Evening star., 1940-07-15
Dangerous Woyage
.-by Potrlelo Morgan =@D sIlf| EaaIs (s se

MOERoD ~ 52afI! OST
he always had to laugh at the sound
Of his own name.
Dick clearly did not like the other
mans attitude. but he performed
his obvious duty. Miss OBrien," he
said by way of introducing Phyllis
to Algae, then he took her hand and
slipped 1t through his own arm. IF
I may?" he said, and walked with
them to the bar.
Phyllis Weakens.
When Dick left them few min
utes later to meet Ada as she came
in with her mother. Phyllis laughed
wickedly and squeezed Algae's arm.
"You were wonderful" she said,
and not until late that night, long
after they had dined and danced to-
gether and talked of a thousand
things. did she recall that he had
squeezed her hand in return. But
his had not been an excited little
squeeze like hers. It had been slow,
deliberate, warm. Looking back, it
seemed as II 1t had been almost
caress.
Her heart thumped, just once,
and her face felt suddenly warm.
II mustn't let him have a chance
like that again." she thought. Hes
fool-maybe a dangerous one"
After the incident in the tank,
Algae returned to his room and
dressed. 1t was nearing dinner
time. and now that they were in
tropical waters the passengers were
wearing summer clothes. He selected
Palm Beach tux from his ample
wardrobe and a little while later
was out on deck.
The water had taken on a pc
culiar glow, attributable, he sup
posed, to the humid climate and the
brilliance of the setting sun. He
lounged against the rail, fascinated
by the shades of purple and deep
blue and gilded amber that toyed
rhythmically over the waves. The
smoke from his cigarette, despite
the motion of the boat, drifted lazily
on the air, remaining in front of
him for seconds running almost into
minutes before disappearing along
the rail. Pondering the phenomenon
for moment, Algae decided that
there must be a wind trailing them
at about the same speed as the boat
itself.
Ade Questions Algae.
He was reused from his reverie
by voice behind him. isn't the
sunset simply divine?"
Turning, he found Ada standing
behind him. Eyes. isn't it," he said.
Care for a cigarette?"
She took one and waited for him
to light it, then she leaned against
the rail alongside him. She looked
unusually pretty in sheer silk dress
of pale blue that provided a perfect
contrast for her baby complexion
and soft, blond hair. "Algae," she
said after a moment, 'how do you
happen to be taking a cruise like
this all alone? Do you mind my
asking?"
Not at ALL" Algae replied. "The
fact is, it is unusual. I have been
commissioned by a wealthy New
York woman to make the trip for a
reason which is quite secret. Even
don't know exactly what Is in
volved; all do know is that have
to keep track of certain things that
are going on on board and be pre-
pared at all times to step in and
protect her interests whenever the
occasion requires"
Ada looked completely mystified
by the reply, and undoubtedly was.
All she could say after staring at
Algae for long moment was, "Oh,
how perfectly thrilling!"
"Yes," he replied. Then pointing
OIL across the water he said, chang
ing the subject completely, do you
suppose that's a storm coming out
of the West? Or is it just the way
twilight is down this way?"
Signs Of Storm.
| Ada turned her blond head and
baby-blue eyes in the direction he
pointed, and when she saw the dark
and threatening texture of the far
of sky she gave little gasp. "Oh,
do hope it isn't a Storm" she
said. And then, hopefully, but
even if it is it can't hurt us way
| off there"
That's true" said Algae, "but 1T
may be coming this way, although
the wind seems to be back of us
right now"
But even as he spoke he saw the