Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-08-16

of water, and we'll sober him up"
She was gone.
To her horror, Jean saw Tommy
turn on the switch. He pulled out
the choke, put his finger on the self
starter, and the engine ran in neu-
trail. He yelled: "Helen, unfasten the
bow-line!"
"Stop it! Dont" But it was too
late. Helen had already done so! Jean
rushed out of the cockpit just as
Helen leapt back to the pier. Tommy
threw in the clutch at the side of
the steering wheel and opened the
throttle. The boat sprang forward.
Helen had tricked her! She was trap
ped!
"Hurrah, Jean!" Tommy shouted
gleefully, "Howya like being bold
buccaneer?"
Under his fuddled guidance, as the
boat sprang forward, it scraped the
paint from the craft alongside, mar
rowly missing collision with a yacht.
Jean was shocked and terrified.
"For heavens sake, Tommy, put
back!" she implored.
There were shouts from sailors in
charge Of the second boat. Jean had
a glimpse of outraged faces in the
moonlight. The boat swerved dizzily,
then they were out in the open river,
going at full speed.
Fearful, she tried to stop him
tried to grab the wheel.
"Say, water was never my bever-
age, Jean! I don't wanna be 'mong
the fishes on a cold night! I'll steer!''
No use to battle with him. She
knew nothing of handling this high
powered craft. Her only hope lay in
handling Tommy. Helen had DELHI
erately put her in this predicament.
It would complete the break with
Walter!
"By following them down here, ]
played right into her hands," But, in
nately fair, Jean couldn't be actually
sure of it. Maybe Helen had really
meat to stay on the speedboat but
hearing the engine start up, had fol-
lowed the instinct of self-preserva-
ton?
Tommy, as the river fairly churned
under them, exulted: "I'm giving hel
the works! She's a beaut! Oh, boy!
"But Walter wants her, Tommy!
He and his friends will be at the
pier by now. When he finds his boat
gone, there'll be terrible troubled"
"Shush! Don't crab! The devil with
Walter! 1 wanna win my bet of hun
red bucks, kid"
"Who made the bet with you?'
But she was now pretty sure.
A sly, teasing look came in the
blurred eyes. Wouldn't you like t.
know, Jean? But l promished on
word of honor as councilman t'keep it
a secret"
"But what was the bet about!''
She was distraught.
Making speed record! Thash my
speshalty!" He named spot far up
the river. 81 phone the Yacht Club
minute we get there-and win hum
red bucks!"
Ghostlike in the moonlight, the
banks flew past.
The heartening hope struck her
that there might be a sailor asleep
aboard the cruiser? She'd go below,
to investigate. She'd wake him, and
he'd take over, and get safely back
to the Yacht Club.
The cold air penetrated her frail
gown as she fastened to the steep
stairs. The sleeping quarters were
empty. She tried the last door. 1t
opened. She felt for the switch, and
light flooded the mall cabin.
Walters photograph was on the
dresser. Those keen eyes smiled at
her under his peaked yachting cap!
Because of his snub at the party,
and her present wretched predicament
that smile maddened her. She hurled
photograph and frame to the floor.
There was a sharp tinkle of glass.
couch! That's unlucky!" She knew
that she wanted that picture. Wanted
to possess it, no matter how he had
acted. She removed the photograph.
Flung frame and broken fragments
through the open portfolio.
The broken glass had cut the fun
NEST little scar over his left eyebrow.
Now he was looking at her with
the identical expression he had had
at the club when he had quirked that
left eyebrow at her . .as if he could
MT get away from his disapproval.