The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-14
FCRUTGe TONOWHCRG @e..e:.5:::.::.

ing to get some rest. Jane lay back in her chair and watched the ocean swells and the sky. She didn't talk She was content to lie there most of the morning, with her dreams of the sun and the moon and the earth and the stars, with Q mono syllable response to Dirk's voice. They were both reused from Q lull of contentment by the sight of snowshoe's baldish head, coming along the deck.
 "I've been looking for you" Jane said happily. T need Q policemanl Last night 1 had a mysterious knock on my door, and when I looked out saw man vanishing around the corner. was petrifledp
 Bnowshoes looked about him fur- lively, and noticed the old dowager asleep in her chair. There are queer things going on in this ship" he said darkly.
 The dowager's eyes blinked open, and she sat up, speaking out in @ dry monotone. T came on this cruise to get rest, and haven't closed my eyes since came aboard. Last night when I was down at dinner my jewel box was ran- sacked. But I fooled them" Then she cackled. wore everything I had to dinner. The blithering idiots ito think I'd leave by jewels in a stateroom." She sank back in her chair, and closed her eyes again. Besides, they're pastel Not worth 40 cents, the lot of them"
 Dirk looked at Jane curiously. Why didn't you call me? But I can tell you what happened. Some- body followed the dinner tray to your room"
 Exactly, snowshoes added, in 8 whisper. "If you ask me, they'll turn the ship upside down to get at the Kokinor diamond. You won't be bothered any more. They prob ably know where Nora Lanes suite is, now. But she never comes out, has all her meals there."
 To Jane 1t was an idylllc day. The hours rolled on into the early even- ing. Most of the afternoon she had spent with Dirk, thinking about no- thing except the content she felt when she was with him, hearing his voice. Other young couples passed them, as the night came on, and they amused themselves speculating on the honeyn1ooners.
 We're all alike" Jane said. "Ciive us a little music, and 0 place to dance. That's all we ask. Tell me-" she added. "why did you come on cruise like this? You might have gone to Europe"
 T don't know" he said con- fusedly. T honestly don't know why" Then, testing her disap- pointment: T hurt my leg in a skiing spill at Lake Placid. have to bake the leg in the sun. That's what I was doing all forenoon when you were having your beauty nap"
 I've never been on a steamship before," Jane said. T wanted the glamour of tropical islands at the i end, suppose. Most of us born | inland have our paradises set on islands in the southern seas."
 It was growing dark, and the deck was almost deserted. Dirk leaned very close to her. He looked at her, Jane thought, as a young man ought to look at girl when he wants to pry out the inner se- crets of her soul in Q single seance. It was Q very respectful look. T like you," he said, simply, ob- viously.
 DO you know" Jane said. q like you"
 They stood in a broad band of blackness and all about them was nothing but the sound of swelling sea and the stiffness which lay out there.
 I'm a litle worried about you on this cruise" he said suddenly. That man coming to your room last night. Other things, those mobsters on board. I think you are in danger"
 She looked up at him and smiled. "Why do you tell mel"
 He brushed hand through his blond hair - with gesture of per- plexity, Jane thought. TT sup- pose I love you," he said.
 He leaned over and kissed her, and Jane laughed softly in the darkness.
 INN~