Evening star., 1941-01-09

STe OpeIleU IlcI eyes oio"iS-
Pea-soup fog was the first thing
she saw above her She lowered the
line of her vision and made out the
form of a man nearby. He was
gazing out to sea and sat very still,
huched over in deep thought, pipe
between his lips.
Where am ~" she called, teeth
chattering, and lifting her head from
its hard resting place.
Her voice startled the man and he
turned quickly to face her.
Thank goodness you're alive"
There was downright relief in his
voice. "I was afraid . - He did
not finish the sentence.
It was then that full realization OF
what had happened to her came
back to her mind The air liner had
crashed. She shuddered like she
had a chill.
"Are-are the Others" She
could not go on with her question,
but he guessed what she was trying
to ask.
II found only you," he said, and
his voice was gentle and soothing.
Are you all right?"
Yes At least she felt no pain
and presumed she was not hurt.
She turned her face from him to
hide the tears, but she was too
weary to alter the position of her
body. Since she was safe it made
little difference how uncomfortable
she was for the time being.
An Offer of Hospitality.
There was no more conversation
until they made land He helped
her out of the boat at deserted old
wharf in the cove. She looked at
HIM then. He was young and tall,
slightly stopped of shoulders and
very sun-tanned.
Il will take you to my house" he
told her, and there was softness
to his voice that betrayed culture.
Il know you're cold with those wet
clothes on. Mail loan you some of
hers. She is no more than a mite
herself-just about like you" He
smiled down at her and Honey liked
his face instantly, SO open and
honest. She imagined he never got
ruff1ed or in hurry; just took life
as it came along from day to day.
II really am freezing" she said
simply, and started to follow him
and discovered that her equilibrium
was not what it used to be. He took
her arm and she leaned on his
strength as they climbed the rocky
cliffs to little house sitting at the
end of the trail, overlooking the
ocean below Even in the fog Honey
marveled at the brightly colored
flowers surrounding the house, the
restful atmosphere everywhere that
spelled peace.
MAJ" the young man called, and
there was caress even when he
lifted his voice to shout
A little white-haired woman came
to the door in answer to his sum-
mons.
"Sakes, Art!" she cried, and came
forward to meet them. Who is
that with you? Why, she is wet as
a drowned kitten"
'I certainly am" smiled Honey
convincingly. II have been in the
ocean and he flshed me out" She
found that lightness came back to
her voice without much effort. You
were fishing, weren't you?" she
asked the man holding her arm.
He grinned slowly, showing his
even white teeth.
Honest, I was fishing. I have
never caught one so big before, nor
half as pretty"
Introductions Follow.
"Come in, young lady. Don't pay
any attention to that son of mine.
He likes to chatter" 1t was easy to
see that she adored him. "I1l give
you some dry things to put on be-
fore you catch pneumonia" She
mastered the situation without any
effort and Honey found it easy to
be mothered and made over. II de-
clare, I have never seen any one so
wet-not even In a swim suit"
Inside the house Art reached to
take her coat off, but just then
Honey remembered the stone fast
ened in the pocket and she huddled
deeper into the wrap. After all the
dangers she had been through for
the diamond she was not going to
take chance of losing it now.
Not yet" she told him with q
smile and followed the women into
the small bedroom.
"Art probably didn't think to in
troduce himself" said her hostess.
Il am his mother, Mrs. Carey. He
is nice boy but he forgets his
manners now and then" Mrs. Carey
looked at Honey inquiringly.
II am so glad to know you. My
name is Honey-ah-Honey Roe"
She smiled with relief when she
saw that the woman did not notice
the hesitation over her name. She
hated to lie about anything, but
on the moment it seemed the wisest
course to take. She was not ready
to advertise her true identity.
That is a right pretty name"
Mrs. Carey pulled things from the
dresser drawers and put them on
the bed. Kind of romantic, too.
Well, here is everything now. You