Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-11-17
CHAPTER X

1.-THE nurse told me not to disturb
you for while. I'd like to see you
as soon as possible. It's very inn
portant, are you alone?"
II will be-" said Zorie. She
reached for her dressing gown and
said to Amber: "You won't mind 60
ing out for while. My fiance wants
to talk things over"
There was droll amusement in
Amber's "Ah, yes! Your fiance! Not
at all, my dear"
Zorie was sitting at the dressing
table, thoughtfully considering Am
ber's array of cosmetics, when Paul
knocked. She opened the door. He
came in and closed it.
She half lifted her arms, expect
ing that he would seize her and hug
and kiss her out of sheer relief that
she was alive.
He looked her over quickly. He
nodded jerkily. "You were lucky"
he said. you certainly were lucky.
Are you sure you're all right"
EYES," Zorie said. I'm all right"
She was surprised that her feeling
about Paul hadn't changed. Every
thing else had changed, but she was
still in love with Paul. With little
working over, Paul would be salts
factory.
"Well," Paul said in a business
like way, 1--WE just had a long talk
with the captain-with the doctor
and the chief officer sitting in. This
is pretty serious, Zorie."
EYES," said Zorie, 81 suppose it
isn't an everyday occurrence"
She realized she had to make
decision. Her sole desire just now
was to find out who had thrown her
overheard. 1t occurred. to her that it
might be unwise to tell Paul that
she had been thrown overheard. She
was sure that the only people on the
ship who knew were Amber, her
uncle, and Pierre Savoyard. 1t would
be impossible to prove that one of
them had thrown her overheard. 1t
would, she decided, be wiser to wait
until she had talked with Steve.
II have it all fixed up with the
captain" Paul said. 1.-THE whole
episode will be orgotten-nothing
will be said. The incident will be
closed"
I'm afraid I don't understand"
Zorie interrupted.
"You see," he explained, "a thing
like this is very unpleasant for the
steamship company"
tits rather unpleasant for the
victim, too" Zorie pointed out.
"You don't understand" said
Paul. This could easily cause
great deal of trouble for US all.
The mainland and the Honolulu pa
pers, if they picked up the truth"
1.-THE TRUTH" Zorie stopped him.
Paul looked somewhat grim. you
see, Zorie, even while the ship was
being put about to pick you up, and
since then, the captain and the chief
officer have been questioning the
crew. Several of the crew say you
were drunk. You were seen stag
gering about the ship"
Il see," Zorie said dreamily. II
fell overheard because I was drink
ing"
We'll, isn't it obvious? Didn't
your"
Twill that get into the papers?"
Zorie asked.
Certainly not! That's what I've
been arranging. Evcrythng's all
fixed. The story had already been
wirelessed to Honolulu and the main
land that it was prank Someone
dared you to walk the rail. You
did. You slipped. YOU"
WHO dared me?" Zorie asked.
Paul made gesture of impa-
tience. mo name had to be given
No one knows. One of the passen-
gers. That clears you of any of the
wrong kind of notoriety, and it abb
solves the company of any response
bility. You see, in a case like this,
there's often apt to be a lawsuit"
"You mean, the company might
sue me?"
mo, dear. You might sue the
company"
paul." Zorie said, you're won
derful. You think of everything"
II even dropped in on the wire
1853 AtSJ EuDiioil Slllp-
board newspaper, you know. l gave
then. a rather amusing account of it
for the passengers benefit-and to
plug any nasty rumors that might
be going around. Now, all you have
to do is sign this"
He held out typed slip and his
fountain pen, uncapped
"What is it?"
"a release. 1t absolves the COM
pany of all responsibility.
Zorie signed it. Paul waved the
release, to dry her signature.
"By the way" he said, my broth
er is quite ill.,"
"Steve?" Zorie cried
Just about the time you fell over
board he was taken with an attack
of acute Indigestion. That was why
the doctor didn't take care of you.
He was busy pumping out Steve's
stomach"