The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-25
CHAPTER XIII


 Neither the Porters nor Dick were at the doctors table for dinner that evening. Mrs. Porter had speedily arranged very special dinner in one of the ships private dining rooms. If there were any doubt about the engagement, if there were any dull apprehension in her mind that its consummation in a Havana cafe might not be adequately form al, she was promptly correcting the situation. Joyce could imagine the thrill of triumph which would glorify the occasion.
 She steeled herself to be ex- ceptionally gay. She talked on, frivolously and lightly, about the price of perfumes in the Arcade, about the young man who had been ice-skating in Central Park only yesterday, about the flavor of the soup and the fragrance of the coffee. If anybody thought she cared about their engagement - well!
 They talked at length of Haiti, and Joyce expressed her eager ness to visit this island so Weirdly presented through the pages of mystery books and movie thrillers.
 "Tell you what" Dr. Gray sug- gested as they ordered dessert. I'll have the steward serve our coffee down in my cabin, and I'll ask the chief officer to join us. He can tell you some hair-raising stories"
 So the three of them left the dining room together, and a few minutes later MT. Jones, the chief officer, joined them in the doctors cabin. The odor Of diSinfectantS drifted in from the adjoining office, but despite the atmosphere the doctor was a genial host, and he outdid himself this evening to be entertaining. After coffee was served, he ha dhis cabin boy bring LID two bottles of old vintage sparkling Burgundy, and under it's happy influence it was easy to laugh.
 MT. Jones told them many tall, tremendous stories of voodoo wor- ship and magic, all of which he attested to be actual, personal ex- periences, and none of which his listeners believed. They were amusing tales, nevertheless, and Joyce enjoyed every breathless moment of suspense, for the chief officer was natural story teller.
 What about voodoo?" Joyce in- ouired Will we really hear drums and things like that?"
 "Youll hear the drums all right" Dr. Gray promised. "They're the communication sys- tenn of Haiti. My friends in Port au-Prince tell me that the natives can deliver a message by means of their drums more quickly than you could think of telephoning."
 MT. Gregory smiled. You make the island most fascinating, Doc tor" ,
 "It is fascinating. I find new beauty, new drama, in 1t each time I return" :,
 cts pity" Joyce remarked dolefully, that we only have one day there."
 You can see lot in one day, if you know where to go," the doctor assured her. Then, as sudden thought struck him, he turned to the chief officer. T say, Jones, suppose we all go ashore together; you and can show these folks around"
 The chief officer shook his head. Sorry. I'm on duty. We're load ing cargo" , Gray insisted. How about IL, Gregory"
 I'd be grateful if you'd like to show us about" MT. Gregory re- piled politely.
 And so would II" Joyce de- clared heartily.
 It was long after midnight when she finally went down to her own cabin. For the time being she had quite forgotten Dick Hamilton; she was glad with a sweet exhilaration as the Bur gundy warmed her blood and filled her mind with joyful an- ticipation. There were still too many new adventures in the world to waste precious time on vague regrets. And sae was tired
 too tired to care. From now until the Empress sailed into the harbor of Port-au-Prince, she would catch up on some badly need ed rest.
 She was having leisurely breakfast in her room when she heard the first voices of the mystic isle. outside her port-hole. She knelt upon the bed and looked out. There, beneath her very win dow. a dozen black boys were diving from their fragile crafts for coins thrown from the decks above. She watched them in- tently. marveling as their swift young bodies shot through the water after the illusive coins.
 There was a knock on her door, and she turned to see MT. Gregory on the threshold.
 T have a disappointment for you." he announced in gloomy reply to her greeting.
 "What is it?'
 "Dr. Gray cannot go ashore with us. He has an emergency opera tion: one of the crew has come down with appendicitis.
 Joyce's face fell.
 However, if you would care to come ashore with me- he went on. "the doctor has given me an outline of what to do and where to go."