was a startled silence below;
and then the oarsman told her: Make
it Alloy, the dinghy and I'll take some
notice Of you, my lass. Dinghy as in
'Thingy,' too, if you expect to be taken
for an honest seafarer!"
expect to be taken for a nice row
around the harbor," Kay told him.
Are you alone, woman?" the oars
man demanded gravely.
The man in the stern exclaimed, Il
say, Bob, that's Kay Brannan."
Kay was sure Of the voice now. Bud
Dean. Hello, Bud!" she said
The oarsman, the man called Bob,
brought the dinghy swirling around to
the boarding ladder. If Bud voucheS
fer you, you must be all right" he
said. In vino veritaS. Bud is quite
definitely in vino, you understand.
But who am 1 to cavil?" Kay had
slipped down the ladder and into the
bow of the small craft. She thrust
them clear.
"Seamanly done" said the oarsman
approvingly. Kay sat down on the
forward thwart. Excuse my back"
said Bob, and tugged at the oars.
Where to, lady?"
Kay did not know; yet she would
not say so. She looked at the Griffin,
falling quickly behind them, and shud-
dered family.
Kay has managed to escape from
the yacht and Dane. But where is she
to go now? VIII the person called Bob
help her out of her predicament? Be
sure to read tomorrOw's revealing in
stallment.
(To be continued.)