Evening star., 1936-08-25
INSTALLNdENT XVII.

TN THE brief confusion that marked
the procession down the dim main
aisle of the Criterion. Deeds rigid
L elbow succeeded in prying John
Elledge from close proximity to Joan.
Mr. McCune, almost at the same mo-
ment, discovered two vacant seats on
the aisle and guided Miss Kendall to
them with . firm clasp on her arm.
Hope you don't mind" he re-
marked, seating himself at her side.
This is once, at least"
Thank you," was her low but fer
vent rejoinder.
Two hours besides Joan in the dark
ened auditorium proved . mental re-
prieve for Deeds. It comforted him
strangely to have her SO close to him.
He would have liked to take advantage
Of the friendly gloom and find her
hand. But he restrained that I'M
pulse not quite sure she would
approve or understand. Joan was dif-
ferent In SO many ways from any girl
he ever had known.
For the time being, she seemed to
belong to him. The others OF the group
were lost, swallowed up. Until the
tense drama on the screen began to
make itself felt. The cold ruthless
ness of Capt. Bligh. his appalling
cruelty those chilling eyes. Deeds
found himself wondering apprehen-
sively. Was this another coincidence?
Or had Sloan Elledge selected "Mu-
tiny on the Bounty" as quiet warn
ing?
Any suspicion regarding that mans
powers took on a strange plausibllity.
It was easy enough to scott at the idea
of q malign influence "a spell OF
some sort but it was there just
the same. And it persisted until
Deeds found himself out in the SUM-
shine once more, with Joan asking
animatedly If he didn't think it was q
marvellous picture.
Great" he told her.
Emboldened by his success as q
temporary escort, he maneuvered him.
self into a seat beside Joan when the
party divided itself among several
tables in the Casino. Sloan was with
another group, sitting with his back
to Deeds, which proved help. John
was at the same table with his rival,
but he didn't count. Deeds was pre-
pared to handle DR.: John II he ever
made himself obnoxious, and he
wasn't likely to.
Under cover of the general CONVEX
sation and subdued sound Of dishes
and silverwear, Deeds ventured mes
sage to Joan.
"Feel like taking another chance?"
She nodded.
Listen, then. When they start
milling around after dinner, slip away
Start up the boardwalk. Keep going
until find you. won't let anybody
stop me unless see you're with
some one. Okay?"
Again she nodded to show that she
understood.
Deeds plan worked even better than
he anticipated. The party scattered
about the Casino after leaving their
places at the table. some chatting and
some disappearing from sight. As
soon as Deeds noticed that Joan was
gone, he made what he trusted was an
unobstrusive exit.
Once clear of the building, he
mingled with the promenaders outside
and hurried to overtake Joan. He
was wondering If he had missed her
In some way when he discovered her
walking rapidly a short distance ahead.
She was alone.
"All right, conspirator, he chuckled,
taking her by the arm. That was
good. Where shall We go7"
Down the first steps to the beach"
she answered promptly. I'VE can sit
in the sand close to the walk.
We'd better talk fast" she smiled
when they had found an Isolated spot
a few moments later. I'VE may have
some explaining to do"
I'VE should worry" Deeds told her
grandly. Then lapsed into q worried
silence. How the devil was he going
to frame his proposition?
"You wanted to talk about me?"
Joan helped.
Eyes and I hope you'll under
stand"
II think I will"
"Well, it's like this :. that frst
day we talked. You told me you'd lost
YOUR Job. You came back here {.
because you had nothing else to DO,
sort o."
THAT was it. Ny cash reserve was
getting pretty low. It wasn't easy, but
wrote mother and asked her If 1t
would be all right II I came home Tor
q time provided she would let me
work for my board. II I had known