Evening star., 1940-06-13
CHAPTER TX.

lashed island had restored to Joan
Charters an outlook that was mel
low. The dread memory of Jim's
death was less harsh The hurt
of Scott's deceit was less bitter.
Perhaps it had been John North's
kiss. Or the realization, faint as it
was, that John doubted his love
for Laura Ward.
At any rate, Joan felt her old self
again, as carefree as Jim had al
ways been, with laughter on her
lips and a gay song in her heart.
Life with Charters, she could say
again, is always exciting.
There was still Scott to face, but
she had the strength and the cour-
age. The fight from the island to
Crown Cay, to the Wards fashion,
able estate, had been brief. There
had been no time to talk to Scott.
John North had used the minutes
to tell Scott and Mark Lanning, who
was also aboard the amphibian,
about their forced landing.
Laura was down at the boat land
ing to meet them and in her dark
eyes was an Ugly suspicion. Laura S
parents were there too, greeting
John and Joan graciously. And
Helene Lanning . winking wick
edly at Joan as she stepped to the
landing,
Ready to Meet Scott.
There was lunch for Joan and
John first, then Helene offered Joan
a. change of clothes. Later, bathed
and refreshed and neatly dressed,
she was ready for her meeting with
Scott.
She met him on the veranda,
knowing by the grim way he stood
there that he had been waiting for
her. She could see his bad temper
in his frown He didn't come to
meet her. She went to him and
held out her hand. The diamond
solitaire that had been their en-
gagement ring lay in her palm.
Il forgot to leave this behind
for you, Scott" she said.
Keep it" he said. It'll make a
nice souvenir"
mo -. I'd rather not"
She reached for his hand and
pressed the ring into it. She closed
his fingers upon it, gave his hand a
pat. I'm fond of you-in a way,
Scott. From here on, let's be
friends"
Friends" he said, looking squarely
into her eyes, isn't enough"
That's all it can be, Scott. You
know that"
You walked out on me, JOAN
he said. mo other woman could
do that to me-and make me like it.
Perhaps you had a good reason.
Well say you had at any rate. You
were hurt. You've lot of pride. =
Joan Rejects Pleas.
My pride was all over the place
that night, Scott. Getting stepped
on, hard, But even though it was
hurt, still have it."
Il know. And that's one reason
why I like you. But you've got to
check it. You can't hold my past
against me. You need me just as
much as I need you"
No, . We don't need one an
other, Scott"
You're broke" he said. And
you've always been used to money.
I can give you everything a girl like
you wants"
Not everything" Joan said. Not
genuine love-not honesty."
| His hands closed hard on her
shoulders. Laura and I are
through" he told her. Through for
good If that's what is bothering
you"
That isn't it now. It was that
night. but not now. I've changed
Scott
Il see," he snapped, his anger un-
checked. Laura told me when I
arrived this morning. thought she
was lying. It's John North"
I'm in love with him, Scott"
He flushed darkly. "All right
you're in love with him. WellNsee
what a lot of fun you'll get out of
It," His temper had reached the ex-
plosion point; he made no attempt
to control it. 1--WE been working to
undermine North Aircraft finan-
cially-because I wanted control of
it. But now I'm going to ruin John
North. Go to him-in whatever way
It's to be. But tell him you're 60
ing to be a pretty expensive bar
gain!"
Scott Threatens Ward.
He swung about and strobe down
from the veranda. Joan watched
him walk down to the waters edge,
He talked to the Wards pilot. The
two men got into the amphibian. A
few minutes later the plane took of
and headed westward toward Mi
ami.
John North walked slowly along
the beach with Laura, thinking of
all the times during the past year
when he wanted a moment like this
with her Ee hoI Rret fa,,~J -