Evening star., 1938-02-04

CHAPTER V.
w YHEN Denise and Pearson re-
turned to their quarters
wv after spending a pleasant
" afternoon at Christopher's,
MacCauley was waiting for them in
an ugly mood.
Where have you been?" he asked
Pearson. knowing the answer ahead of
time. He had had Pearson and Denise
trailed by native runner and knew
exactly how they had spent each min
Ute. He was jealous and resentful and
wanted to mash Pearson to a pulp.
Denise looked at Pearson, expecting
(, him to reply, but the youngster merely
stared straight ahead as though he
hadn't heard. She wondered what he
was afraid of, because she understood
him well enough to see into his mind.
He didn't want to speak. so Denise did.
We saw the southern part of the
Island" she answered
MacCauley's eyes narrowed rs that
all?" he asked quietly
That's al" she replied. "What else
vas there to see?"
Where did you have lunch?"
Denise smiled, which was the wrong
thing to do, and confirmed MacCauley
IN his opinion that she was straight
forward girl. 1--WE ate with Mr.. Chris
topher," she said simply, and tried to
ignore the momentary gleam of anger
IN MS deep-set eyes. She felt con-
strictlon in her throat as a sudden
wave of fear swept over her.
Then MacCauley was his surly, true
eulent self again and she breathed
easily. "All right" he said, dismissing
them. BE ready for work tomorrow"
And work 1t was. Denise had come
70 Tlmora Island as haven and as a
place where she could have Job. She
was satisfied with the first, but the
second was much more than she had
counted on.
The hours weren't long. but they
were intense, every minute packed
with activity. Then they were through
IN the office. BY that time Denise's
etarched white blouse was damp, be-
draggled mess and her temper was at
frayed edge. Infrequently she
sstounded and amused MacCauley by
the curtness of her replies to some of
his nasty questions
He made no pretense about being
concerned with her health or whether
the work was too hard for her. He de-
manded more, got more, was satisfied.
Often, when Denise was nearly sick
With the heat and the figures of DAM
mar and sago production were Begin
ming to move like amoebas before her
strained eyes, he would look across at
her. sweat rolling down the lean folds
of his face. and casually remark to
Pearson. THE tropics are certainly
tough on a woman" Then she would
elench her teeth and make the dancing
numbers In front of her stand still
while she put them in orderly tables.
1t wasn't until she had been there
tor month or so that she realized it
was the resentment and antagonism
that he aroused In her that kept her
on her feet.
He didn't openly demand either re-
spect or friendship-only that she did |
what ne interpreted was her duty to
the company. AS for love, of which |
ehe was as yet unaware, he could wait. |
After noon. when her time was her |
own, he didn't question her right to do |
as ne pleaSeS But then he wasn't |
being overly generous, because she was
usually too exhausted to do more than
drag herself to her little bungalow.
take shower and sleep until the sun
had gone down.
her chief diversion consisted in talk
Ing with Pearson and Lane and hav-
Ing them in for tea. She was surprised |
&c the culture Of the latter, who could |
drop his hard-boiled exterior and talk
entertainingly about many things that
were not Immediately connected with
Timora.
1t was Lane who came up to her one |
day, beaming like boy offering his
iavorite teacher an apple. A servant
behind him carried a bulky package.
Inc rainy season is coming" he re-
marked. after accepting her invitation
to come in out of the sun.
Denise had known that and was
skeptical of the gloominess with which
her companions looked forward to the
event
He bent down to rip the paper from
the package he had brought You're
going to be very lonely" he said, when
1t begins raining so blasted long and
cold that you can't 60 out for weeks at
time. So I got something to keep you
entertained"
He pulled off the paper. revealing A
small, compact RADIO which Denise
recognized as having at least IL tubes.
His consideration and thoughtfulness
touched her deeply. She hadn't had
much contact with him. since he was
almost always up the river with the
natives, and on the few occasions when
he had been in with Pearson his con-
versation had been on anything but
himself. Denise had been forced to
rely upon her own observation to Judge
his character, and since Lane was a
silent man, she had concluded that he
was just as hard and reserved, though
not as vicious, as MacCauley.
With the innocent simplicity of a
delighted child she put her arms
around his neck, pulling his grinning
face down to hers, and kissed him.
His smile changed as he gently laid
strong hands upon her wrists and freed
himself. You're beautiful, Dennie,"
he said somberly, staring into her
misting eyes, but don't rouse the brute