The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-03
CHAPTER ~FORTY-SEVEN
WRITTEN FOR AND RELEASED B,
CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

fee without talking. Then Vance
said, This is the last night out,
you know!"
IT know she said, her voice
low.
there's a ships concert and ali
sorts of goings on. You'd better
get ready"
"You NEAR that you'll take me
up?"
'ff you like"
'In get my bag" she said.
But when she came back, she
said, 81 don't want to 60 to the
concert, Vance. It isn't wise.
Someone might recognize U.S."
'e.What if they do?"
She laughed grimly. Our names
would be mud, Vance. Don't you
suppose that everybody on this.
ship knows that a man and woman
are occupying A-163? 1t would
make a scandal of some prcpor-
tons if our identity were to be-
. come known"
Il hadn't thought of that" he
answered. Maybe you're right.
Well, we can go up and look at
the moon from the hurricane.
deck"
ra4That would be a good place
she said. "Ill have to talk to you
tonight, Vance"
All day she'd known what she
was going to have to say to him.
But the words stuck in her throat
when she tried to say them.
:1'm sorry, Vance. Terribly, ter
ribly sorry" That was the way
she began.
"Sorry for what, honey?"
If she had not been so intent on
what she was going to say next,
she would have heard the gentle
ness in his voice.
FHFor doing what I ha We done to
you. For embarrassing you a n d
making you uncomfortable@ r
being such an idiot! l was so sure
of. myself. But I was wrong. I
guess I was pretty unbalanced
about the whole thing. I thought
because I've been in love with you
ever since I was sixteen that may
be the kind Of love 1 had was big
enough to attract yours. I guess l
believed in the old line about any
girl being able to get the man she
wants if she goes after him hare
enough. 1 know better now. From
now on I'll believe that it's love at
first sight for two, or not at ALL"
She was such a crazy little kid.
Vance cleared his thoat because a
bunch of words got mixed up
there.
Kit was going on:
81 told you I'd be a good loser.
I will be. l only ask n thing Of
you. 1 haven't any right to ask it,
but I guess now you know any
way. It's about you. Not the man
who ran away, but the man who
won't ever run away again-from
anything. Your jobs waiting for
you. I told Gregory you'd be back
in two weeks. Nobody'H ever know
that you ran away. Hereafter, try
to be yourself. Be simple, because
being simple means being you, and
that's enough for everybody. No
body likes a wise guy. Be content
with knowing that you're what
everybody else thinks you area
nice, lovable, human person."
Gosh, Kit"-he could hardly
say it. His hand lowered timidly
over her shoulder that was turned
away from him. Il guess love
doesn't always strike you at first
sight, but that doesn't mean that
you don't fall"
c-Vance!" Kits voice was sharp,
her eyes fixed on the running fig
IRE that had come on de"k.
His eyes swung around to fol-
low it. He could hear the low,
sharp command of the second Of
ficer giving orders to one of the
wireless operators at his side. The
second officer took the steps to the
bridge two at a time as the cher
mar saluted and hurried off to his
station.
"Sonlething's up" Vance said.
The engines have stopped"
I'll find out what it IS. Stay
here, Kit. Do you understand? Stay
right here until 1 find out What
goes on. Don't novel"
She drew back in the shadows,
her eyes following him as ne hur-
rled to the deck below, to tt G
radio office.
When ne came back to ner, his
face was white, tense.
kit, you must get below at
once" he said. Don't open our
door until I come for you, WHAT
EVER HAPPENS. You're perfect
ly safe and I'll get you out of this
without anyone ever knowing you.
were on shipboard. But yo:i must
not be SEEN"
What is it, Vance? Tell mel"
Don't be afraid, my DAZZLING.
There are a couple of things the
matter, but there's no real danger.
Our cargo of felt is on fire. It's
under control, but it makes a lot
of smoke"
"But the engines have stopped"
81 know. There's been something
wrong with them. Nothing to do
with the fire. We'll be here an
other four or five hours. There's
absolutely no danger from fire or
anything else. But if this cro1d
smells smoke they'll probably
start a panic"
IA panic at seal" she said
whitley.
"a disgrace to the line, and Lord
knows what can happen if they