"Well, you sure picked a fine night for a walk. Better lash your ears to your head, if [pg 97] you're heading for the beach-side. Be back this way soon?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know? What's got into you to-night, Bud?" Baldwin stared at his chum. He stepped nearer and laid a hand on Harty's arm. "You ain't sick, Bud?"
"God, no! I'm all right. I'll take a walk and come back."
"All right, but hurry back, won't you?"
IV
The Port Light saloon was doing a fine business. The swinging doors between the backroom and the bar were swinging all the time—and at the various tables a score of young men and a dozen or so of young women, and one stout fellow at the piano, were roaring dull care away.
The piano occupied one corner of an alcove off the large backroom. In the other corner of the alcove Baldwin and a few friends were sitting into a quiet little game. Things had been breaking well for the sailor, and it promised to be a blissful night, for when luck came his way in a poker game, Baldwin could fall into a trance, if nobody disturbed him.
[pg 98]