Evening star., 1940-07-18
CHAPTER VI.

severe TROPICAL storm comes Up.
CHAPTER VI.
Within an hour the giant Georgia
was tossing on the waves like.
cork and the passengers, after hav-
ing first thrilled excitedly to the
violence of the storm, now sat
quietly in small groups with nervous
eyes on the storm-lashed portfolios
and with questions forming on their
lips to be put to the stewards and
captains men whenever they ap-
peared.
Mrs. Burwick and Ada had gone
to their cabin shortly after all pas
sengers were ordered inside and
Phyllis reported to Algae that they
were i'll and getting worse with
every roll Of the ship. Between
Phyllis and Algae there was tenn
porary truce; she asked for no ex-
PLANTATION of what Ada had said at
the table. but 1t wasn't because she
did not intend making such de-
mand. 1t was just that there was
no one else to talk to now, with
Dick attending the Burwicks as we'll
as he could and most of the other
passengers keeping their own fright
ened counsel.
There was practically no sound In
the lounge where they sat and when
Algae said in a moderate tone of
voice, Its nice we both can swim,"
the silence became intense and op-
pressive. Phyllis would have laughed
because she wasn't scared. but the
looks OF utter contempt that were
shot in their direction by the other
scattered groups in the room kept
her quiet. She bent her head to
search for q cigarette in her purse
and by the time she found and lit
one they were again being ignored.
"There'll be price on your head
if you don't shut up" she whispered,
half smiling.
Go to Game Room.
They were eavesdropping." Algae
replied, just loudly enough to be
heard by those who'd heard his first
remark. What would you say to a
game of backgammon? There's no
sense in sitting here like a couple
OF goons waiting for the inevitable
tragedy"
"All right" Phyllis said. "And
between moves maybe you can ex-
plain a few things to me.s
1T will be a pleasure, madam"
he replied, taking her hand as they
walked carefully across the floor
toward the game room.
The game room was quite large
and. having no other occupants in
1t at the time, it lent a particularly
solemn atmosphere to the back
CANNON game. When either of
them spoke their voices sounded
hollow and when they unconsciously
lowered their tone their very whis-
pering created a feeling of fear.
Phyllis found herself looking around
at the doorways, glancing unneces-
sarily into the far corners as if ex-
pecting to see some one who hadn't
been there before. She couldn't
keep her mind on the game and
Algae beat her easily in the first
one.
While he set the men up for the
second round Phyllis said, IF I
thought you had told Ada about us
I'd do you In with my bare hands.
What did she mean by that big
secret stuff down there in the bar?"
Algae ignored the question. "She's
nice kid" he said. TOO bad she
got mixed up with a heel like VIE
land"
Phyllis dark eyes flashed and her
soft lips narrowed into a threatening
red line. Your sympathies don't
interest me, Mr.. Beetroot, and If
you want to stay healthy you'll keep
away from that little blond nitwit
and do what you're being paid to
do. Understand"
Phyllis Is Upset.
I'm part, I understand. But Just
on my own hook I decided that If
I could make Wieland look like a
chump in Ada's eyes, then she would
drop him and you could step in and
take over. Wouldn't that be easier
than all this popularity-queen stuff
you're trying to put across?"
Phyllis pushed back her chair and
stood up. Algae kept on moving
the disks around on the board as If
absorbed In the work of getting them
in position.
Listen, Algae," Phyllis said, and
her voice was vibrant with anger.
You're getting paid for doing what
I want you to do, not for making
any stupid plans of yor own. I
know what I want done and that's
what you're going to door are you?
Maybe you think that now we're
out at sea and I can't throw you
off the boat you can do what you
want? Is that it?" And her voice
rose TREMENDOUSLY. "Are' you plan
ming on double-crossing me like
that?-Well, are you?" She stamped
her foot and glared at him, her face
flushed and eyes flashing danger
ously.
mo, not at ALL" Algae replied
quietly. "Sit down. It's your turn
to start this time"
II won't sit down! Who are you
to order me around like that2 Sit
downl OF all the beastly csds-