The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-18


 The elevator strike was e floor.
 ing experience for lots of people. on this cruise" Her face was tired again. She looked about her fur lively, as though afraid of sor1e-- thing.
 But I'll go with you," she fin- ished, and Dirk knew what her fears were. He was sorry for her.
 Jane stood with Tino Rossi at the ships stern and watched the sun set on glorious tropic seas. The blood-red fire in the west sent its parting rays into waves that were almost green. The phosphorescent coloring of the water was fantastic, unreal. There were marine plants and coral sprays, indicating the presence of islands and reefs near by.
 Late tonight" Jane said, we'll be in the Bahamas. asked the petty officer, that lovely brute in the white and gold braid"
 Darling" Tino said. When you speak of other men I am mad with jealousy"
 "Idiot!" Jane said agreeably. You've known me less than "A hours. But you do say the loveliest things" ..
 Tino bowed from the waist. Knowing you A hours makes more than a day. That is . nnil- lion years" My best curtsy, MT. Rossi!"
 1nwardly Jane was pleased. It had been really hattering to have the famous singer murmur pleasant things to her all afternoon. She had lunched with him, promenaded the deck and watched the deck games until it was time to 90 on to the tea dance. She asked about his career and he asked her noth- ing about herself.
 You are so divinely you" he had said. That's all a man should ask of you"
 That speech had made Jane think of Dirk Strom. Dirk must not have seen her for what she was. He had been harboring an illusion about her, an illusion which he cherished more than he had her.
 But Jane was pleased by the looks that followed her and Tino about the deck. She had hoped fervently to meet Dirk-with the glamorous Tino, attentive, ct her side. She'd show Dirk.
 She had been surprised and little disconcerted to see him with the actress, Nora Lane, but she didn't care now. She felt she had everything she had hoped for and dreamed for on this cruise.
 Jane turned to see a man with camera facing them. It was Man nie Jackson, the sleek, pasty-faced individual who had followed her and Dirk the first day on ship board. She still distrusted him but when he asked to take photo- graph of her with the baritone she gave her assent.
 60 ahead, shoot!" she said gaily. Tino strengthened his tie and put his arm around her in the conventional pose for shipboard TO- nance.
 will that make better pie ture?" he asked.
 That's the stuff. A snappy pose" Mamie returned.
 Jane was laughing when she saw Dirk and Nora Lane walking to- ward the spot where she stood. The actress was looking out to sea and did not notice sthem at the amusing game of striking poses for an amateur cameraman.
 Tino said, low, There's Nora Lane. Don't you know the young man with her? would like very much to know Miss Lane. Profess sional reasons, of course"
 Jane did not look up. She knew Dirk's eyes were on her.
 "Why shouldn't we all be freinds?" Tino urged.
 Nora Lane turned from the sea and saw Mamie Jackson approach ing her with his camera. She breathed a sound of dismay, and flung up one hand as he snapped the camera.
 Dirk's eyes had swept the bridge above and caught the stolid fea- lures of Dutch Lenz. Dutch's lips moved and Mamie Jackson seemed to receive the message below. It was as if Dutch had said, "Okay, Mannie!"
 Dirk responded to trained re- hexes, as a man will slap off an annoying insect His left hand flew out and caught Mamie Jackson's collar. With his right he delivered a solid blow that shot the man in to crumpled heap.
 Dirk picked up the camera, cracked it like a stick over his knee, and threw it overheard. Then he turned to Nora Lane, hurrying her away down the deck.
 She was incoherently, That man-I'm sure it's he. Notorious he's been indicted for extortion threats-blackmail. Please forgive me-I'm a fool-to go to pieces like that"
 At the door of her suite Dirk looked at her and saw a woman harrassed, haunted by the un- toward events that had enmeshed her life. She was the wife of a man who had made her private life unbearable. a public figure who did not seek her endless notoriety. Dirk had retained. neatly and pre-