King Kong (1932) Read Online Free PDF

meeting with Denham. Ann had told Driscoll, and only Driscoll, of the past which had led up to the miracle working apple. She had told him of her ranch home, of the loss of her father and mother, of the treachery of the uncle to whom she had confided her inheritance after her father's death. She had told him of her coming to New York, of the despairing quest for work, of her hunger and fear.
    Her thoughts were running on that now.
    "I was lucky," she said suddenly, soberly, "to have Mr. Denham run across me that night in New York."
    "Speaking of Denham, may he cut in?" asked a brisk voice behind them and they turned to see the moving picture director rocking on speculative heels.
    "More tests?" Driscoll wanted to know.
    Ann expectantly handed Ignatz back to Lumpy, but Denham shook his head.
    "Nothing to rush about," he said, "but when you aren't busy, Ann, you might do a bit of sewing. I noticed just now that the Beauty and the Beast costume was ripped along the lining. And above everything else, I want that piece all ready when we need it."
    "I'll mend it right away," Ann promised. "It must have got torn when I took it off yesterday."
    As she disappeared, Denham lighted a cigarette. He offered one to Driscoll, but the first mate shoved his hands deep into his pockets, doubling them there so that they stood out in hard, distinct lumps beneath the white cloth.
    "Mr. Denham," he said doggedly, "I'm going to do some butting in."
    "What's on your mind, Jack?" Denham asked, and considered the smoking tip of his cigarette.
    "When do we find out where we're going?"
    "Pretty soon now," Denham smiled.
    "Are you going to tell us what happens when we get there?"
    "Don't ask me to play fortune teller, young fella."
    "But damn it! You must have some idea what you're after."
    Denham snapped his cigarette over the side and eyed Driscoll questioningly:
    "Going soft on me, Jack?"
    "You know I'm not."
    "Then why all the fuss and blow?"
    "You know it isn't for myself. It's Ann...."
    "Oh!" Denham grew coolly serious. "So you've already gone soft on her. Better cut that out, Jack. I've got enough on my hands. Don't pile on a love affair to complicate things more."
    "Who said anything about a love affair?" Driscoll flushed.

Chapter Five

    High above the Wanderer 's scorched and peeling deck, Driscoll pushed up the floor plate of the crow's nest and clambered through. Once on his feet he reached down to Ann. His brown hand closed over her slight wrist with careful deliberation. When she had got in, the trap dropped beneath his feet and the pair of them swayed slowly in cadence with the gently rocking mast.
    So high up, they could feel a little wind, and Ann pushed her yellow hair severely back over small shapely ears that every available bit of face and neck might receive the welcome breeze. Driscoll nodded approval as he wiped his damp forehead.
    From their high perch the ocean seemed even more brilliantly blue than it had been from the ship's side. Miles to the south a something resembling a fleecy rope stretched along the water, its ends disappearing in distance which baffled the eye. It seemed no higher than a hand's breadth, but at intervals it swelled a little and threw off wispy tendrils.
    Against the blue sweep of the sky there showed only one bit of life. An albatross moved far off and close to the line where sea and sky met. It curved and swung like a brilliantly maneuvered aeroplane between them and the late afternoon sun.
    "How splendid!" cried Ann. "Why didn't you bring me up here before? I feel like an explorer."
    "Let's see," Driscoll considered, grinning. "An explorer is someone who gets there first. Well, you're an explorer then, sure enough. You're the first woman ever to set foot in this crow's nest."
    "And going to an island where we'll all be the first white people. It's terribly exciting. When do you think we'll get there?" Ann lifted an eager questioning face.
    "Well, if there is any such place," Driscoll answered, smiling