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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1938-12-22, Page 13« WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES PAGE ttott i with indignation. "If I couldn’t train a child better than that I wouldn’t let him get near folks. Do you know that ring hurts?” Barton was instantly on his feet, distraught and apologetic. "I’m so terribly sorry. I’m sure it wasn’t in tentional, Mrs. Jenkins. Won’t you take my seat? Stewart! Steward—an other glass of tea, please!” Star grasped Stuart firmly by the shoulder saying, "If you want to play deck fennis we’ll play together. But no nonsense, Stuart." He nodded eagerly and gathered up the scattered rings. The next minute they were playing fast and furiously, Star seeming chagrined at her inabil ity to make any points, Stuart's eyes danced with joy as she ran desper ately from one side to the other, of ten hurling her best shots straight into the centre of the net. “She is a charming girl,” comment ed Mrs. Jenkins,- Barton stared, aware that he had utterly negelected his companion in watching his son and Star playing together. "Yes, she is,” he agreed^ weakly. “The child is a smart-looking youngster, too,” Mrs. Jenkins con ceded, “but of’ course a boy that age needs a mother. Have you ever thought of marrying again?” she de manded, “Well, no—not exactly,” Barton stammered. He flushed to the roots of his hair. “You ought to think of it.” Mrs. Jenkins leaned back in her chair, smiling fatuously. “The boy needs a mother and you need a wife. I would n’t tell everyone Mr. Underwood, but it might help you know that when Mr. Jenkins proposed I wasn’t the least bit in love with him. I told him so too. But he only said, ‘Never mind, Myra, that will come later.! And it all worked out fine. Of course Mr. Jenkins didn’t have any children. But still, you’re a fine-looking man and ...” Barton was actuely self-coftscious. He was deeply grateful when the un loved Mr, Jenkins made his appear ance and the couple went off for their much publicized “forty winks” before dinner. But as he lit his pipe and peace once more enveloped the ship be‘began to think less harshly of Mrs. Jenkins and her advice. The old girl might be right, after all. '(Certainly Stuart was a changed child whenever Star was around. And, he thought, his eyes kindling, she was the kind of a girl any man could love and respect. A girl any man would be proud to call his wife. Star scarcely dared to breathe late that night as she stared at the rad iance of the moon and enjoyed the deep silence all about her. The ship moved on gently, hemmed in by the waves and under the tremendous arch of sky overhead. The stars were spit led carelessly over that domed dark ness; the moon was silver white, dis turbingly bright and clear. Star had no idea how long she stood there. She knew suddenly an other presence. Someone was stand ing just behind her. Kent still in uni form was looking, not at the moon, but at her. The light drained all col or from his face, he looked tired. He moved so that he stood beside her and turned his face, as she did, toward the moon. “Baeutiful, isn’t it? I’ve seen it a thousand times and on each occassion it seems just as won derful.” “I can’t get the Christmas Carol out of my mind,” Star said dreamily. Softly, so that only he could hear, she hummed: , Silent night—Holy night— All iscelar; All is bright. ‘ Her voice was light as the breeze that bore it away. As she finished she turned, to him and his arms went out toward her. She held up her lips to his. It seemed to both of them as nat ural and inevitable as the moon upon the water or the gentle throbbing of the boat beneath them. Their lips clung together even af ter Star had realized that it was wrong. For a brief moment she was passive, held gently but securely in the circl© of his arms, experiencing in spite of herself the joy of a mom ent too precious and perfect to last. Star was breathing hard when Kent let her go. “Why did. you do that?” sHc demanded He did not answer immediately. Then he said, “I did it because I care for you deeply. And because I hoped for a little while that you cared for me.” Without another word he turn ed and walked away. She shivered and drew the beach robe more tightly about het. The moon had become cold and unfriend- 1y—-remote from the distressing prob lems of a lonely girl far below. Chapter XVI The Cartageha had slipped noise lessly into the harbor, The ladder was already in place and the passen gers were descending, read$ for shore trip to Barranquilla. -Star startled at her emotions during brief time of waiting, Perhaps it because she had lain awake such a the was this was long time last night after she had returned from the top- deck. Now she was paying for that restless night. "Do you think she's sleepwalker?” Barton Underwood’s voice roused her with a start. He and Elise were standing quite close, laughing at her absorption, Stuart’s hand tugged at hers. “Come on, Nearly everybody's off.” They left the ship, Elise walking slowly with Barton's hand under her arm. The steel pier was the only modern structure as far as their eyes could see, Indeed it was almost the only structure of any kind except the open-faced sheds that held a con glomeration of towels and hats and baskets, "I’m going to buy out this place,” Elsie announced joyously. “After all, this is the first real port I’ve seen.” “Better wait till we’re coming back,” Barton said cautiously. "It’s amazing how bulky these things are. They haven’t been corrupted by the fever for packaging down here.” Stuart was unexpectedly quiet. His hot little hand clung tenaciously to Star’s and hjs round ewes romed ceaselessly from one thing to anoth er. “Don’t you like, this place?” Star asked as they stood on the small brid ge waiting,for the trolley that would take them to the mainland, “Yes,” Stuart agreed gravely, “But there’s too mt\ch wind—it hurts my ears.” Star and Barton smiled at each other. But Elise unfastened the white chiffon handerchief at her throat and knelt before Stuart, "If I tie tliis over your ears,” she explained, “the wind can’t get in.” He nodded and stood quietly while the handerchief was knotted, peasant fashion, under his chin. “That better?” “That’s fine!” said'Stuart happily, sniffing at one corner to get the full benefit of the delicate scent. “You’re nice, too. You smell nice.” His tribute was so sincere and un prompted that Elise’s eyes were mis ty as she stood up again. Star men tally promised Stuart an extra-long story for giving Elise what she need ed • now above everything else—un questioning friendliness. The “Toonerville Trolley” rattled along, and stopped abruptly in front of them. Hilariously Star and Elise managed the high steps, finding that their skirts needed only this slight elevation to send them billowing up ward The ride seemed-all to' short. They were sorry when they had to take an ordinary touring car for the ride further into the hills. They flew past houses painted in what Elise called ‘ice cream” colors. Lovely, beautiful kept homes that they knew even before the quide told them had been built by Americans. When, they finally reached Bapran- quilla it was lunch time. They drove -up to a hotel dropped as if in the midst of an otherwise barren land. Star caught herself hurrying toward the dining room and deliberately slowed her steps. But she could not help glancing quickly around at the tables as they came in. One glance was enough to tell her—Gloria and Kent were not there. As if their ab sence had released a hidden spring in her mind Star ebgan*"for the first time to enjoy the day. ' Elise Cattrell was ‘as delighted as a child with the lovely .bougainvillea blossoms that were scattered over their table. She gathered up a hand ful of them and sniffed expectantly, only put them down in disappoint ment. “They er!” "Lavender Star. "What scent.” “Women always want everything,” Barton said, with such a pained ex pression Elise and Star laughed at him. They stayed a long time, wander ing through the cool tiled terrace that was open on one side in- tall archways wreathed in Poinsettia. But they left early enough to avoid tiring Elise and because Stuart in spite of his protests was almost asleep. All the way back to the ship he lay in Star’s arms, his short lashes curled up. He had chosen that position him self as they got into the car and Barton obligingly rode with the driv er. Before they began the return trip Stir glanced up and discovered Glor ia and Kent just driving in, Kent’s expression was thoughtful as he saw her holding the child, but he only bowed quietly to them and turned with Gloria toward the hotel. Star heard her roorhate’s light voice aiid saw her smiling brilliantly. But she did not hear Kent respond. In Spite of herself she could not help con Lasting Ids gloomy expression with his gay laughter during that day at Kingston when they had been to gether. might be made of pap tissue paper,” agreed a pity they have no The ship was moving now, drawing away from the pier so gently it had the effect of a slow-motion picture, Purple mountains melted into a sky of lavender-blue still starless. Yellow lights along the shore glowed like round balls of gold, but shed no rad- I lance. Their own ship lights shivered > on the water beyond the railing. Star, her lavender -net dress blow* * ing softly in the breeae, could hardly I speak for the lump in her throat. She : did not want to talk, She wanted only ■ to remember this moment—all shad ows and soft lights, with everyone dancing on deck as the boat glider away from the shore. * "You really like it down here, don’t you?” Coates asked as they danced across the deck. "It’s like a dream, I can't believe it’s real.” Later when she was dancing with Barton Underwood and Barranquilla was only a deeper darkness in the shadows on the sea she was surpris ed to have him ask the same question. “You really love this part of the world, don’t you? Would you like to stay?” t ■ “Now that you ask me I don’t know.” Star answered honestly. "I’ve found it beautiful to be here. But do you think it’s because I know we’ll leave within a few hours and be off to a different port?” "I think it’s because you like the people you're with.” “ That’s true,” Star smiled at him. "I find myself looking forward to the bedtime story almost as much as Stuart.” “Is it only 'Stuart who makes the trip a success for you?” Star could scarcely repress her as tonishment. She said carefully, "Of course not. You and Elise and Gloria and—and everyone.” , Barton led her toward the front of the boat and stood leaning against the rail, watching the way the wind blew her hair and tiny shoulder cape out behind her so that to him she seemed like some goddess of the sea calling to her mermaids, “I should like to think,” he said slowly, "That you found Stuart’s father more than likeable, I waht you to stay with Stuart and with me----- always.” The suddeness of it took away Star’s breath. She understood all at once why Barton had looked at her so strangely that afternoon as she held Stuart in her arms. She knew now why he had cuses to linger in he would be there his daily story. “It’s been a long time since I’ve thought of asking any woman to be my wife,” Barton was saying. “When Stuart’s mother died I felt that was all over for me. But then I hadn’t met you.” The compliment was giv en with one of his rare smiles. In stantly he was serious again. “I’ve been terrible lonely at times. Lately I’ve tried to overcome the feeling. It seemed, in a way, disloyal. But watching Stuart with you I knew that it would be more disloyal to de prive him of love and tenderness. I —I’m not very romantic,’ he added apologetically, “but being practical has its advantages too. You could live here, if yog liked, or at least we could come here often. I’d like to show you parts of Europe, too. Some of it is very romantic.” She glanced at his face only dimly seen in the reflection from the lights, amidships and found she knew every line of his strong square chin, the odd droop of his eyes at the corners. He was clean and good and fine, she knew that.” “T don’t stammered thought—” His hand don’t answer now.” a boyish unsteadiness that she found very appealing. “Let me hope for a few days more, anyway. But please remember, my dear, you can make both Stuart and me very happy, if you will.” been making ex- the cabin'so that as she told Stuart know v what to say,” she at last. “I — I hadn’t closed over hers. - “Please His voice had i ound. atitly, come back.” “You’re wrong, young fellow.” Kent’s expert hands traveled swiftly over the sturdy little frame and he nodded reassuringly at Star. “Your father is about ready to call out the army and ileUlare war because you’re missing. Hustle now, we’ve got to get back to the ship,” "And when we do get back, the Captain’s going to blow the whistle three times to let everyone know you’re safe,” Star added. Stuart beamed with pleasure, right. Let’s hurry!” he agreed, the next minute he hung back. ’ less — we could wait for the sold iers?” he asked hopefully. * * * Star lay on the top deck, the sun warm on her back, to think it out. Tomorrow she would have to give Barton Underwood his answer. She sighed. Life had seemed so clear and uncomplicated when — she came aboard. Just take a cruise, she had told herself. Make "Uncle” Ezra’s son realize that he had been a perfect cad — store up a few memories and then return to the library at Milford. It had been so easy to plan. But now everything had changed. She did not want to go back to Milford. She ; was no longer the same person. The girl who had been content with a col orless existence had been replaced by someone who knew that life could be exciting and gay outside the dusty covers of library books.’ And she need not go back! The way out had been opened for her with Barton Underwood’s proposal. And he was nice, too.- But was he in love with her? Star suspected he was not. Of course he was no young ro manticist. Without doubt his interest had been aroused by watching her with Stuart. That, set against the ro- manic background of the cruise, had made him propose. But was that enough? Star turned over, carefully protecting her eyes from the sun with a handkerchief. It might be enough if she were in love with him. But she wasn’t. Was she in love with someone else? It had taken her quite a while, Star reflected grimly, to realize the full meaning of her interest in Kent. It was not, as she tried to pretend, be cause she hated him. She had felt that she should hate him. She had tried to. But from the first she had liked him. Now — she might as well face it — she was in love with Kent Barrett. Star sat up, aware that she had had plenty of sun. Her skin was already a golden tan that made her eyes look bluer than ever. Even her hair was tipped with gold where the sun had reached the upturned ends. She made her way to her cabin. With a gesture of greeting to Gloria, Star stepped into the bath room for a shower. S.he had promis ed Barton she would meet him on deck for tea.. There was still time to lie down and talk to Gloria for a while. And Gloria, it seemed, wanted to talk to her. Probably she was worried about Kent. Well, no mat- I self mentally, That was nut what he confident as he appeared to be. His had meant to say, at all. The music | mouth was pressed into a thin line. 1 stopped and Star drew away from, He took out a notebook and turned ■ him. "J dididt mean to do that, : floundered, "What I meant **•” Star interrupted tartly, don’t bother. I haven’t even ; about it since,” Kent stared down at her The exquisite joy of that moment he had held her in his arms had been with him ever since. And she could stand there calmly and tell him she didn’t think it worth while to "both er” about! "If you’re afraid I’ll tell Gloria,” Star continued in the same brittle tone, "let me put your fears'.at rest,” "Gloria!” He was taken off guard by the mention of Gloria’s name. He was only thinking intently of the girl before him. Star's face lighted up with a radiant smile. ' "Yes, Gloria, You know, you’re engaged tp marry, ber?” Still smiling she walked left him standing by the rail, j|< * * sThey stood watching Cartagena come closer to them — a golden city, floating like a mirage on top of the blue water. Neither Elise nor Barton was saying a word. Star felt that the whole trip would have been worth this moment. Around then the morn ing was a haze of pastel .shades; blue and pink and gold and white. The ship held an early morning hush. Few of the other passengers were up. The massive wall and high towers of the city seemed like an old paint ing. It was bard, to realize that it was medieval — that the very wall standing there now — wide enough for six' horsemen to gallop along abreast — had once defied the bold Sir Francis Drake. Later, after Barton Underwood had asked her to go ashUre with him alone, Star had that same feeling of unreality. Barton had arranged for Stuart and Elise to do the town to gether; Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins had promised to look after the boy, too. Star and Barton found the sleepy sunny white streets a revelation in old-world charm. They stopped for a minute in the Cathedral and gazed in awe at the mummified saint enclosed in the altar behind glass, They visited the old where Pedro de Claver They looked out through ters onto the Bay and heard bf how he watched for slave ships so that he cpuld give some word of kindness or minister to some physical need of those poor lost souls. Time seemed to have stopped with in these walls. Whether it was the monks in their brown robes or the huge old palm trees that leaned ag ainst the windows, or the darkened wooden prie-dieu, Star Barton did not know. But after they came into the sunlight they tried to accustom themselves to the thought that most of Cartagena’s history was written almos four hundred years ago. They hired a guide and were ad mitted to the old fortress. They sat for a time -on the crumbling steps of the wall and looked out over the blue water, They went on to a high-ceil inged restaurant where a Spanish orchestra played in a strange rhythm which seemed perfectly suited to the place. "It’s such a lovely city,” Elise Cat trell was saying as she greeted Star and Barton upon their return to the ship, “•Stuart and I had a grand time. I was sorry I had to return so early. But I’m sure Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins took him around to all the things we missed.” Barton looked vaguely uneasy. “1 wish tirey’d get back,” he murmured, and went away. Star looked at the pier below and suddenly saw Mrs. Jenkins’ ample fig ure approaching. She was talking ex citedly to her husband. Mr. Jenkins was almost lost under an odd as sortment of bundles of every size and shape. Evidently his wife had been seized with a shopping mania. Star caught her breath as she real ized that the two were alone. "My land!” Mrs. Jenkins puffed as she stepped on the ship. “I’m about to fall apart, I’m so tired. I’ve never seen so many churches and so many forts all in one city—what’s the mat ter, Mr. Underwood?” “Stuart!” Star managed. "Where is (Stuart?” “Why, he came back with Miss Cattrell,” Mr. Jenkins began. "No — no!” Elise said wildly. “Don’t you remember? I told you I was coming bad^eSul asked you to take him through the Palace." "I thought that’s what she said, Willie.” Mrs, Jenkins nodded her head vigorously. “But when we got inside he wasn’t with us, so we de cided you hadn’t said that after all/' Star signalled to Kent Barrett as he passed them, He came over hesi tantly and looked group, "Stuart is lost/ unnatural voice. ‘ looking for him at once,'* “We’ll find him/’ Kent's quiet as* j sitrance helped Bartoii a little. But "Please thought angrily. the girl Remem- off and monastery- had lived, long shut- hc ’ to Elis©. "Miss Cattrell, where did you go? Tell me as exactly as you s can remember/ It seemed to take a long time for Elise and Mrs. Jenkins to give a co herent account of their movements, Star was impatient to be off, but she realized that Kent was doing the wise I thing, When he had the information he quickly mapped out a plan. "Miss Cattrell and Mr. Underwood will follow her route, Here it is — written out. I’ll speak to the Cap tain and have some of the seamen detailed to cover the water front. Star and I will go over the ground Mr, and Mrs. Jenkins covered, Wait here a minute.. Return to the pier in an hour, no matter what, Mean while listen for the ship’s siren. Three blasts will mean that the boy’s been found.” It did not seem strange to Star that she and Kent should be paired off in the search, She was scarcely conscious, in fact, of anything that took place in the next lialf hour. She only knew that every time they look ed over the high wall surrounding the city she expected to see a tiny bundle lying inert at the bottom. She breath ed a prayer of thankfulness when there was nothing,’ I She was frantic when they stood in front of the Palace of the Inquisi tion. Its entrance yawned at them with grim secrecy as if it rejoiced that a more subtle torture than its rooms had ever known was tearing at her. soul. "Stuart! Stuart!” She stood in the middle of the court and called despairingly. Kent disappeared into the next chamber, his footsteps echoing hollowly. Star had a sensation that she was being watched. She turned swiftly and saw a pair of dark eyes gleam ing at her. Suddenly she saw a little girl. Appearing not to notice her at all, Star circled the courtyard, gazing intently at the flagging as if she had lost some small piece of jewelry. As she approached the darkened stairs she wheeled quickly and came out holding the pitiful ragged child, whose thin hand was like a claw in hers. “Where’s the little boy?” Star de manded. “About so high.” She put her hand a few feet from the ground. “Just a little boy. Where is he?” The child shook her head sullenly, but Star had a conviction that she understood welt enough. Star . gazed at her in despair, and saw her eyes fastened on a bracelet—a narrow sil ver chain hung with dangling charms. Without letting her go, Star worked at the clasp until it opened. The child stared fascinated, as she dangled it in front of her. Experimentally she put up her ’hand to touch it. Star moved it just out of reach. . “Get boy?” For a fleeting second she let the cool silver rest against the child’s arm. There was a moment of indecision! while the little girl looked from her to the bracelet and back again. Star literally held her breath, wondering if the bribe would work. Then the child gave an almost in- . finitesimal nod, and Star knew she had won. Stuart lifted his head defi- 'He* wouldn’t mind if I didn’t that "All but Un- •'.the same way. So Star said: “I know : you haven’fi been happy lately. Do you want to tell me about it?” But Gloria did not want to do tire .confiding. She said with sincerity, "There’s nothing to tell. Kent has mad© it clear to the whole ship that he would rather be with anyone els© than with his fiancee.” A note -of bit terness crept .in and sh’e tried to cov* er it, "Is that what you were think ing about?” Star shook her head,. Perhaps she could make it easier for Gloria by telling her about Barton Underwood, She had an intense desire to talk it over with someone, would understand. "I was thinking else entirely,” She roommate, "Barton Underwood-” Gloria was astonished at Star’s an swer. Instantly her mind flashed back, to Star’s interest in Stuart'*—to the day she had seen her with Barton and Elise in Cartagena, "Yes?” Her voice was encourag ing. You —- you see, Star said hesi tantly, "he asked me to m-marry him — I haven’t said yet whether I will or not.” Gloria’s mind was working swiftly. Alternately she reproached herself for wasting time on Kent, a penniless doctor, and gave Star grudging credit for winning Barton Underwood. Star had been after bigger game — and had captured it. Gloria asked cautiously, "Of course you’re going to accept?” "I — I haven’t decided,* Star said untruthfully. Gloria was tio longer jealous; Star’s purpose was accom plished. But she wasn’t going to say that she would marry Barton. “But, -Star, I’m sure you’d be hap py. He’s really terribly wealthy,” To Gloria a happy marriage meant plen ty of money. “I suppose so,” Star said indiffer ently, “But don't you care? No, I suppose* you don’t. When you have a fortune yourself—•” "I haven’t, Gloria. I haven’t any money, not really. I said that be cause — well, it doesn’t matted now. Anyway, I was just pretending. At the time I really had a good reason for saying what I did.” "If it isn’t so, what do you do? How did you come to take this trip? Where did you get the money and the clothes?” “Oh, it isn’t that bad. I — I’m just a small-town librarian,” Star explain ed. “A children’s librarian. That’s why I found Stuart so interesting. I really like children. And I came on this trip because — well, because my uncle had died. That part of what I said was true. And I had saved a lit tle money.” “You said you knew Kent before,” Gloria remembered. “I suppose you made that up too,” she .added. "I knew of him,”. Star admitted. “And I had met him when we both were quite young. You see, it’s rath er complicated. Kent’s uncle adopt ed me. Naturally, staying at home I heard about Kent. But I guess he never heard about me. Anyway, he Surely Gloria about someone smiled at her ter what Kent said, Gloria expected, doesn’t know who I am and you to marry him. Her own feeling for won’t tell, will you?” Chapter XVII Kent watched Star returning with Underwood to the brightly lit deck. He had tried all evening to corral his courage to ask her for a dance. ,He had watched her talking and laughing with Coates and had seen her walk away with Stuart’s father. He envied the casual way both men managed to put one arm around her, to look down at her and talk. He could scarcely even watch her without becoming tongue-tied and shaky. But he had to dance with her. He must try to make her understand that last night had not been a ro-j mantic impulse. That when he was free to speak he would tell her frank ly just what she meant to him. “Dance ?” He appeared before her suddenly as she looked up, And with a nod to Underwood she floated off in his arms. He glanced down at the crisp dark hair, the oval of her face. “Quite the belle of the ball, aren’t you?” His voice sounded hard and unfriendly even to his own ears. “You’re not feeling romantic to night!” she said mockingly, She smiled over his shoulder at Mrs. Jen- s kins. Kent felt enraged and at the same time helpless. He made anoth* ’ er desperate attomtpf to straighten i out the situation. “About last night *-* I’m afraid Iv! •— I frightened ytm,” He kicked him* Star wondered ii Kept wa| quite as around at the tense Barton .said in an 'We’ll have to start &4L him would have to be smothered. But there was pleasure in even hearing his name. Gloria watched the bathroom door. Her eyes were gleaming with anger. She wanted to tell Star what she thought of her tactics — pretending to be interested in her cabin mate’s love affair with Kent — and then en couraging him herself! Gloria did not believe any man would become inter ested ip a girl without definite en couragement. And ik never occurred to her that any man would prefer another girl to herself. “Get a good sunburn?” Gloria had a moment of envy as she looked at the radiant, suntanned girl before her, “I’d like to take a sun bath too,” she said peevishly, “but I just.burn.” Star fastened her terry robe and lay down, stretching luxuriously. “I had to be alone for a little while. But I have things straightened out now —with myself,. I mean. Really,” Star added shyly, “I’d like to talk to you.” Gloria, avid for her confidences, managed a creditable sob. “I — I suppose it’s about Kent.” Star Blushed. "No — not about Kent,” she answered. “Unless you have something to tell me.” “He’s been with you practically the whole trip,” Gloria said pettishly. “Just to make me jealous, I suppose.” Star was looking at her roommate thoughtfully. Gloria was afraid from the girl’s expression that she had put her on her guard. Instead, Star was thinking of that moment at the swim ming pool in Kingston, Of Kent, rising bronzed and lean from the wa- ter to say earnestly, “I’m not going to marry Gloria.” It was hard for any girl to come, away on what she expected to be her honeymoon trip and man behave as Kent even understand GIoi torfuges. But Kent never be true—-even to himself. Star knew that. And knowing it she still 'Daddy? He doesnt want me ar* loved Kent Gloria must love him Chapter XVIII Star let the little girl go and stood quiely, hoping. She heard Kent’s footsteps, faint at first, come nearer. Still she waited. “Well, he doesn’t seem to be here.” Kent sounded weary for the first time. ' “Shh—hh.” Star motioned him back. “Stay in the other room just a second.” Astonished, Kent drew back to the other side of the open doorway. The next minute the little girl’s bare feet pattered on the stone. Oher steps sounded, and Stuart appeared. But such a Stuart! His face was streaked with dirt and dust. His once white linen suit was bedraggled and torn. But it was Stuart, and he look ed beautiful to Star when she knelt in the courtyard and held out her arms to him. The little girl paused warily under the porch. “Stuart — oh, dhrling! Why did you do it?” Star exclaimed. Stuart drew away and surveyed her practi cally. “Do what?” “Run away. We’ve all been so wor ried, dear. We’ve looked everywhere for you.” Star remembered the little girl and held out the bracelet. A skinny arm stretched out and snatched it away. Then the child vanished as quickly as•she had appeared. Stuart was looking with interest from Star to Kent, who now stood in the away,” playing name’s cave back there with iron and things ift it.” “But didn’t you know your father and Kent and L—ancl everyone would miss you, Stuart?” I doorway. “I wasn’t running he explained. "I was just with that little girl her Lores. There’s a long sort of then have the had. She could ■ia’s pitiful sub- Barrett would "Of course not,” Gloria promised absently. herself. She had at face the girl Chapter XIX Gloria’s mind was already far from Star and her problems. She was won- edring how she could turn Barton Underwood’s attention to How foolish she had been! accepted Star’s statement value. Now that she knew was not wealthy it all became clear. Star had deliberately hooked Barton Underwood. Star Sandringham — a pauper, an acknowledged pretender— was on the point of marrying the most eligible man on the boat! But Gloria was not one to let a little thing like that discourage her. I was never too late to try. If Bar ton Underwood was looking for com panionship she would see that he got it. Not from a silly small-town lib rarian, but from a sophisticated wo man of the world. She must see Kent and tell him he was free. She smiled as she thought of how glad he would be to hear that. She could even afford to be sweet and resigned about it. No need to make an enemy of him. Gloria arch- « ed an eyebrow carefully, feeling hap pier by the minute. Let Kent have his fun. Let him make love to the simple small-town librarian. It would leave Barton Underwood all the more willing to seek the company of a sympathetic and lonely blonde. * * * “I’m getting passes to ers’ Club,’’ Coates said thought you might enjoy Afterward we can look in at the vari ous cabarets.” “Am I invited to accompany you?” Star’s eyes Were dancing as she look ed at the slim foppish man beside her. She found his assumption that they would go ashore together quite amus ing, since he hadn’t mentioned it to her before she was dressed and ready to go. Coates tried to match her lightness of tone although ho had the Strang* briskly, "I seeing that,