Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

24 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY work for the government during his years down there. But what does he get out of it ? He ought to know some one, I say, better than us, who would — but there he is ! There's Dick now, Miss Durant ! As soon as. that crazy crowd lets him loose you'll know why I was sorry that he had to spoil his chances again by saving you !" Frances followed his gaze, conscious of a strange palpitation in her breast. At the far entrance of the hall some newcomer was struggling to get through, but a boisterous, laughing, joking crowd of younger officers had gathered about and were holding him back. A few of the merriest were trying to chant audibly an impromptu refrain : "Here's to the Son of the Sultan of Sulu !" Others were demanding loudly : "Bring along a Swiss admiral this time, Dickie?" and "What's up now, Richard? What are you doing here, washed and in uniform?" But at last the newcomer broke through. "Children !" He shook them off. "Can't you see I've grown up this year ?" Then Frances saw him suddenly seized by his stanch friend, Admiral Barlow ; and the old officer was presenting him to her father, and obviously searching about for Frances herself. He discovered the girl, and Frances stood face to face with Lieutenant Dick Sommers. He stood, a straight and well-knit figure, a fair inch below six feet. His hair was black ; his eyes blue, direct and compelling. His features were fairly straight and well formed, his mouth being decidedly expressive and strong. But Frances was noting none of these particular things at that moment; she saw only those half-serious, half-laughing, but entirely direct and very disconcerting blue eyes. For one moment — the first instant when she saw them — they were a man's eyes, observing her respectfully, seriously ; but at the next moment they were a boy's eyes, laughing, amused. "So you" — Frances could not resist trying to tease this boy, as he waited for her to speak — "you are the commander of the San Juan!" "Oh, but, Miss Durant, you haven't seen the San Juan!" he countered. "No, but I've heard how you captured it in an open boat!" rejoined Frances, feeling that he had already the advantage on the teasing tack she herself had begun. "Collie! You told!" said the blackhaired officer reproachfully to Frances' partner. "I'm sorry, Miss Durant, but Collins always has to rub it in. You see, when the war started, the San Juan was on duty down by Mindanao. The Spanish captain had been trying to get relieved of her for years, but his government wouldn't commute him. When he heard Dewey was coming to the Philippines, he wept tears of joy and tried his best to get to Manila in time to surrender along with the others. But the engines wouldn't stand it. When he heard the Petrel was coming down his way, that gave him new hope. But we had heard of his intentions and managed somehow to prevent him surrendering to us for six weeks — though often it was pretty close. And then one night he caught us in an open boat in a little bay and surrendered to me before we could get away. I know it was pretty bad, but I think they might let it drop now." "Oh, I'm sorry I spoke of it!" Frances made her amends, smiling. But Lieutenant Collins didn't warn me that you were so sensitive about that, too. He warned me merely about your sensitiveness to your — curse, he called it — which obliged you to save me." "I save you, Miss Durant?" "Surely that's not so much worse that yo.u have to deny it. Lieutenant Sommers ?" The girl looked for support to her partner, but he had vanished. Admiral Barlow and her father, too, had dropped away a little. And suddenly the music blared out louder, into one great, single tone ; and she stood, more beautiful than ever, coloring vividly in the first flash of her confusion before this boy who was suddenly turned man again. She was aware, as the people about them started to dance again, that he was leading her from the floor; and in a moment they were sitting a little apart from the rest, under the leaves of the palms and growing plants at one side. "You are the one denying what you did at Bagol, Miss Durant," said the officer, "not I — when you said I saved you." "What have I denied?" "I know all you did," he returned. "I found out, even before I left Bagol, exactly how you stayed — when they were firing at you — in the wire ] cabin. I save you, Miss Durant? \\l I merely helped you a little toward 1 ing the others." "A little, Lieutenant Sommers?" ! "Oh, perhaps I did help Mr. Pin i ney more than a bit," he admitil laughing. "I don't mind that, foi fancy we'd scarcely become frantic; i friendly with each other, anyway. I ( I refuse to let you disqualify me fr " He hesitated. "Oh, believe me, Mr. Sommers," s Frances, laughing, "I shall not let ai thing you did for us down at Ba; stand in the way of my becoming 'frantically friendly' with you as should otherwise. But Lieutenant C lins has been telling me. also" — s } changed the subject swiftly — "of yo] I different diversions upon occasions su ■ as this. So, if you can consider il a friend, in spite of having almost h i to save me, will you tell me what t m joke is to be this year?" "It's rather one on me, I'm afraic I the officer confessed. "But you'll tell?" "Yes ; it is, Miss Durant, that — th ■ there is none," he said, looking aw; queerly. "Why, what do you mean ?" asked tl girl disappointedly. "You haven't pr< pared anything this year?'' "Oh, I'd prepared the best sell yet ! His eyes lighted mischievously. "And then I had to call you to com and help us at Bagol, and delay yo so long you couldn't accomplish it !" "Not exactly that, Miss Durant." "Not exactly, Mr. Sommers?" "I mean it wasn't the delay whic stopped me from doing it, but " H hesitated again. This time the girl waited. "But you see," he continued, "abou that time — a couple of days ago — wha do you suppose I found? It really wa? funny ; but I wanted suddenly to bewell, grown up." "Never before a couple of days ago Mr. Sommers?" "Well, never for such a continuou: time. Miss Durant." "Terrible ! How long has it been now? Not all of three days, surely?" "Why did you guess exactly three days?" He turned quickly. She colored — a deeper pink than usual for trying to prevent it. "Oh, I just guessed, from " "From the time you first spoke to me