Jump to content

Page:Dangerous Business (1927).pdf/276

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

opposed him, fending off his hands stubbornly and silently. She would cry out, but what a maudlin stampede she would start up the stairs! And it would be the end of her with Lew; but if not, what for her?

The music stopped. It was something of a relief. More couples stumbled up. There was the roar of the radio again and the magnified voice shouted above static: . . . "clear with a few storm clouds blowing in the gale with the moon breaking through. There is moonlight some of the time to help the searchlights in this attempt."

The shout suddenly was cut off; the dial had been turned.

Ellen ceased her struggle with Lew; she was tense and stiff in his arms. What was that about? What storm and searchlights were sent on the radio to-night? What attempt did it mean?

A song started but someone turned it off. She heard a man's voice requesting in the room below: "Can we get that voice back?"

"Certainly," called Art Slengel quickly, "certainly." The quiet, dark-haired young man had asked it, whom Slengel particularly wished to please. "Turn it back," ordered Slengel; and the shout above static filled the room:

". . . the vessel coming up is an ore-vessel of the large, modern type; but she is light, being in ballast, for she comes from the east and south. She has come from the Soo . . ."

Ellen was on her feet, having shaken off Lew, how she did not know. She was at the rail of the balcony and she saw at the radio the quiet young man whom she'd