The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-13
L STRAIN OF ROMANCE.
IFrom Mainly About People.l

From Mainly About Peoplel
It was late one afternoon as a man
stepped from a small sailing boat on to
the quay at waterproof, Gibraltar. He
felt uncomfortable and disreputable.
Earlier in the day. having nothing bet
ter to do. he had set out for a sail across
/ thu BAY They had run in on the sandy
I beach Of a. fOrsalxen spot called Puenta
/ Majorga- There the boatman had taken
him on his shoulders and carried him
through the surf, finally dropping him
/ SO that he got nicely wet On the re-
/ turn journey the wind was freshened
/ and it had come on to rain, with the
result that he now stood a somewhat
forlorn looking object, with clothes spoilt
/ by sea water and wet sand.
It had just occurred to him that the
next obvious thing was to change his
attire when the sound of voices caught
his ears. Looking round, he caught
sight of little group some fifty yards
/ away girl, a middle-aged lady and
a brawny looking man in a brass
bound" suit Something in the girls APP
j pearance attracted him, and uncon-
sciously he moved nearer to the trio.
He got within a dozen PAGES of them,
\ and. standing behind pile Of crates
I enjoyed a view at closer quarters.
BY Jovei" he murmured, under his
4 breath. The girl was tall and slim.
nlagnifcently good-looking. He could
not take his eyes from her. There was
/ a certain air of VigOr and Independence
about her that fascinated him.
She raised her arm and pointed across
I the hay TO where a large white yacht
/ lay at anchor
today Captain Flint" she exclaimed.
Her voice sent a thrill through him.
There was the slightest. most delicious
suspicion of transatlantic accent in it,
ami he was enraptured.
In a drawing tone the captain gave
an account OF what had happened It
appeared that the Scotch engineer. Nc
A 1f.-r off /, frf1 7r1.7x
fr0lic and as the result of a jovial lit
tie excursion in the vicinity Of Alge-
cirSs, had managed to get hauled off to
a local Spanish jail
The girl was in despair
What shall we do The cable was
urgent-the Scud viii have to get to
Alexandria by the 22d. Can't we pick
up another engineer in GIBRALTAR"
TIE captain shook his head.
But we can't wait until he's re-
leased" she cried. with a little stamp
of her foot. Something will have to
be done"
The man standing behind the crates
had been drinking in every word, his
eyes fastened on the girls face Sud
denly an idea flashed upon hint was
a mad one, but it gripped him.
Without moments further consider
alton he stepped forward and confronted
the trio
beg pardon he said, touching his
/ hat. Il happened to overhear. I gath
cred you want an engineer"
The girl looked at the figure before her
in establishment. She saw a tall. good
I looking, clean-shaven man in wet, sod
den clothes, with the collar of his coat
Are You an engineer?" she asked,
eagerly.
4 could take you to Alexandria in the
/ time" he said.
Captain Flint was interested.
Say; Young Teller, got papers to
show2 2, he drawled. And what's yonr
The man looked him back square in
the face.
MY name is Dennis he said. "And
I haven't got papers to show
He turned to the girl frankly.
You would have to take me on
! chance he said. I give you my word
! that I am capable of running the en-
gines of your yacht and getting her to
4 Alexandria in the time, bar a break
I down-but more I cannot say. Will you
risk it?"
The girl glanced at him hesitatingly.
THE Scud must sail she began.
Guess we can see in an hour or so
whether he's up to the job said Captain
/ Flint, suggestively-
The man looked at the girl with an in
curing smile She gave him one more
glance-then made up her mind.
You're engaged she said. briskly-
Thus it was in a short time he found
1 himself at work on the yacht. In another
three hours he had the steam up and,
/ the ladies having come on board, the
! Scud raised her anchor and slowly made
her way out of the bay
AS engineer he was a complete success.
I and quickly earned the warm approval
/ OF Captain Jake Flint. from whom he
] CLEANED good deal of interesting infor-
nation. 1t appeared that the yacht was
the property of Mr.. Silas Lewiston. a rich
American, and that the girl on board
was his only daughter. Her father had
( left her in England and, a few weeks
ago, had made the journey to Cairo,
! leaving her to follow more leisurely in
the Scud.
For the first two days he spent most
! Of his time in the engine room. Once or
! twice, as he sat watching the move
/ soft laugh It was on the third day,
4 when he happened to be on deck, that
/ she spoke to him
I'VE are getting on famously, Mr.. Den
mis- I think a good fate must have drop
ped you from the clouds.'h she said, with
a smile.
He looked at her and tried to hide the
! look of admiration that had crept to his
eyes. She seemed more glOriOusly beau
\ tiful than ever. He made some vague
reply, and she went on talking about the
yacht: It was intoxication to him He
had fallen desperately in love at first
sight, and he wondered what it would all
lead to.
The next few days passed delightfully."-.
4 He had several conversations with her
4 indeed, she seemed almost to welcome
an opportunity of speaking with him
J The more he saw of her, the more con-
WINGED was he that he had made no mis-
take This was no feeting fancy; he
4 was really in love
Then came a bitter shock of dIsap-
| pointment. They were within a days
| run Of Alexandria, and he was about to
1 go on deck. AS he raced up the COM
panion something white one Of the
| stairs caught his attention. He picked it
up and found it was a telegram. Glanc-
| ing at 1t he saw it was the cable that
| had been sent to her at Gibraltar by her
| father. Almost uncOnsciously he read
| the few words:
Get Scud to Alexandria by I'D with
ont fall ord HillrrnarcI1 has r1znrraisaf1