The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-01-08

Raimundo's lip curled. 80 this makes
her the easy prey-the gift from heaven
the celestially chosen"
you don't get it. Sure you can make
them as difficult as thev come. No.
This Conquest wonlan's known at New
York. Regular passenger. Like Caesars
dame. Beyond reproach. A consul's
wife"
Raimundo got it. He was nervous
now about being in Kelly's cabin and
record south of the line, but he hadn't.
They'd been clever-but one never
knew. The hair crept on his head. I'll
be going, Wash. You're right. I won't
come again. I'll be seeing you-aftAr
He emerged from the rank inside
cabin without being seen, made his way
to the first class promenade deck and
Strolled round in search of Sylvia Con-
quest. He saw her lying alone in a deck
chair, pale and exhausted looking, gaz-
ing wistfully at the faint blur of land.
The deck steward smiled knowingly
on receipt of a generous tip and slipped
a card with Raimundo's name on it in
the brass clip on the chair next to that
of Mrs. Conquest. Shortly afterwards
Raimundo settled down in it, bowling
first to his neighbor with consummate
Latin grace. MY name is Luis Raj
mundo," he said smilingly, quite a
coincidence, is it not?"
Mines Sylvia Conquest" Her eyes
were interested and her smile friendly.
rs 1t a coincidence, senior? Why"
You don't remember seeing me be-
fore?"
She lied with secret enjoyment. mo,
I don't. Should I remember?" At first
a little nonplused, he became agreeably
surprised by her. She was more enter
conversation r~efreshingly odd, her reac-
ton to his advances entirely unfore-
seen. But in less than "a hours he knew
she was the ideal woman for the job.
Raimundo had taken his place by
her at 5 in the afternoon, but instead
of accepting his invitation to drink a
cocktail, she excused herself at 6, and
did not appear again hat night. He
found her next day on the upper deck.
h turned when she heard his light
footstep. She was rougiShly friendly as
If she were hooking him-a curious
state of affairs. Women of her type
were usually amazed and tremendously
flattered by the attention of Luis Raj
mundo.
However his practiced eye noticed a
radical change in her, and discovered
the reason for her absence from the
dining saloon. Her pale hair had been
Frightened and permanently waved, her
tired skin cleaned and m~assaged. Now
her hair lay straight about her FORE
dipped into a chic modish line at the
back. He saw how well fashioned her
face really was, the fine smooth tex
ture Of her pearl clear skin. Knowing
everything of women, he ascribed this
activity to his powers of seduction, CIV
irN NJ hN,r~n, H. 49, AI-A
beset wives sequestered in one-horse
South American towns.
He was satisfied that her equalization
was only a matter of time. To do what
he wanted her to do-take the red-hot
diamond through the Customs, she
must be aware that she was doing a
dangerous thing. Rendering a service
Otherwise he could not insist that the
priceless stone be safely secreted on
her body. There was no other course.
She must be asked to run a risk for
love of him. And he knew that his life
might hang on the sincerity of her
love. He never worked more a~Ssiduously
IN his life to 'enchant a woman and
kindle her passion.
By the time they reached Panama,
Sylvia appeared to be a little thrilled
by his u%nspoken, but visible passion.
Raimundo danced with no one but
Sylvia, combining his wooing Of her
heart with a well calculated assault on
her senses.
Sylvia enjoyed the dancing. Dormant
hungers woke and teased her. Thoughts
spun in the starlit maze of her mind
I'm still young-stin desirable-still a
thrill for a MAI to love. The smolder-
ing pink palace and the sweltering
streets of Rosablanca seemed far, far
away.
But not Charles. There was a leath-
er-framed portrait of him on her
dressing table. She kissed it at night
With tears in her eyes, went to sleep
thinking Of him-and of hardy green
fields-white farms-the rugged shores
of home.
The Oratah paused an afternoon and
a night in Panama City. Raimundo took
Sylvia to the Union club for supper
and dancing. Raimundo asked her as
they danced, if she had ever seen the
ruins by moonlight. mo, Luis, I never
have"
Like top he asked her.
Sylvia was still trying to decide
whether Raimundo had really fallen
for her as a Woman or whether his
attentions were part of the phoney
affairs that Charles suspected. She
said she would like to go and see thu
remains of old Panama. He got her
white velvet wrap for her. took hel
outside and sent a small black boy for
a carriage. He gave instructions to the
driver and the musty vehicle. open to
the sky. plodded slowly through the
ml!k-White tropic night. Raimundo took
SylVla's hand and she allowed him to
caress her slender fingers.
They passed the ruins stark in the
platinum light and the coachmen went
optlmlstlcally on. Not for him to worry
II a forgotten ship were about to sail.
Ralmundo looked at Sylvia and saw
at last the elfish beauty of her face. It
had the wild ethereal charm of q fig
urehead once seen on a sailing ship.
He felt the surge of his brief unstable
desire. You're so quiet" he said ten