Evening star., 1938-02-03

had welled up within him and robbed
him Of the domination of his i'm
pulses.
Really" he said, desperately. "You
must forgive me-" He didn't dare to
look at her as he spoke, lest he be
once again betrayed into folly.
There's nothing to forgive" she
said, softly. I'm the one to be sor-
ry. not you. But it's no use, Johnny
She smiled tenderly. trying to let him
see that she was fond of him but not
wanting him to get the wrong i'm
preston. Il don't love you the way
you'd like"
WELL" he laughed, with an at
tempt at light-heartedness, slipping
the mantle OF gayety back upon his
shoulders. This isn't really showing
you around the island, Is it,"
She knew that she had hurt him.
He pointed at the square white
house standing on the top of the hill
at the base Of which they were stand
ing.
If you want" he said. I'VE don't
have to walk any farther. That's
Christopher's shanty up there, and
the entire island can be seen from
his back porch. He's q pretty nice
guy, and If you like We can trek ur
there and take a look"
As she casually agreed to the sug.
gestion her heart skipped a beat
Fine" she said. 1--WE had enough
walking for today" So taking hel
arm, John led the way along the
rambling. rising. brush-strewn path
that rose to the top.
There's only one way up," he re-
marked as they labored on the trail
THE other sides are too sheer and
covered with thorny brambles to be
climbed. If you want to call on Chris.
topher this is the route you've got tc
take. When it rains It's impossible
to make it. Unless you're one of these
blasted natives. and they seem to love
the gooey mud"
When they broke into q clearing Z
couple Of hundred feet or so from the
summit Denise noticed signs of recent
chopping spreading alongside the trail
why" she asked. turning with some
puzzlement to John, docs he take
such good care Of his lawn"
John laughed as he looked at the
lawn" of foot-high grass and Jagged
stumps. Il don't know" he said
struggling his shoulders. You'd think
he'd want to have a few trees stand
ing over his roof to make some sort
of sun shade. But then" he added
hastily. mo one knows anything about
Christopher, and MacCauley may not
be far from right when he says that
he's crazy"
Instinctively Denise knew that there
was some purpose behind such a mani
festation of activity. 1t would take
constant work to keep the growth OF
that semi-jungle at bay. and men
don't usually toll without reason.
A shout from the top Of the hill cut
their conversation short.
"Hello!" a lanky individual cried
walking toward them. You're Just in
time for lunch"
John looked eagerly at Denise. DC
you think we should stay?" She could
tell by his ill-concealed excitement
what she should answer. I'm really
curious to see what the inside of his
house looks like" he went on. I've
heard lot about it. Well be the first
guests he has ever had"
Denise smilingly reflected that John
didn't need to be so persuasive. 81
think it would be very rude to refuse,
she replied. I'VE may never again gel
such an opportunity"
Christopher was within easy speak.
ing distance. We'll. john" he said
pleasantly. I'm glad that you finally
found time to come and visit me-
His questioning. family curious eyes
went to Denise, and she thought he
was just as anxious to have them see
his place as they were to accept. 81
haven't had the formality of an in.
PRODUCTION" he told Denise. But I'm
sure Mr.. Pearson wouldn't object te
performing that ceremony"
The view from the house was every.
thing that MacCauley had claimed
The whole of the islandd sprawled be.
fore Denise like bas-relief map
John pointed out the various thing.
of interest.
"Oven there" he said, pointing ir
the direction from which they hae
just come, ARE the company build.
ings."
Scant miles away the long, Low
shacks nestled like toy blocks on tht
shores Of the U-shaped inlet. Pear.
sons finder swept in a semi-circle
following long, black, writhing snake
that cut through the almost solid roo1
Of the heavy forest. Here and there
were a few open patches, but the mair
was solid mass Of leaves and tree
trunks. Where the patches appeared
John explained. the dammar, q resin
very highly valued in the making o1
expensive lacquers, was gathered.
The stuff Is collected from trees
just like rubber. The boys 60 into the
woods, find dammar trees, nick 'em
stick a bucket on and return In q
couple Of days. At the clearings the
buckets are emptied into tanks and
solidified by evaporation. Then Lane
or I bring it down the river on the
launch"
YvsNf - k> 81,