Under the desert stars

Eloping with his beloved one from the earth, to seek a haven of refuge on some other planet, they saw the earth and moon whiz past them, with an imposing comet in distance.
UNDER THE DESERT STARS
A Novel
BY FRANK KOESTER Author of “The Price of Inefficiency,” Etc., Etc.
Illustrated by L. C. VAN BENSCOTEN
MCMXXIII WASHINGTON SQUARE PUBLISHING COMPANY 57 West 10th Street, New York, N. Y.
Copyright, 1923, By FRANK KOESTER All Rights Reserved
UNDER THE DESERT STARS
THE early spring sun was riding low in the heavens, going westward to seek its rest. The haze of twilight was creeping in upon the city from across the bay and the canyon-like streets of lower New York were already steeped in shadow.
Above the city rose the hum of industry and from the rivers the saucy whistles of tugboats, with their heavy laden barges, were telling those who would listen that they, too, were doing their bit.
But all this was lost to the girl standing at the promenade rail of the Queensborough Bridge, that massive structure spanning the East River, linking Brooklyn with New York. The girl, beautiful to an extreme, both in face and form, stood clutching the railing with a convulsive grip. Her eyes were set on something far in the distance and so far as the passersby were concerned, she was in another world.
Curious but hurried glances were aimed at her, but that was all. New Yorkers are always in a hurry and a passing glance satisfies the questions that arise in the minds of most of them.