Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-04

Cleopatra lay, his agitation increased.
"It will soon be over" he sighed.
"You will cable me as soon as you
land, won't you, Jeanne?"
There was Just hint Of hesitation
in the look she gave him. them
Eyes, dear Rowland" she said, "the
moment land; but my letters, re-
member. must 20 TO The box"
81 shall simply haunt the place." he
declared.
They alighted from the cab and
walked along the pier through the
hurrving throng Of cabmcn. draymen,
passengers and people who had come
10 see their friends off. Reaching
the gang plank, lowered for the ac-
commodation of the saloon passen-
gers. they saw Mrs. Nolan on the up
per deck leaning against the railing
and trying TO attract their attention.
Mrs. Goddard laughed merrily and
waved the bit Of cambria she held in
her hand.
lets 60 right up" she said 30 her
husband. 81 want you 70 see our big
rooms. You will agree with me that it
il better to go in a boat that is not
quite so fast than 10 miss such quarters
as have engaged"
He complied. The attention her
beauty and stylish appearance had at
tracted from the bystanders had not
escaped his eye. His heart was beat
ing madly as he followed her up the
gangplank TO the first deck In mo-
ment they were shaking hands with
Mrs. Nolan. Goddard's handshake was
a mere cold formsljty He now hearth
" disliked his wife's homely confeder-
ate. He despsed her for being weak
enough to obey Jeanne's criminal or
ders; she had not. he argued, his own
excuse Of being blindly in love. As they
stood there he felt as If they were
three murderers passing before the
world as reputa bic, well-to-do citizens.
well. let me see your staterooms,'
he said. resignedly.
They are on this deck. the last
towards the stern" said Mrs Goddard,
leading the way. I'm fact, there are
no other apartments up here except the
captains, and his quarters are further
forward. We shall be absolutely pri-
vate"
They had now reached . door 70
which Mrs. Nolan had the key, and
they unlocked it and went in. II was
indeed spacious apartment. In add
ton to the wide double bed, the room
contained a soft lounge. a tea table and
oh do no I'd
braoed against the wall. Adjoining il
we're bath and single-berth room.
Here" said Mrs. Goddard, opening
the door OF closet about yard in
depth. sis the gem of modern improve
ments. can hang up my things and
they will keep dry and smooth. Be-
sides. the purser said there were but
let me have both of them, for security Is
,ake."
Here they are" said Mrs Nolan, tim
Idly. and she cringed under Goddard s
sudden gaze. HE gave them to me just
now"
Mrs. Goddard laughed mysteriouslv
~ told him I had some vaua bl.
the safe in the Office. and ne assured me
they would be absolutely safe in my
closet"
The brovs Of the m a jor ran togethe,
In perplexity.
What is al the bottom % this?" a
said. What sort of valua bles do you
refer too"
The woman addressed shrugged her
shapely shoulders.
Your photograph. dear Rowland,
she said. II must not let it be stolen
cant deposit such thing in the
ships safe, you know, and yet wan,
il with me, of course. But--now re
member, if there ever is anything
which You cannot comprehend fully
think of this closet and its two key,
end the puzzle will he solved"
You are so arrange" he said, Try
ing to fall into her mood. Just ther
one of the deck hands came in with
Mrs. Nolan's steamer trunk and small
er luggage. A large willow basket Il
which was attached a card bearins
the advertisement of well-knowI
delicatessen establishment riveted III,
rowing glance of the maior Notins
his curious stare at II, Mrs. Nolar
moved nearly to the door and stood
looking out at the Gathering machine
which were hoisting vast loads o
trunks and boxes from the pier below
1T is only a basket of fruit or
dered Lucy to get for me-" said Mrs
Goddard, her face suddenly changing
II always find that IL 10 difficult I,
get just 'he right kind Of fruit on
the supply is"
But" said tho major. bending dow
and removing the cover, they mus
have made some mistake. This has
ket does not contain fruit. There Ger
tainly are cans of meats, sardines
pate de foies gras and rolls of bone'
turkey. They have sent you tn
, wrong basket"
Mrs. Goddard laughed uneasily.
well. l may as we'll acknow edg
, that it is something to eat. I di'
not want you TO know that I coul'
. have such ravenous appetite afte
parting with you; but the truth Is
the sea air keeps me hungry all tn
time, I want to eat at night whel
:, il doesn't look respectable to max
demands on the ships larder, Now
, come out on deck. II is stuffy in here
The air will not be stirring till W
!. get out Of the harbor,"