The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-02
CAST OF CHARACTERs
BY RUTH AYERS

MARY Embellishments fash
ion expert. In London during war
time.
VINCENT GREGG--soldier Of for
tune. In hove with Mary.
CaRIa MARCHETTA-a mysteri-
Gus London socialife.
DIR GILBERT IESox-surgeon.
serving with the British army.
YESTERDAY: The Norasia sails
before MARY can get ashore. She i
bewildered by tineent's failure 10
sail Anna Winters tries to comfort
her. Walking on the dack at night.
Mary sees dark figure lurking In the
shadows of the companionway.
CHAPTER V
Mary drew back at the sight of
strange eyes staring from the
shadows.
Fear paralyzed her for an
agonized second, and then. bracing
herself against the lash of spray,
she ran along the darkened deck.
Her beret blew off in the wind.
Her shoes slipped on the wet floor.
And all the time, staccato sharp
behind her came hurrying steps.
If she could reach the salon door
she would be safe.
Painting, she came to the door
and swung herself against it. In
the muffled light of the room,
almost deserted now before the
dinner hour, she breathed quick
prayer of relief. The safety of the
room gave her courage. Cautious
ly, she opened the door a crack.
Leaning against the deck rail
directly opposite was mans
slouched figure. hat pulled low on
his forehead. In the darkness he
was nothing more than silhou-
cite.
Mary waited no longer. When
she reached her cabin, her maize
hair tumbled on her shoulders and
her blue eyes were wide.
Anna, awaiting her, looked up
with shy smile of greeting, then
asked quickly, What's wrong :?
You're trembling"
Its nothing" Mary answered.
I'm imagining things. Ever since
the boat sailed I've been on edge. +"
But something must have STAR
tied you. You're white as ghost. +"
Mary took off her tweed coat
slowly. You'll probably think I'm
crazy, but it's true something did
startle me. I could have sworn a
man was crouched behind the
companionway watching me. And
I'm almost sure he followed as far
as the salon door"
Annals hand flew to her mouth
in a gesture of fear. OH Won
der what it means. So many
strange things are happening in
this war that it's enough to make
you lose your mind. Spies are
everywhere. You don't know when
you're being Swallowed or why. No
one is SAFE Then, her gentle
voice growing bitter, 81 hate war
i hate it. Why must people tor
ture and kill each other?"
She broke into sobs. Mary, sorry
at once that she had startled the
frail Anna, reached out a comfort
ing hand. Il probably imagined
the whole thing. Most likely it
was what we call in Yankee slang
pipe dream Let's forget it.
And what's more, Anna Win
ters. we've been moping too much.
We've stayed in this cabin as If
We were in hiding. We've got to
step out-you and I. Wen go up
to dinner in blaze of glory"
Anna looked up uncertainty.
Mary, aware again of how
strangely drawn she was to this
wisp of an English girl, continued,
It was considered a clever stylist
in Paris before the war started.
| know what clothes can do to
people. Wen dress gorgeously to-
night and forget the war"
That would be fun" Anna's
eyes lighted for a second and then
sobered. I'm sorry, but / can't
go. All I have are my uniforms
and the plainest clothes. I haven't
anything for a party"
'But-looki | have trunks full
of clothes. I'll pick out frock
that viii do exactly for you.