The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-05-18

cupation of the best stateroom on
board, for he often bowed to her as he
passed. To-day, when Mrs. Goddard
saw him coming along the deck in their
direction, she nudged her companion.
There is q vacant chair next to me-"
she said. eff can get him to sit down
moment shall play my first card"
"Oh, don't say anything before me-"
entreated Mrs. Nolan; II feel so shaky."
"You must get over that" ordered
our arch conspirator, .sternly. snow,
don't you forget what told YOU"
The captain was now quite near. It
was the smile of Mrs. Goddard that
caused him to doff his cap and pause.
ga fine day, madam" he said, cor
daily.
She motioned for him to sit down in
the chair on her left.
81 have been wanting to speak to
you, captain, ever since the beginning
Of the voyage" she said, and there
was a strange lack-lus.er expression
in her eyes.
dard," he said, studying her face, Curl
ously.
''Of course, don't want you to re-
gard what l say in the light of COM
plaint," she went on. ''In fact,
make up my mind to put up with q
great many horrible things at sea.
But, captain, is there not "a decided
feeling among the sailors that we will
never get into port alive?'
"Why, madame" He opened his
eyes wide with establishment. 81 don't
understand you. Surely"
81 have always heard they were SUI
perstitious people by nature" she
broke in. snow Lucy, here, has been
trying to pacify me All day; but she is
lying to me. L am sure my husband
| instructed her to keep me in the dark"
The captain glanced past her and
tried to catch Mrs. Nolan's glance,
but this woman was looking off in the
opposite direction, her face deathly
white, and twitching with excitement.
You were saying that the sailors
are superstitious by nature" he
houndered about in his effort to ap-
pear both respectful and to get at her
meaning.
eyes, and you see, passing so many
dead bodies of men, women and chill
dren would make them more so.
can't bear it. There are more OF
them on this side of the ship than
the other"
why, what do you mean?" he
gasped. madam, there are no dead
bodies here
Mrs. Goddard flared up and gave
him her eyes steadily.
"My husband has instructed you to
deceive me, too" she cried. "Lucy
said you would agree with her. You
are all in the plot to worry me-to kill
me-"
She rose suddenly and dropped her
rug at her feet.
II am going to my stateroom and
try to sleop, but what does closing my
eyes amount to-? 1 can see them lust
the same."
The captain was on his feet almost
as soon as she was and he walked
with her to the door of her room
Then, with face much disturbed, he
came back to Mrs. Nolan. He put his
finger on his brow significantly.
Something is wrong with her." he
said, in the peremptory tone of SUI.
perior to one beneath him; what /,
it?"
''It is not at all serious, SIR" STAN.
mercd Mrs. Nolan. "She doesn't tall
that way often"
"Did you know her mind was-was 50
when you left America with her?"
"She told me she had strange feeling,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., but that the
ocean always cured her."
"Does her family know of her condi.
tion?"
Mrs. Nolan shook her head doubt.
fully.
II think not, sir, it seems to me she
was leaving home to keep them from
finding out the truth"
"Ah!" he sat silent for moment, then
he rose. eff she is not better soon you
must let me know, do you under.
standw
81 will do so, sir; but I am sure she
will give us no trouble. will go see il
she wants anything"
When Mrs. Nolan reached the state,
room she found her companion on the
bed smiling from a rigidly expectant
face; her eyes were glea ming with half.
amused fear. She drew Mrs. Nolan
down on the edge of the bed.
"What did he say after left?"
Mrs. Nolan repeated the converse.
ton.
'Good!" exclaimed the recumbent
woman. 'That is quite enough for the
present. 1t will prepare him for the
climax-divest his mind from all posi-.
BILE suspicion OF triekery in the CHIEF
event when it comes. must not cause
him to set a close watch on me. Tell
him when you meet him next that ]
have been to sleep and that am de.
cidedly BETTER"
RIO Be Continued
| Legal Talent of First Order