The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-04-22
copuieht, 1898, NEA Service, Inc.

that note in Dicks voice which
made her know that she was still
important to him.
The evening dinner on board
shin was not pleasant affair
For one thing, it was the first
time they had all been together
since the impromptu announce
mcnt of Isobcl's engagement, and
as Joyce met Dicks eyes across
the table, she had the gratifying
impression that the romance was
already beginning to cool.
Mr.. Gregory still chafed under
the strain of the afternoon; he
seemed determined to magnify
the incident, until he became a
moor tortured victim about whom
the voodoo-worshipers were al
ready lighting the fires OF des-
tiny. -, ;,
"Haiti's a filthy, horrible place, "
Jsobel consoled him, "and | don't
see why civilized people want to
visit it," -,
She too was irritable this eve
ming. Her lips were pushed out
in their old pout, and her voice
was edged with sarcasm
Mr.. Gregory nodded vigorous,
". Indeed that's the truth. Ill
never return to it."
DR. GRAY regarded him with a
curious half-smile. "Well, l sup
nose Pm to blame for sending you
ont into the country. | thought
YOU might enjoy it." 80
"But we did, Doctor" Joyce
assured him enthusiastically. Il
wouldn't have missed the trip out
into the country for anything
Besides, cars break down at home
too" ~,
Dick agreed with her heartily
"Of course they do. Pm sorry we
weren't along. I'd have enjoyed
seeing that country in daylight. y
Isobel raised her eyebrows.
WASN'T it enough" she asked,
"that we took you to visit our
friend the Colonel?" She looked
ND into his eyes for tender con-
firmation. But what she saw IN
them displeased her; certainly
they were not aglow with any
light of love.
She laid a possessive hand on
his arm. "Dick darling!
His face frightened with a stiff,
withdrawn expression; under the
sleeves of his white dinner jacket,
his muscles tensed.
Then DR.. Gray, whether it was
ninocently or with deliberate NAL
ice, or merely to change the sub
iect, delivered a bombshell. ,
"You seem to run into hard
luck, Gregory" he observed.
"You go ashore, and you walk IN
to trouble. You stay aboard to
play poker while the rest Of US
cavort in Havana, and you lose
your shirt"
Dick looked up quickly. =,
at wasn't as bad as all that, y
Gregory amended. 81 only lost
about S12. If I'd gone to the
Casino it might have cost me 10
times that much"
Dicks mouth hardened. "1ou
didn't go ashore in Havana?" ne
asked quickly. "You weren't at
the Casino" He waited intently
for the mans reply.
"No. I stayed on board to play
cards with the officers"
Dicks eyes met Joyce's, held
them for long beseeching mo,
ment, as he began to understand
how they had been deceived:
Then ISobel gigglcd, foolishly,
breaking the heavy silence. :,
With an impatient gesture Dick
rose and left the table.
Two hours later, he sought
Joyce out on deck, drew her over
to a quiet spot alongside the rail.
"Joycc," he said penitentIy'
GIVE been a terrible fool"
She did not contradict him.
THAT night at the Casino" he
went on, 81 looked all over the
place for you, until Isobcl told me
you'd gone off with Gregory"
AZ should have, if he'd been
around" she retorted with spirit.
81 certainly wouldn't wait around
for an escort who preferred to
spend his time in the bar. >"
"What do you mean, Joyce?'
Don't you remember? You left
me at the table while you went
into the bar; half an hour later
one of the walters came out to
tell me you were unconscious"
"What? You mean to tell me
that Mrs. Porter didn't explain?"
explain WHAT"
"Good Lord, Joyce, she was the
one who dragged me off to the
bar, to help her pick up that fool
of an O'Hara. She told me that
she'd explain to YOU"
Joyce looked off across the
water, her eyes narrowing with
quick comprehension. $50 that's
it," she said. "Tm sorry, Dick.
would you say" he asked a
moment later, "that there's a
conspiracy against u.s."
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."
was standing here at tho rail