The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-04

l you that silly idea?"
 She reached over to the table, picked up the captains note and handed it to him. He read, it frown- ing ominously.
 "Hmph! But it doesn't say any thing about being prisoner. That's nonsense" He slipped the note into his pocket, patted her shoulder with kindly gesture.
 Now you dry your eyes, like a good girl. and wait until l come back. I'll look into this"
 Five minutes later he was back with Captain Boyer.
 She was more composed now; she had bathed her eyes with cold water and powdered her face carefully. Only the swollen puffs under her eyes remained, teSti- flying to her misery.
 The captain came into the room quickly, extending his hand to her.
 Miss Miner, I'm sorry!" he said in hearty apology. You got me all wrong. But it's my fault. was in such rush when l wrote that note"
 She looked up at him, wonder ing. Didn't you tell me not to leave the ship?"
 He shook his head. T didn't mean it to sound as hard as that. Matter of fact, I meant exactly what the note says: I didn't think it wise for you to go ashore"
 Oh Still she didn't under stand what the difference was.
 He means for your own good, my dear" the doctor explained kindly.
 Exactly. You know how this gossip gets around, Miss Miner I don't know anything about this O'Hara woman, but she's vicious There's no doubt of that. The whole affair is very peculiar. Nc woman with any intelligence would think of leaving small fortune in jewels in her cabin, for anyone to pick up"
 He was much more friendly than he had been last night, when he questioned her in his quarters.
 "She seemed determined to i'm | plicate you in the matter" he went on, T don't know why. But didn't want her to have the chance, when we get to New York, to try and persuade the police that you took the things and disposed of them ill Miami See what I mean?" She nodded quickly, and she breathed more freely than she had all day.
 "Incidenally, the pair of them had their chairs drawn up alongside the gangplank. They never left the ship all day, and they watched every soul who went ashore, looking for bulges in their pockets, suppose
 When he was gone, the doctor turned to her. Nov, then. You're going to get yourself all dressed up in that nice white frock and you're coming to dinner with me-"
 She protested quickly.
 Please don't ask me to go up to the dining room, Dr. Gray. I'd much rather have dinner in my room.'
 But why?"
 Because" - hesitantly - "every- body will gape at me"
 All the more reason you should be on hand, to prove that their gaping doesn't bother you in the | least
 Its more than that" It was as more than that, very much more. But she couldn't ex- plain to him. She couldn't tell him that the real reason she didn't want to go upstairs was because she couldn't sit through the meal with Dick across the table, dropping his eyes in uneasy regret. And she wouldn't have Mrs. Porter and Iso- bel smiling haughtily, patronizing her in graciously noble manner.
 Come on, now. Meet me up in the smoking room and we'll have a bottle of wine together first" Still she shook her head. T haven't the courage, doctor. That's | the whole truth of it." He put his hand on the door, knob. Well, you're making it mighty lonely for me. I'll be at that big table with no better company than a few stalks of cold celery She looked up in quick sur prise. Where are the others?" Young Hamilton and Miss Por- ter left the ship this morning. He was in a hurry to catch the early plane for New York, so he told me. And Mrs. Porter has changed her seat so that she can be with that old couple from Detroit. you know the ones I mean ."