Evening star., 1941-03-02

Whats the trouble, Baby? You're not get
ting soft because some crab-hunting hicks
gone off the deep end about you?"
What do you mean"
Hell, I've seen the goof looking at you -
and so have you. You know what mean"
She turned back to the stove without answer
ing. She had seen Tom Harris look at her when
they passed, when they happened to meet in
the little island jock joint; seen his eyes shift
quickly away when he realized that she had
noticed him. They had not spoken a dozen
times in the two months since she and Mark
came to White Heron Key yet she knew the
crab fisherman was in love with her; had known
it since that first time they met on the beach
in front of her house.
Your husband tells me he S shell collector,
Ma am," Tom Harris had said, and stopped
abruptly, as though he was just seeing her.
He had become suddenly awkward and stam-
mering. ''If knew what kind of shell he was
particularly after, maybe - pick up some
good ones sometimes -"
Mark waited now until she had put the food
on the table, then said, "You better start
working on that guy tonight. I'm getting
sick of living on this lump of sand"
How can find out - even if he knows?
Could he tell me any closer than the man in
prison told you?"
Make him show it to you, Baby. Go with
him in his boat. I'll lay low. Tell him I'm out
of town"
But suppose -"
There are fifty thousand bucks out there,
and mean to have it! If you can't get the
location out of that crab fisherman, then I'll
have to do it. The rough way
When she entered the Pavilion later that
night, she saw Tom Harris instantly, sitting
alone at one of the tables - slim, blond,
sober young man, hair bleached by the
sun, skin burned the color of well-tanned
leather. AS she crossed toward him, he glanced
up and saw her and for moment he seemed
to stop breathing; his nostris fared a little,
his eyes held on her face against their will
Then his head ducked in quick, awkward nod
and he looked away.
She sat down beside him. You don't mind?
I'm alone tonight. Marks gone away for a
few days"
1t was long moment before his gaze came
DICK CO IleI.
How do you do, Mrs. Randall"
MY names Edith. Everybody down here
goes by their first name, don't they?"
Just about everybody"
The waiter came Edith said she would have
beer.
1t was hard to talk to him. His nervousness
was gone now, but there remained the tension
the hard reserve which she could not pass, and
which made her feel cheap and strangely mis-
cradle when she tried to pass it. But remember
ing Marks words, she went ahead She spoke
of the flight of the pelicans and guls up and
down the bay. She said, Il had been told
there were eagles in this part of Florida"
More ospreys than real eagles, but there
are eagles"
"Where?"
you see them sometimes. They don't come
around the little towns much"
Back over in the bayous where you get the
bait for your crab traps?"
Sometimes. There used to be more than
there are now."
Il wonder why? This is bird sanctuary, so
they weren't killed, Couldn't they build salts
factory nests around here?"
We'll, they do prefer tall trees"
Mark won't ever take me over there. And
it must be wild, beautiful country. Will you
take me sometime? Tomorrow"