The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-06-15
CHAPTER XIV.-CoNTINUED.

No time need be wasted in telling the
effect of this assignment to quarters"
Prolific a source of squabble as is the
custom ashore it becomes intensified
afoat, and, when coupled with it came
n shaking up and Encouragement of
seats at table, all hope of harmony van
ished on the instant. The two brave
young army girls still retained their
seats at the captains table; but two
most estimable young women, Red
Cross nurses, were dropped therefrom
and transferred to that of the second
officer on the port side, much to the
comfort of rather large percentage
of their sisterhood who had regarded
their previous elevation with feelings
of not unmixed qualification. Then
officers who had been seated with the
generals staff had to vacate in favor of
Mrs. Frank and DR.. Prober and Lieut..
Billy Gray, whose father and the chief
were longtime chums, and the Red
Cross nurses who had been at the first
officers table fell. back to that of the
third. 1t was every bit as good as the
other, but it didn't sound so, and they
couldn't see it; and there were faces
sour as the product of the ships baker
when that evening all hands went down
to dinner, and the silence maintained,
or the ominously subdued tone of the
talk, at the other tables was in marked
contrast with the hilarity that pre-
vailed where sat the grayhaired, ruddy-
checked old chief and the laughing
coterie that listened to the fun that fell
from the lips of Witchie Garrison.
Armstrong, silent and somber, at the
captains right, looking forward from
time to time, saw only one face at the
generals table that was not lighted up
with merriment;> it was the face of the
boy he envied, # envy of this kind ever
entered into his heart. and he wondered
as he looked at Billy's curly head what
could have come over that glad young
life to leave SO deep a shadow on his
handsome face.
One night. just one week later, Arm
strong's eyes were opened. More than
once in the meanwhile he had invited
the young officers confidence, and Billy.
who three months earlier had been all
gratitude and frankness. protested
there was nothing on his mind. He had
been very i'll. that was all. AS to
Canker's charges they were simply rot.
He hadn't the faintest inkling what had
become of the purloined letters any
more than he had of the whereabouts
OF his Delta Sig friend, young Morton,
now officially proclaimed deserter.
But Armstrong heard more tales of
Witches devotions to him in his ILL
ness, and the slow convalescence that
ensued, noted how the boys eyes fol-
lowed her about the deck, and how
many time he would seek her side,
even when other men were reading,
walking or chatting with her. Arm
strong looked with wonderment that
was close allied to incredulity and pain.
Was it possible that this blithe lad. who
had won such warm interest in the
heart of such n girl as Amy Lawrence,
could be forgetful of her. faithless to
her, and fascinated now by this selfish
and shallow butterfly? 1t was incred-
ible!
But was it? The days had grown hot
ter, the nights closer, and the air be-
tween decks was sitting when the sea
rolled high and closed the ports. OFF,
GERS had taken to snoozing up on deck
in steamer chairs. By an unwritten
law the port side of the promenade
deck was given up to them after IL at