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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1938-12-22, Page 14
FOURTEEN Wreasmgly serious of late. ©twtomary in Christobal for a G.haimung ywwg lady to have some igMtimn with her when she visits spots,” he announced, ^xfideed!” Star said in mock SUr- .^riS©. <4;Qh, yes indeed! I meant to have engraved invitations sent to you ask ing if X might have the honor of your company ■—” too bad you didn’t.” “Too bad? ’You mean you aren’t going,, ashore?” “I didn’t say that,’ Star explained, am going ashore to the Strangers’ Club, I believe, and the night spots, as you call them. But I have already accepted Mr, Underwood’s invitation to do the town. As a matter of fact here he comes with Elise.” The two were chattering together like old friends and Star smiled up at them as they joined her. Elise was dressed in a grey chiffon that was pleated in soft folds to the waist, and then billowed out in great circular pleats to the floor. She looked com pletely happy; her eyes as they rested on the tall distinguished man beside her, were bright and sparkling. Bar ton looked pleased too. Star had a momentary pang of regret that she would have to spoil his evening. “This isn’t fair,” Coates was pro testing, "You contract to escort the two smartest looking women ashore and I have to barge around alone.” “They do look pretty, don’t they?” Barton’s eyes rested appreciateively on the two smiling women beside him .“Well, that’s life, my boy. You have nothing, I have everything, but that’s the way it goes.” Star laughed. She had never seen Barton in a more jubilant mood. But Elise said quickly, “It does seem a shame to leave Mr. Coates here all alone.” Barton put a hand on the eblow of each and started toward the lad der. The other passengers were al ready filing down, the women’s jew els sparkling and the men’s shirt ffronts gleaming in the light. Star felt again that thrill she had had the first night aboard. It was so gay, guch a glorious adventure, and best of all, she was part of it. She caught a glimpse of Gloria and Kent already walking down the con crete pier below. Gloria’s lavender dress was blowing in the wind — she looked very pretty. For the first time during the trip Gloria seemed to be z her old self, smart and poised and attractive. Star wondered what had caused the change, and sighed as she realized it was probably because of their talk yesterday afternoon. ..Coates, dogging her footsteps, al most stepped on a fold of her dress. ■“I’m not going to let you out of my sight,” he threatened. “I’ll just trail right along and sit at the next table.” “Is that man here again?’ Barton asked impatiently. Elise gently dis engaged her arm. “I think we’ve treated him shame fully,” she declared. She stepped back and laid her hand on Coates’ arm. “After all. he’s a fellow pass enger.” Star found everyone in the same holiday mood. She mentioned it to Barton, wondering if it was because of the Christmas season. But Coates assured her that Cristobal was the playground of the Caribbean and that everyone always “made a night of it” in this port. “It’s the only one where the ship stays overnight, you know,” he add ed. “You can sleep late tomorrow morning unless you’re going to drive over to Panama to see the Canal.” Star had already decided she could not afford that part of the trip. She liad suddenly realized that her glor ious three weeks were half over and that in a little while she would be re turning to Milford, or looking for an other job. Besides, distance had lent enchantment to “Uncle” Ezra’s rela tives and she wanted to buy each of them a little gift before she returned home. As they drew up before the Strang ers’ Club, Elise gave a little cry of dismay. “Is this it?” Barton turned questioningly to Coates who nodded and helped Elise from the car. They looked at the frame building — not very different, Star thought, from some of the larg er houses in Milford, Elise voiced her thoughts. “But we’ve seen such grand hotels in the most unlikely places. It’s odd that the one you hear most about should be so unpretentious.” Inside, the place was even more like a private residence. There was carpet instead of the usual tile and a staircase rose steeply in front of them. Coates led them up to a huge room open on all sides to soft sum mery night. An orchestra played pro vocatively and the large'dance floor was a shifting sea of color against the background of the men’s summer dress suits. It wasn’t what they bad expected’, but it had 'a charm of its own, Star decided. , , They found a table, but Star was not allowed to sit down. Barton lik ed to dattcc and the orchestra was good. They laughed together at the xilfficulty of finding their “land legs” T ively. Feering over his shoulder was a pretty little Chinese girl, her slant ing eyes immobile, her face calm. Star put her hand on Barton’s .arm. “Flease let them have the table. We don’t really, care.” “We must take it now,” Barton said quickly. “The waiter has held it for us.” He put his hand next to the fat, greasy fingers of the man who arg ued. “I beg your pardon.” The Spanish aggressor looked al most? ready to blow up; his curly black hair and wide moustache actu ally bristled. But Barton’s manner was -unmistakable and the swarthy one, still talking volubly, relaxed his hold. The next minute the table was theirs and the head waiter was try ing to make his peace with the out raged patron. Star looked around expecting to find the whole rpsaurant staring at the scene. But no one seemed to have noticed. Even those at the tables next to them were indifferent to what was evidently a regular occurrence. As she looked at the table beyond, however, she saw that the dispute had had at least two interested on lookers. Gloria and Kent were there. They smiled and waved above the heads of the others. “Shall we ask them to join us?” Star shook her head. “Let’s just stay quiet for a few minutes,” she' begged. “Besides, we seem to be on the right of way.” There was scarcely room for two at the table; the other side faced what was supposed to be an aisle. Actually, the man sitting opposite them was only two feet away. “We won’t stay long anyway,” Bar ton promised. “There’s going to be a show, I think.” He nodded toward the tiny parquet dance floor a few levels below them. "And this is something you see only down here. Did you’ ever see so many different nationalities crowded.into one room? Every country in the world must be represented. “A League of Nations,” Star sug gested with a smile. Barton laughed with her. “And just about as friendly as you would expect. Our fat friend seems to be harboring a grudge against us.” Star followed Barton’s glance and saw that the couple who had tried to sit at their table were now several tiers nearer the roof. They seemed to be with a large party, all dark- skinned, dark-eyed. They were glar ing ferociously at Barton and Star as if they had been mortally insulted. “They hate us,” Star said a little tremulously. “I hope they don’t plan to do anthing ugly.” 'Barton laughed. “They’ll be inter ested in the show and forget about it,” he promised. But as the show started Star found it hard to believe that anyone could really care to watch it. A.thin, tired- looking girl dressed in red spangles came out on the floor and sang into the microphone. She held onto the iron stanchion as if sh"e were about to collapse. Yet through the ampli fiers in the ceiling her voice came in a continuous sullen roar, slightly off key. No one stopped talking. It was al most a contest between the audience and the performer to see who could make the most noise. The audience won in Star’s opinion, but they were generous with their applause. A group of Marines on the other side of the room stamped and shouted for an encore, but the singer withdrew and made way for a rhumba dancer. The audience paid her the tribute of admiring silence. Star found her gyrations anything but graceful; she knew a minute of pity for the girl who must spent her life amusing such a ribald crowd. The dancer’s face was stony; her eyes looked over the star ing faces as if she did not see them. Only her body, clothed in a grotesque skirt of artificial grass, expressed any emotion. When she left, the uproar was deafening. She was called back to bow again and again. Finally, to quiet them, she lisped into the micro phone, “1’41 be back,” and ran off. She was succeeded by a stately person whose hour-glass figure was wrapped about with a beaded frock that ended in strands of broken fringe around het ankles. Star thought she was about to sing, but she never did find, out. As the per former .approached the microphone, and before she had a chance to say a word, someone yelled raucously: “Oh — shut up!” This was greeted with hilarious laughter. The woman glared at the interruption and started to speak again. The Marines, noisier than ev er, began stamping their feet. “We want the rhumba!” one of them shouted. The phrase was taken by the oth ers and grew to a chant, accented by the stamp of *fcet and broken by Spanish expressions. -Star looked at Barton. His face was set and he was watching the swarthy man above them. Star looked up to find the man grinning evilly in their direction and shouting something that made his companions shake with laughter. ’ “Do you think there’ll be trouble? op the dance floor. “It just doesn’t seem right to dance without having the floor heave under you, does it?” Barton smiled down at her, “Do you know that this is the happiest' night I’ve had in a long time?” he asked. “And you’re the most beauti” ful person on this floor. You look lovely in white. You ought to wear it always — or no,” he contradicted himself, “every color you wear seems to be your best when you have it on,” •Star blushed and smiled at him. He was so charming and gay tonight. She wondered if any girl had ever been so happy before. But she did not want him to go on hoping, He deserved to know her answer at once. "Barton — I — we’ve got to talk — somewhere” He glanced down at her suddenly serious face and nodded. “Later. We will leave Coates and Elise to strike out for themselves.” Kent and Gloria danced past them and called a greeting, Kent seemed to be having a good time and Gloria was all smiles, especially when she looked at Barton. "She’s a friendly little thing,” Bar ton commented. Star ’ was amazed, but she nodded in agreement. She would never have thought of describ- in Gloria in just that way. But she gave it only a passing thought. Kent and Gloria had evidently settled their misunderstanding at last. The misunderstanding, if Star had only known, had been settled by Gloria’s statement that she was not going to marry him. Kent, too, had stared at her for a moment as if he could hardly believe his ears. “You don’t want to marry me?” “No, my precious lamb.” There was a shade of irritability in Gloria’s voice. “Don’t act so surprised. It isn’t the first time that I’ve decided against it, but it is the last, O, Kent, don’ think too harshly of me.” Her voice trembled effectively. “I came on this trip expecting it to be our honeymoon. Naturally I was disap pointed and — and upset to find you no longer cared. I — I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to hurt you.” She smiled at him with eyes that were misted. He reached over and patted her hand. “You’re a grand girl, Gloria,” he admitted generously. He looked across at Star. The de sire to get up and gto her at once and say, “I’m free!” was hard to con quer. 1 Gloria followed his glance, but she looked instead at Barton. He didn’t seem particularly attentive, she mus ed. There must still be time to turn his need for feminine companionship to her own advantage. “It’s Star?” she asked., Kent nodded. “You’re her room mate,” he said eagerly. “Why does n’t she like me? Do you- think there’s someone else? Has she talked about anyone?” Gloria had no intention of making the road easier for her rival. Her re ply was a vague, “She’s hard to un derstand.” “Of course she probably doesn’t want to get married yet,” Kent said moodily. “She has money and influ ence and beauty—” Gloria started to tell him that her fortune was a myth and then changed her mind. Let Kent discover that for himself. Star’s head .was aching from the smoke and noise of the last- cabaret they had visited. But Barton like a small boy wanted to see everything and go everywhere. Star had already found a moment after Coates and Elise had left them to tell him that she could not accept his proposal. She found his quiet disappointment -more moving than any protest would have been. “You — you’ll find someone else,” she finished lamely. "I’m very fond of you, Barton, and I adore Stuart, you know that. But it isn’t enough,” she finished helplessly. “You have found someone else?” Star nodded, not trusting herself to speak. After that they had visited two cabarets, stayed for only a few moments in each and then had gone on. Barton was evidently determined that he would make this night mem orable for both of them, and Star felt that the least she could do would -be to. act as if nothing had happened. Nevertheless, she hesitated a mo ment in the doorway. This place Was larger than the others, and built Somewhat like an amphitheater. The tables were placed on tiers that rose one behind the other until the last tables, those nearest he wall, were also nearest the ceiling. For a mo ment she was cheered by the thought that they could not fit another per son into the room. Already it was crowded to suffocation. The waiters were squeezing breathlessly between chairs set only a few inches apart. But that hope died at once. A cou ple rose, and the head waiter at Bar ton's signal held the table for them. By the time they had pushed their way to it Stat was almost afraid toi sit down. A huge swarthy man in a crumpled white suit was shouting in Spanish, one fat hand with an enor mous diamond on the little finger, clutched the unpainted chair possess WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES Had wp better go?” “Well sit tight,” Barton said, edg ing his chair closed to hers, “Per haps this is just a usual demonstra tion.” He was interrupted by Kent’s voice. Kent had come up with Gloria who was dragging a chair. His man ner was casual, but there was watch fulness in his eyes, and he made Gloria sit down while he crouched on one of the low steps, Gloria was white under her make-up, Star real ized for the first time that ,the situa tion was serious, The tone of the crowd had subtly changed. Jn place of the genial shouting 'and stamping of a minute before, there was an ominous rumble of foreign words mingled with gut tural laughs. Everywhere Star look ed she seemed to see hot black eyes looking at her greedily. The orch estra struck up and the rhumba danc er came out again, still in the same costume. She started to repeat her dance, but the crowd that had shout ed for her now completely ignored her. Suddenly an empty beer bottle whizzed through the air toward the dance floor and crashed at the girl’s tapping feet. She. stopped and burst into a torrent of hissing syllables; the microphone caught her words and sent them blaring out over the heads of the crowd. It was impossible for Star to und erstand, .but evidently most of the crowd needed no interpreter. Anoth er bottle flew through the air and crashed against the wall behind the dancer. Some one hit the bass drum — it moaned .in agony above the bed lam, One of the Marines shouted, “Hey, rube!” As if at a signal everyone was on his feet; Star stumbled and would have tripped if Kent had not’ steadied her. She felt his arm go around her waist and saw Gloria throw her arms around Barton’s neck. The next min ute the place was in total darkness. Star felt her dress ripping, and she clutched at it frantically. Kent’s arm held her tightly; she could feel him pushing against tfie hot bodies that hemmed them in. Gloria’s voice, sud denly clear against that Background of noise, reached her faintly, "You’re so wonderful, Barton,” she was saying. Then the commotion drowned her voice. « Chapter XXI Star lay in bed staring at the ceil ing. Outsi’de the Sunday calm was, unbroken, both on the ship and on land. It was good to be quiet after all the excitement last night. She felt bone tired; there was a big black and blue mark on her arm where some one had struck against her in the milling crowd. She could- hear a wo man’s shriek still echoing in her ears. She wondered who had had the presence of mind to turn on the flood light. It had calmed the crowd, and she and Kent had pushed toward a side door. There was no sign of Bar ton and Gloria, but Kent Was sure they had made their escape. Star yawned and climbed slowly from her bunk. That short drive had been puzzling. When she had tried to thank Kent he had turned on her al most brusquely. “Why did you go to a place like that?” . “Why?” repeated Star. “Because everyone goes. You and Gloria were there,’ she pointed out. “That’s different,” Kent said stub bornly. His manner angered her. She had tried to preserve a dignified silence, but she could not help asking, "Why was it different?” "Because Underwood doesn’t know anything about these cabarets,”* said Kent in the same annoyed tone. “He practically started a riot when he came in, asking the head waiter to keep that table for him. He must have thought he was at the Ritz.” “I suppose we were to blame for the whole mess,” Star said sarcastic ally? “No. But it all helped. Everyone saw the little byplay and naturally they resented it It put them in a bad humor.” Star had refused to argbe further, but she felt that4he was unfair. It did not occur to her that Kent was jeal ous of her interest in another man. She felt that she ought to defend Barton, so she said quietly: “I don’t like to hear you say things like that, Kent. Mr. Underwood has asked me to marry him.” 1 He had been silent after that. Star felt a little guilty thAUshe had not told Kent she hacMKused Barton, But she felt he deserved to be under a misapprehension for a while. She wondered if she was too late for breakfast. She remembered vag uely that Gloria seemingly fresh as a da^sy, had bounded out of bed ear ly and started to dress. To Star's murmured question she had answered briefly, "Barton and I a’re flying over to Panama.” # They must be there by this time, Soon they would be returning. The ship was dub to leave Uhristoba! that afternoon. The thought made Star complete her dressing hurriedly. She wanted to shops afid the quaint little places were so numerous and intrig uing she knew she would probably visit them all before she bought even a pair of mules. The dining room steward brought her a cup of coffee when She looked into the deserted dining room on her way ashore. She drank it standing in the passageway outside and then ran down the ladder, A, decrepit horse and carriage waited dejectedly in the road, its driver crowned with a battered straw hat. Star thought the carriage must be the type once called a “Victoria,” It was open, with a tan parasol. set askew over it like a 'rusty bonnet, The leather upholstery was torn and worn through in many, spots and the hair stuffing stuck out untidily, Star felt sorry for the poor old horse Standing so patiently and forlornly between the shafts, Perhaps, if she hired the rig he would have a good meal of oats. She signaled the driver whose black face broken into a de lightful smile, “Star!” ‘ She paused, her foot on the step, Kent was running down the ladder, careless that his haste made it shake dangerously, “Want another passenger?” he called. “If you like.” As they drove away she wondered at his change of attitude. He seemed penitent,, more like a small boy who lias been reprimanded, than like his usual stern self. As they drove the short distance to the shops he talked about Christobal and Panama and the odd shifting population that made them a constant link between the West and the East. When they paus ed in front of a store where the win dows were crowded with bits of ivory and wood and silver and backed by silken pajamas and embroidered Chinese coats, he turned to her. "Please don’t shop yet. We have time to drive out to the Canal if this carriage doesn’t splinter beneath us,” he added cautiously. “Then we can have lunch, and if you tell me what, you want we can do the shops very quickly.” He was pleading with her. It would seem silly to refuse and, after all, Gloria was with Barton. Surely she wouldn’t object to this last day alone with Kent. ■ “Another truce?” Star inquired. “A permanent one, I hope.” Star wondered what he wanted to say — it was evident from his man ner that there, was something impor tant in the back of his mind. But he did not continue the subject. He gave the driver directions and they rolled slowly along the palm-lined avenue, smiling at each other every time the carriage lurched safely over an unev en spot in the pavement. Kent was amusing as he explained the different parts Of town. And when they reached -the Canal he be came deeply interested in telling Star how many nations had tried to com plete it, and howlthe doctors had fin ally made it possible for the Work to be finished. Star glimpsed a Kent she had nev er known before. Although he said little about himself she realized how 'important his work was to him. Cas ually he mentioned some of the ex periments he was making. and his study of various diseases peculiar to this paiT^of the world. ' It made her thoughtful. This was a new Kent, not the stern unreason able person she had known. Not ev en, the gay companion who had taken her ashore at Kingston. But a scien tist —• a man deeply interested in his work, and more conscious of the problems' of a nation than she had realized. iShe did not know whether she lov ed him more this way, or when he laughed with her over the Strange ness of these old ports. She began to regret having come with him on this trip. It had been simple to as sume that she could stand by and .watch* him make up with Gloria. She had thought it would be easy to say nothing and let him slip out of her life. But she would betray herself if she had many more moments like this with him — watching his eager, inter est in everything/seeing his glaiice turn toward her face, hearing his voice deepen when he spoke of some thing close to his heart. Star was glad when at last the horse turned Back toward the town. The weary animal seemed delighted too; he travelled along so much more rapidly that Kent declared they were fairly skimming the ground. “If it weren’t for the bumps/’ Star said, the words jolting out of her, “we wouldn’t have to go1 so far. As it is, we’ve gone up and down almost as far as we've rolled forward.” i “Perhaps I’d just better make sure you haven't broken anything when we get' back to the ship,” Kent began. At that moment, with an ominous crack the wagon stopped altogether. The horse looked around with the expression of one who knew all along that this would happen, The driver explained, in English so heavily accented Star could only get one Word out/of sevetv that this was not an unknown catastrophe, tn fact HeUiad been entirely too officious in planning the day without consulting her wishes. “Whewl” Coates let out a whistle^ “Our doctor is in. a bad humor. I. say I didn't break up anything, did I?” “Not at all. I intended coming dir ectly back to the ship. But I hadn’t been able to convince Kent.” “Well, he’s having such a running, fight with Gloria I suppose it makes- him touchy,” Coates said indifferent ly, “Do you realize that we’re in. Christobal?” i “Of course I do.” “Doesn't it mean anything special! to you,” “Yes, Christmas in two days,. The- big Christmas party — the trip half, over.” “Nothing else?” Star looked at him in surprise.. “What else is there?” “Tuesday we’ll be in Kingston, again.” “Oh, yes!” Star recalled without enthusiasm that she had promised to* visit Coates’ schooner when they re turned to that port. The time when: she would have to keep her promise: had seemed’far away then. Now it was here. There was rio getting out pf it. “You’ll be leaving the ship, won’t you?” she asked, politely. “But you’ll be coming with me to., the schooner,” he reminded her, Star said feebly, “There’s so little time. Do you think I’d better?” "Why not? It will be something, for me to remember for the next three months. I’ll be down here at. least that long, scarcely speaking to- anyone but the gang I’ve got aboard.- It gets mighty lonely.” Star was surprised at his explana tion. She hadn’t thought of Jack Coates being lonely while he was on: an expedition. She had felt that his mind would be wrapped up in his’ work. But he had made it impossible for her to refuse. "Of course I’ll come,” she smiled, “for a little while. And after I leave, if you get tired of my ghost walking around your ship you can just throw it overboard. A spirit is really the ideal traveling companion, isn’t it?” ♦ ♦ ♦ “That’s a good-looking dress you: are wearing,” Gloria said. "Yes, I like it.” Star looked down.’ at the tight-fitting bodice and flaring skirt of white linen that was bound, by many rows of dark blue braid. A huge sailor collar edged with the same braid hung almost to her waist in the back and gave her a peculiar ly childlike air. She knew that Gloria’s comment was not inspired by the way she looked, but was rather a subtle question as to where she was. going. She hestitated and then decid ed there was no reason why Gloria, shouldn’t know. “I’m going out with Jack Coates.” “That’s right. He’s getting off the ship here at Kingston, isn’t he?” “Yes, lie’s going through the cus toms now, then he's coming for me. We’re going over to his schooner. Would you like to come along?” Gloria shook, her head. She had finally managed to manoeuver Barton into inviting her to go on the shore trip with him. But she had no .inten tion of telling Star her plans. As a matter of fact Gloria, knew all about the expedition to the schoon er. She had seen Coates the night be fore and it had amused her to let him continue to think that Star had plen ty of money. When she heard his^ plan for the following day she even had a few suggestions to offer. She dressed slowly until Star left the cabin, but once the girl had'gone out she locked the door and flew about with speed and precision. If Gloria’s conscience bothered her at all during the preparations, or while she let down th’e shutter of the cabin, and passed a small black bag through, the opening to hands that were wait ing for it, she paid no attention to it. In Gloria’s lexicon there was only one important word and that was “I” — and it suited her plans for the mo ment to help Coates in every way she could. •Star, meanwhile, had started to ward the upper deck and then chang ed her mind.' She had forgotten to tell Elise Cattrell of her plans for the day, and she did not want the older woman to be disappointed if she was planning to make the shore trip with her. She wished that she and Elise were going ashore otgether. Perhaps she could make arrangements to meet Elise afterward at one of the hotels and they could all have tea together before saying good-by to Coates. She quickened her steps with this thought in niind. But before she rea ched Elise’s cabin she heard what seemed to be the sound of a kitten mewing. It was so faint that she thought she must be mistaken; she had seen no cat on board anyway. But there it was again. This lime she was curious enough to stop and lis ten more intently. For a while the usual noises^of the ship in port were • all that she heard, As sho w as about to go on 'the sound came again. This time it seemed mote human. Star looked up and realized that she was opposite the Underwood cabin. Could he, like the horse seemed to find it merely part of the day’s work- Kent climbed out and explained to Star that it was just a broken driving shaft, • “But how will we get back?” “It isn’t as serious as it sounds,” Kent grinned boyishly. “This thing’s been broken for years, I suspect.” The mending gear gave way again, that’s all, I should say onp fairly solid piece of rope would fix it perfectly, As it is, we'll just tie another knot in the old one,” It took a little longer than he had predicted, but Gtar enjoyed the quiet sunshine and the oddity of seeing Kent without his uniform blouse, holding the shaft while the driver tinkered with the rope. As they start ed off again she said that she was going (to skip Junch; there ( wasn’t much time left for shopping. Kent tried to persuade her to go to the hotel restaurant with‘ him. Why he felt it was so important she could not imagine — and when she’ questioned him, he j>ust looked hurt. Finally Star said* impatiently: “For goodness’ sake, you act as if I’d ruin ed your whole life! You’re almost as spoiled as Stuart.” “If that’s the way you feel about it—” he said angrily. “I don’t feel any way about it,” she interrupted. “I only know I have just a little time to shop and I have some things I must buy for the Christmas party. Tell me, what shall I get for Gloria?” “Anything—” he said indifferently. “They have long cigarette holders of carved ivory. Perhaps she’d like one. But we’ll have time to shop after lunch.” z "Please go on,” Star said, exasper ated. “But let me go shopping. It’s the only time in my life 1’41 ever be in this part of the world, and I want to see it and enjoy it-” Chapter XXII They had reached the center of town again. Kent refused to leave Star .insisting that she would be cheated if he did not go with her. He was, she had to admit, very help ful. They shopped for painted Chin ese mules and kimonas embroidered in snarling dragons. Star insisted on having the one she selected for Gloria brought to the fight where she could see it better. The shopkeeper pro tested loudly that all his merchandise was perfect, but Star took the garm ent in her hand and walked toward the door. “This dragon doesn’t look as well padded to me,” she objected. “Of course you wouldn’t want a wormy dragon,” Kent agreed sarcas tically while the shop owned threw up his hands in despair. The bundles mounted rapidly and the short street, packed as it was with shops, was tiring enough when it had been completely covered. Star knew that Kent still expected her to go on with him to the hotel for lunch — and she wondered how she could refuse without making his angry again. But she was hot and tired, and the very thought of food was re volting. She had always disliked run ning from store to store and haggling over prices. Because of the novelty of the places this experience had been amusing at first. But after all it was shopping. She wanted to return to the ship and take a shower. “So this is „what your’e doing!” Coates called as they emerged from a doorway. “You seem to be doing it too,” Star retorted glancing at the small pack?, age he held. “What did yod get?” “You’ll find that out Christmas morning.” ‘“It’s for me?” Star was surprised and pleased. Slie had not thought of Coates taking the' time and trouble to- buy her a special gift. “Mayn’t I have it now?” Coates shook his head. Kent was scowling. Star was amused at the idea that he resented Coates buying her a gift. The latter stowed his own parcel' in a pocket and held out his hands to take some of hers. Miss 'Sandringham and I aren’t go ing back to the ship just yet,” Kent said coldly. Star was embarrassed by his tone. He was being deliberately rude, and she saw Coates raise an eyebrow quizzically. “What’s the matter, Barrett? You remind me of that old joke. ’You know — the patient recovered, but the doctor was sick.” "I’m glad you1 find your thoughts amusing.” “I don't care what either of you has planned,” Star broke in impat iently. “I’m hot and tired. I!m going to get back into that chariot and re turn to the ship.” Kent’ immediately walked over to where the carriage still stood in the dusty street. With a thump he drop ped the bundles he had carried for her info the seat. Then without an other glance he turned and strode away in the opposite direction. Star felt guilty as she watched him go. She hadn't meant to be rude, but Kent Barrett certainly was a hard person” to please, she thought rebel" liously. Alter alt, lie had known what she, wanted to do \vhen he joined Wc