Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-10-20
CHAPTER vi

had told her it was a show place
and she had somehow got the i'm
preston that there was a big red
brick house with white columns,
closely resembling the Ellen Had
den Memorial Library, but set in
vast formal lawns. She recalled
that the full name of it was Uluwehi
E kai, which meant a profusion of
growing things by the sea.
1.-THE house is built in a cove"
Steve was saying, with the noun
tains coming down sheer on each
side. The front yard is a big lawn
shaded by palms. Beyond them is
a reach of golden sand and the Pa
cific which shades off from jade
green to bright blue and deep pur-
pie. Behind the house is hillside
covered with purple bougainvillea
at some seasons, and yellow trum-
pet flowers at others"
YES" Zorie was really thinking
more about Steve's deep, caressing
voice than she was about what he
was saying. 1t was a rich voice.
She was seeing him, leaning against
a palm tree with a guitar and sing
ing old Hawaiian songs to her.
His father, she knew, had been a
United States naval observer with
the British fleet. He had gone down
with the Invincible in the Battle Of
Jutland.
''Uluwehi's fallen on bad ways
since grandmother DEATH" he was
saying. Il hope you'll take hold
and bring the old place back to life.
We used to have wonderful times
there--luaus and dances and big
beach parties. You know, you re-
mind me of her pictures when she
was al girl. She had the same Sc
rene way about her you have. It's
very comforting to man. We need
someone like you, Zorie. l hope
you'll like u.s."
The music had stopped. He
stepped away from her. holding his
hand lightly under her elbow, to bal
ance her against the slight roll of
the ship.
Miss Lanning saw her, stared at
her and smiled coolly; then she saw
Steve and her smile promptly be-
came bright, living thing.
She waved at Steve. She car
rolled: "Stevie!'
Zorie's heart was climbing into
her throat. For a moment she
thought she would faint. Her one
wish was to be out of this room
Steve was dancing over to them,
and they were dancing over to meet
Steve. The four of them formed
slowly shutting huddle in the middle
of the floor.
The man with Miss Lanning was
staring at Zorie with half-lidded
eyes. His smile made his eyes even
more sinister.
Il heard you were aboard" Miss
Lanning said, and her dark eyes
and her smile and her voice all
seemed to sparkle.
Her partner said, in a suave, cul-
tured voice: "It's awfully nice to
see you again, Stephen"
Miss Corey" Steve was saying.
Miss Lanning-Winthrop Lanning."
1--WE know each other,' Amber
Lanning said with no enthusiasm.
1--WE have the same cabin
Il think we almost met earlier"
Winthrop Lannlng said. He was still
staring at Zorie.
1t was his eyes, under their partly
lowered lids, that Zorle would re-
member-so cold, so knowing, SO
questing that they frightened her
with their betrayal of the life he
had led. Their voices hardly reached
h. III -l,. i
with just then was the stupcndous
fact that Steve knew these people,
that he was on the friendliest of
terms with them.
She wondered if she could have
been mistaken-if this dark faced
man with his evil eyes was the man
she had seen in the green sedan.
But it was only a passing doubt.
She was certain he was. And Am
Der Lanning was his niece.
The ship rolled Steve and Zorie
were carried away from the Lam
nings. Zorie felt suffocated. Steve
was looking at her with grave solicit
tude.
do you feel the motion?"
"Will-will you take me out of
here?" she answered.
Steve took her firmly by the elbow.
She glanced up at him as they left
the floor. He looked as if nothing
had happened or was happening.
They crossed the deck to the rail
and leaned on it. Steve was study
ing her face with the tender solicit
tude of lover.
The breeze was cool on her hot
cheeks. A moon, little past full,
was rising off the stern.
I'm moment" Steve said in his
deep musical voice, "it will lay sill
yer carpet all the way across the
ocean for your especial benefit"
she wanted to question him about