The Bismarck tribune., 1935-02-21

He WoS tfritated. too, because
Vanya seemed every bit - attrac.
tive as be had recalled her. He had
. vivid recollection Of her face 70.
vealed in that first glow Of freight
-rapt attentive. and disturbinRly
pretty. Well, freight always fiat.
tered . woman's appearance; there
was some cosmetic quality in it
ruddy glow.
"I'll take . better look By day.
light" he promised himself. "This
is swell way to start that clever
cure I've been Dragging about
seem to b IN deeper than ever. !"
OF course. he consoled himself, he
still hadn't seen her teeth. Perhaps,
BY Heavens grace. they might be
homely enough to Offset the lure Of
her pale, lovely features and blue
black hair. And her legs were still
mystery, as we'll: though the boots
and breeches attested to the fact
that at least she wasn't bow-legged.
The little party moved on In
silence, save for tho dim rdstlings
and chirrupings that were the night
sounds Of the jungle. the soft thud
Of their own feet, and the almost
inaudible thrumming Of the reced.
ing skin-drums. Loring hsd ceased
his whistling, and Mark and vanya
each walked In . frigid silence.
Mark. Of course, was thinking Of
Vanya; what vanya's reflections
were she alone knew.
Only one untoward incident dis.
turbed the silent progress Of the
file. They were at the foot Of the
last hill; fifteen minutes more
would bring them 70 the clearing
about the cove.
II wish We had Q lantern,s said
Loring, breaking an hours silence.
"It's deuced ticklish walking this
trail barefoot at night: I've no
hankering to step on snake"
He had scarcely spoken when q
faint hiss and . rustic brought him
to . sudden halt. He struck . match,
and outlined against the dark path
the trio saw the sinuous form Of Q
tiny but deadly island cobra. The
little serpent was no longer than
Marks forearm, and no greater In
girth than his thumb. yet they knew
it was venomous enough 70 destroy
the three Of them with three sue
cessivs strikes Of its diminutive
head.
Loring let out an oath and sprang
back. His bare feet were no moro
than . foot away from the deadly
weaving head. vanya gave . little
cry. and stepped involuntarily back.
ward, pressing for . startled mo-
ment against Marks body. The
match sputtered out
Darkness! Marx experienced .
strange, almost overpowering surge
Of emotion: bis heart seemed % him
to Be pounding - audibly - the
distant sdn4druns. and he was
fighting IN Ill but irresistible inn
pulse to alp his arm around tho
girl.
He fought Q short, fierce, bitter
battle with himself. Hs closed his
eyes and struggled to hold himself
rigid, immovable. And he wcn.
Loring struck another match. AND
vanya moved silently away.
The cobra was slipping quietly
into the brush. but Mark scarcely
noticed Il. He WAS half-exhausted,
almost painting, o Il from actual
physical exeTtion. Had vanys
really leaned against him IN the
darkness for . bare instant longer
than necessary 70 regain her bal.
ance? Had shef He didn't know.
Il was probably that haunting inn
sgination Of his again-liks bic
impression Of her s,nils when the
boat sailed out Of Honolulu Bay.
"Whewls said Lorine, and cody
resumed his walking.
II wonder II she ever really
smiles," thought Mark.
They emsrged into the Cove clear
ing. 4 hundred test away the yel-
low light Of the door Of the Divers
Helmet shone: inside Mark could
distinguish Hong and another man.
10 whita man. talking at the bar.