Evening star., 1937-07-04

She stopped, he also. She went on,
and he accompanied her. Then she
faced him, her eyes blazing, but before
she could speak, a toss of the bow
almost hurled her off her feet. He
caught her arm and together they
went hurtling down the slanted deck,
made the turn by superhuman effort
and proceeded aft. Amidshlps, where
the footing was more secure, she strove
to tear her arm away, but he only
frightened his grip. With the other
hand he drew a large nail from his
pocket and tossed it up and down.
Zone minute, Miss Lloyd, and then
you can 60 Please. You see, I've made
a bet with myself - arather large bet.
Settle it, and III turn you loose
What is it," she asked in a low,
controlled voice, her eyes fascinated
by the bouncing nail.
He caught it by the point and held
it level with her trembling lips. Il bet
myself you could bite through this
without half trying"
She gasped, staring up into his SOL
emn face, then laughed Historically.
-"Oh. please - please leave me alone"
Why" he asked, giving her gen.
uine shake. Don't you know you've
got to see me around for weeks"
No. mean don't know anything
about that. All l know is that I've
plenty OF trouble already"
Nov, listen," said Red earnestly.
LET me tell you something about
trouble. If you'll only sit back and
take things easy it's surprising how
often it will pass you by" He glanced
up and down hurriedly. In your
mind, mean, because this deck is too
sloppy for the chairs to be out"
albright" she said, her voice grown
steady, "I'll try sitting back in my
mind" She Strengthened and drew
away from him. Give me the nail,
please" He handed it to her and she
tipped it into the sea. Over her shoul-
der she cast her parting words: Pay
yourself the bet"
He pondered the enigmatic phrase
without success, but from that day on,
whenever she ventured on deck, he
stepped out to walk beside her On the
first occasion he felt her body shrink
and instinctively took the one path to
favor: he kept his mouth shut. giving
her a chance to do the same. But
silence cannot last forever There came
an evening of relative calm. with the
sun dropping by inches toward the
surface of the sea.
Watch" he said, seizing her arm
and pulling her around to face the rail-
'".Clue your eyes to the top rim of the
sun, and when it goes under you'll see
a fash of green. There! Did you
get it,"
'Yes," she murmured. How very
strange. I've watched dozen sunsets
at sea and never noticed that before"
He stood close to her, strangely
stirred by the sound of her voice. He
wondered if it had anything to do with
her individually or if it we're merely
that she had made him wait so long to
hear it. Presently she would move
away from him. His ann, inside hers,
frightened as if to hold her.
II hate winter" he stated. Your
overcoat and mine, your gloves and
mine - walls mile thick. If our arms
could touch, or even the tips of our
fingers, perhaps blood would stir in
your veins and I'd know you were
alive"
Without haste she offered her hand,
having drawn off her glove. He snatch
ed of his and for a moment held her
COO! fingers. They we're as steady as
her eyes as she said good night and
left him. He walked alone in the
gathering dusk but had scarcely done
two rounds of the deck when he caught
glimpse of her hurrying figure. Had
she relented or was she intent on