The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-29
CHAPTER XVII

T don't know :" But she olo know, nevertheless She knew that . if this were another moment, a warm moonlit night on deck, with his arms about her, his eyes implor- ing, she could not help acknowledge the truth of 1t. Here at a luncheon table, in the broad light of high noon, with the eyes of walters and other guests upon them, the words stuck in her throat.
 So the moment passed, and he said no more of it.
 In the afternoon they hired a car and drove across the island to the little town of Port Antonio. Every mile was picturesque: here the road was a narrow trail, winding up a mountainSide where they could look down into the valley and follow the course of a ripping river cascading over rocky falls; in other spots 1t followed the shore line, curving in horseshoe fashion around some lit- tie blue-green inlet of the sea, bor- dered by tall coconut palms bent to- ward the waters edge by the force of hurricane winds.
 At Port Antonio the road was high above the water; the harbor was a deep blue lagoon almost encircled by high hills of verdant palms and palmettos, and gleam- ing white ships lay at anchor upon the bright water, catching the rays of the sun in their brass trim mings.
 Only one event marred the per- lection of the day. Returning along different route, they rounded a bend and stopped sud- denly, to see the road ahead en- tirely buried under an avalanche of loose dirt and rocks. But their driver, bright young colored lad, who combined chaufeurlng in the afternoon with the study of medicine at the college in the morning and evening, calmed their fears. They would not be late getting back to the ship, he assured them; he knew a detour, net half a mile away.
 Despite the detour, which took Il em four miles out of their way, they were back at the wharf a full half hour before the Empress was scheduled to sail. And to Joyce's quick delight, the water front was still crowded with vendors. Their stocks seemed but slightly depleted, and many Of the other passengers were engaged ln last-minute shopping.
 She realized, with sudden pang, that this was the end of her foreign travel. From ingston the Empress would sail to Miami, and thence to New York. But Miami was no quaint tropical village. There the shops would feature the same smart nov elites that she could pick up along Fifth avenue. On the entire cruise, he'd bought nothing but the set Of diches this morning. Aunt Martha grunt and frown at the thought Of spending good money for what she might call foreign junk, but never theless she'd like some of the beads, to offer at the next church bazaar, with a superior explanation: My niece, you know, bought them h the West Indies"
 So she bought beads: vivid, colorful strands, some made oi dyed seeds and pods, some or carved fish bone Sharks back bone, the native boys told her, to make the sale more exciting)' some of jet-black glass, which looked far more expensive than the one shilling they cost. She bought an enormous hand-woven straw hat, which Aunt Martha could wear about the garden while spraying June bugs off the ram bier roses: she bought bright bas- kets for mending and marketing.
 For heavens sake" Dick con- plained, where are you going to put all this?"
 "Oh, I'll find a place" she re- piled vaguely, hurrying toward a pile of the wicker furniture, from whence she added two small tables and a rocking chair to her collection.
 "There!" she said with satisfac- ton. T think I've got enough
 "I1l say it's enough. If you have any idea of walking through the Grand Central Station loaded down with this"
 "Dick, look" She laid a detain- ing hand on his arms, indicating with a quick nod and three men who were coming down the wharf toward them.
 "Why, it's Gregory" he ex- claimed, following her direction.
 A very different MT. Gregory it was, however. A fearful, furi- ous MT. Gregory, his face white and drawn, his mouth thin, hor- rible line of hatred and despera- ton. Behind the thick glasses his eyes were two pin-points of cold steel, and as he looked over and saw them standing there, he of fered no sign of recognition.
 T wonder what it's all about, Dick mumbled curiously. That's a Kingston policeman with him."
 And the other man must be from New York Joyce pointed out with unconscious clarity. Hes the only one around wearing a dark business suit. But he hasn't been on the boat"
 They watched as the three men hurried toward the street and stepped into a waiting car; they | CR AMslIM