The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-28
CAST OF CHARACTERS
CHAPTER XVI

Good Lord, Joyce, she was the one who dragged me of to the bar, to help her pick up that fool of an O'Hara. She told me that she'd expalin to you"
 Joyce looked off across the water, her eyes narrowing with quick comprehension. 50 that's it." she said. I'm sorry, Dick :" "Would you say he asked a moment later, "that there's con- spiracy against us?"
 i've been thinking that Mrs. Porter doesn't altogether approve our friendship. Of course, now that you're about to become her son-in-law ."
 "Wait a minute!" He looked down into her eyes. You know I'm not in love with Isobel."
 T was standing here at the rail when the engagement was an- nounced."
 He laughed, mirthlessly. What prize sap l must have looked likel We had few drinks that afternoon drowning my sorrow at losing you, Joyce - and Isobel got the bright idea of becoming engaged. She was joking. Of course"
 Joyce felt an instant of triumph. but she repressed the smile that tugged at her lips. So Mrs. Por- ter's private little dinner had fiz- zled out!
 Come ashore with me in Kingston, Joyce? Or is tomorrow taken up with MT. Gregory too?"
 The Empress was riding slowly into Kingston harbor, cutting the clear blue water so quietly that the white foam of the broken waves was scarcely visible. The doctor stood at the rail with Joyce and Dick. watching the shore line.
 "You're going to have beauti- ful day ashore" he remarked pres ently. But he was not looking at the sky; he was leaning over the rail, peering down curiously into the depths of the water.
 "Is that how you tell good weather down herc?" Dick asked with a grin.
 pr. Gray smiled sheepishly You kryow the old story of Kingston, don't you?"
 "No. What is it?'
 Many years ago, so the natives say, old Kingston was wicked in siil, and the Almighty sent ter rible earthquake which slipped the entire city, as it stood, down into thc sea. Old sailors say that on a day like this, when the water is clear, you can look down and see the spires of the old churches, just aS they stood before the quake. I've even heard a few old superstitious salties insist that they've heard the toiling of the church bells, echoing up from beneath the sea-"
 Joyce looked over the rail eagerly. Have you ever seen anything, Doc tors?"
 T don't know. Sometimes I think do, and then my better judgment tells me that it's all imagination There's really little left of city after an earthquake"
 q suppose" Dick said merrily If the ship were to anchor out here and we took a launch ashore, it would be just our luck to be caught at low tide on the spire of old North Church
 with sharks in our belfry,' Joyce added lightly.
 You'll have no opportunity to try it." Dr. Gray assured them. Here in Kingston, we tie right up to the wharf"
 Later, when he had left them to- gether, Joyce remembered the mat ter of their joint profit at the Casino.
 Before we go ashore" she sug- gested, twill you come to the purs- CTS office with me? left the money you won at the Casino in trust with him"
 Forget it." He was still studying the floor of the ocean. T wonder If they've ever sent divers down to see if it's true"
 Joyce took him by the arm. Don't change the subject" she persisted. "Lets go in and see the purser.'
 You are the darnedest grill" He followed her, grumbling. "Your head must ache all the time under the weight of your Yankee conscience" /" "Then help me relieve it."
 He stopped shortly. well com promise. I'll take the money, if you'll take 0 commission for earning 1t. That's only good business"
 "All right. It's agreed"
 'T'll give you 50 per cent commis- sion"
 No"
 "You agreed. Fifty per cent com- mission, 50 we'll split the money be- tween us, and spend 1t ashore. How much is it?"
 More than two hundred dollars. " He whistled in surprise. Two hundred bucksl Boy. are we the lucky pair!"
 It was hundred and fifty-four dollars, to be exact. They sat down in front of the purser's office and counted 1t out. Joyce added her half of 1t, one hundred and twenty y-seven dollars, to the twenty still remaining of her bingo winnings.
 I'm richer now by two dollars than when I came aboard" she told him brightly. And I have much better looking pocketbook."
 She smiled happily as she tucked the money away.
 Dick leaned back against the wall
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