The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-06-05

BY the time they were well out
beyond the coral, Dick was trying
to think of plausible excuse for
waking her up. He rugged a tray
with fish sandwich, a stalk OF cell
cry, a whisky soda, glass OF iced
coffee, and a cup Of tea, and carried
it back to her bunk. Karen had to
smile when he reused her to offer
the silly assortment. It seemed to
him that she looked astonishingly
bright and fresh for someone so
much in need Of sleep.
81 didn't really think you'd want
any of this junk" he admitted. II
want to talk to you, Karen"
"That's really a very attractive
tray" Karen said. II don't see how
anyone could resist it. / think !
would like dry Martini"
go to thunder" said Tonga Dick.
"Listen-I want to tell you some
thing"
"Well?"
"You remember the night when I
UOdIOCO tllG oCdl, d1l0 1AAo0S yS&
come back to Alakoa?"
"Could I ever forget it? You were
extremely piratical, and unpleasant.
/ could have killed you"
II didn't know then that you were
running off to Honolulu to marry
John Colt. But I was afraid you
were. I didn't really think that it
would do your precious grandfather
any good to bring you back; was
pretty sure he wouldn't even recog-
nize you. And I know it's none of
my business who you marry. But
sometimes when people do some
thing in hurry it turns out to be
mistake"
Interference with other peoples
affairs is usually a mistake"
"That's not what I meant. I'm
not sorry I turned the Seal. AS it
turned out, it actually did pull old
Garrett Waterson through, I think"
"For heavens sake, sit down."
said Karen. "You make me nerv-
Gus, swaying around like that"
Dick sat down on the edge of the
bunk. "There's still plenty of time
for you to marry John Colt"
"You may as well know" Karen
said, 'tthat I'm not going to marry
John Colt"
"But you were going to, weren't
| your"
eyes; I was going to. I was hurt,
and angry, and disguised with the
whole thing. I wanted to get away
from Alakoa and everything about
it. To marry John seemed quick
and complete escape. But I'm glad
now that you turned the Seal"
He studied her carefully to see If
she meant for him to draw encour-
agement from that, but decided that
she did not. Karen seemed i'm
mensely detached.
"My grandfather thinks that he
sent Colt back to Honolulu" Karen
went on, "but he did not. I was the
one who sent him back. The raid
on Aakoa is over, Dick"
II should imagine" Dick said
| ironically, "that you'll have another
chance at it later. Garrett Water
son isn't going to live forever"
Karen flushed family. 81 wish you
wouldn't talk like that"
"When Garrett Waterson Is
dead" Dick pointed out, "your case
will be as good as ever"
81 wouldn't be interested" Karen
said. 81 see things differently now.
When John Colt first worked out our
plan for claiming Alakoa, 1t seemed
daring and romantic-very adven-
turous, and all that sort of Stiffness.
But that was when Garrett Water
son was Just forgotten name. He's
real now, and ! know him, and !
like him. And he is my own grand
father. I wouldn't be able now to
try to discredit his name"
THAT'S the way you feel now. Two
weeks ago you felt differently, and
in two weeks more you'll probably
feel differently again."
IT thought you might be afraid OF
that" Karen said. "But you don't
need to be-not any more. ] have
a present for you, Dick"
She hunted around for her hand
bag, found it, and produced piece
of paper. "This is for you"
He unfolded the sheet and glanced
at it. It was closely written in Kar-
ems own hand; at the bottom was
the huge scrawling signature Of
Garrett Waterson, Witnessed by
Stahlquist and Karen Waterson her
self.
RIO BE CONTLNUEDl