Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-05-08
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81
CHAPTER AZ

MR.. JOPLIN produced dis
heveled packet of cigarets for JAG
oueline, stared at it, and tossed il
onto the table. The table was
without a cloth, and the packet
slithering across it's polished sur.
face, shot over the edge and fell tc
the floor. Jacqueline was on the
point of STOPPING to retrieve il
when she checked herself. The
table was between Mr.. Joplin and
the packet, and to reach it he
would be obliged to move a couple
of yards farther from the door
She would choose the moment
when he was STOPPING.
That's a nice way to offer a
cigaret to lady. I must say" said
Mrs. Joplin. "You ought to know
better, ALI. Pick 'em up an offer
'em to 'er proper"
Her husband turned and stared
at her; for a moment Jacqueline
was afraid that he intended to re-
fuse. She stood watching them as
they faced each other, AlfredS face
logged and sullen, and Mrs. Jop-
Inns extensive mouth set in line
of grim determination But if AL
fred possessed the bu1ging mus
cles. Mrs. Joplin, evidently, pos
Sessed the dominant will.
Are you going to pick 'em up,
Alf?" she demanded, with hint
of menace in her tone. I'm telling
you to pick 'en up, and one tell
ing's enough, amt it?
Mr.. Joplin's gaze wavered and
fell.
"Ah!" he said, and slouched for
ward toward the table.
Jacqueline waited, holding her
breath, until he had rounded the
table and was actually bending
down and reaching for the packet.
Then she suddenly turned, darted
through the door and slammed it
behind. She wasted few precious
seconds fumbling for the key,
meaning 10 turn it in the lock.
But there was no key, and as she
turned away she heard Mrs. Jop-
Inns "Alf-quick-she's 'opped it,
and the sound of footsteps hurry
ing toward the door.
She ran toward the spot where
she believed the stairs to be, found
them, sped up them, tripped, and
fell sprawling. She scrambled to
her feet, heard Joplin's heavy foot
steps behind her, and sped on.
She reached the top of the steps,
felt breeze against her cheek,
and hesitated, glancing swiftly
around. She realized that, as Mrs.
Joplin had told her, she was on
barge in nidstream. She saw the
river, black and oily-looking, with
little splashes of light dancing on
it's surface, flowing past her on
each side; red lights, green lights,
yellow lights, the dim outlines Of
vessels, the shadowy roofs of build
ings on the shore vaguely sill
houetted against the sky. The
buildings looked very long way
off, and the river seemed to be
moving very swiftly.
She ran to the side, gave a hasty
glance at the water below her,
and poised herself for the jump.
Then, just as her muscles tensed,
a massive arm was flung round her
waist and she was lifted off her
feet. She struggled furiously, but |
the arm only frightened it's hold so
that she could scarcely breathe,
and though she lashed out savage
ly with hands and feet, neither
hand nor foot encountered any,
thing solid, and she realized that
she was being carried-by Mr.. Jop-
lin, presumably-tucked under his
arm like a parcel, with her back
pressed against his ribs.
He carried her down the steps
and through the door and deposited
her on the topmost bunk. Instant
ly she sat upright to find Mr.. Jop-
lin, with his arms folded across his
chest and his jaw even
more prominent than nature had