Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-08
in America I will be taken sick and return

/ nome"
IF you're engaged to Miss Higgins" said
Stanley, shaking his head, I'm afraid
| you'll have to go through with 1t, At least
| you will II you land in America"
1T is not regularly what you call en-
| gagged. I have offered my hand, but she not
accept, but her mother says she will in
| time She is infatuated wiz me. but it is
not modest to show it,
ITS just the same, you've contracted.
You know we are q business people. We
| look on marriage as a contract and to
break your contract-well, you see what
happened to the man who wouldn't marry
his laundress. Five hundred thousand or
hard labor for two years."
And gay will hold me to it?''
Like wax, like glue. You are count
and, of course, to marry a count is an
American girls chief ambition. l guess
you'll have to give up There's nothing to
do"
"Ah, my dear friend. tell me how to es-
cape. You who have devised this so mar
Vicious machine, devise some way. Ameri-
cans are so ingenious"
"Humph! You might jump overheard. I
could throw you life preserver and some
other ship might pick you up day or two
! later Or you could pretend to be dead. l
could come every night and feed you In
| your coffin with milk. Or you could pre-
| tend to be mad
| Mad? 1 am mad. There's no pretend. I
am very much mad. l seek wealth and now
/ find there is no wealth. l have been made
a fool interrupted the count vehemently.
Il meant go insane. crazy. weak mind
ed. 1t should be easy for YOU.
"Ah, maniadue. And them?
"Why. of course they won't want a crazy
| man for a husband. 1 don't think they
| would let you come on shore. I'll be your
| best friend and have you sent home"
And you conceive Eat is best to escape
your accurs'd laws?"
Its the only way said Stanley en-
phatically.
"Well-I agree" replied the count mourn
fully. Il will do you advise, but 1t Is
very hard. When shall l commence re
crazness?'
Lets see! There's only day more be-
fore reach port Tomorrow l guess. NO.
tonight. Have a little fit at dinner, make
faces see things, fight with the walters
anything Then tomorrow you can be raw
ing, and have to be locked up. That the
ticket. Don't you worry. IN see you
through" said Stanley, as he ana the
count went to luncheon.
That night at dinner Mrs. Higgins be-
came red as any beet with modification:
The counts mental disorder showed ltselI
in fearful grimaces and portentous scoWis.
And he smiled at the empty air, now pap
bled vainly to himself or burst into I'M
reasonable laughter. At last he had to be
| removed from the room by two deck stew
ards. superintended by Stanley, VINO klnoiy
volunteered his services.
II can't tell you how obliged am, said
Mrs. Higgins when he had returned to re-
port. Il can't imagine what could have
been the matter with the count-unless he
had been drinking. Never has he acted so
before
"Oh. he'll be all right in the morning"
replied Stanley. Il don't think 1T was
drink. Some sort of fit more like. Don't
you worry I'll see to him.
It's so good of you. The count has no
friends on board. and without you l don't
know what we would have done. l hope
he'll be better tomorrow
Il sure he will, replied Stanley, as
he took a deck chair by Miss Ethers side.
Mr.. Stanleys predictions were hardly
verified the next day. 1t was afternoon be-
fore the count again appeared in society.
The decks were filled with groups of chat
tiers in the sun, and the promenades lively
with walkers. when the count burst from
his cabin like a butterfly from a cocoon He
was lightly clad in gorgeous pink paja1nas
and in his hand he fourished a formidable
knife.
There was an instant pause. a momentary
hush, as the apparition came in sight Then
the count gave vent to a howl, and started
down the deck. the crowd fleeing before him
panic stricken. overturnng deck chairs,
scattering books, trailing fancy work in its
flight. boiling into staterooms. lodging into
saloons. tumbling down companionways.
getting blocked in narrow passages.
Mr. Stanley was sitting with Mrs. Hig
gins and her daughter when their CONVERSE
ton was interrupted by the commotion
the other side of the boat. Then came a
rush of people along the deck, wild
scramble into cabins and then the count
scudding before a pursuing body OF sailors
and stewards.
own safety. threw himself into the way:
there was momentary struggle, then the
count wrenched loose and ran on Down
the deck he sped like hunted rabbit.
Stanley at his heels. until he was cornered
exhausted at the foot of the foremost Five
minutes later the count. bound hand and
foot. was carried to his cabin. and the
decks began to fill again with people.
c frr1a yhof 6nofn bot
1t is case of acute homicidal mania?" ask
ed Mrs. Higgins of Stanley. when that gen.
tleman much flushed and disordered, pre-
sented himself to report.
I'm afraid 1t is" he answered. Great
deal of insanity in old European families
He's raving now. Thinks he's a dog, and
tried to bite the quartermaster. 1 pulled
the fellow back just in time"
How horrible! 1 feel that owe my life
to you, Mr.. Stanley. When saw the count
coming toward me with that knife 1 was
paralyzed with fear. I am certain that If
you hadn't grappled with him neither
Ethel nor I would have been spared. 1t
was heroic in you.
"Oh. he couldn't have done much dam
age" said Stanley lightly 1.-The knife was
a paper cutter, 1T seems"
"Ah! but you didn't know it. l am sure
we owe our lives to you. Don't we, Ethel?
Poor child She was nervous after 1t
was all over that she had Mysteries in her
room-laughing and crying until I was
really worried. She's all right now
though. aren't you, dear"
Miss Ethel assented, but there was a
moisture in her eyes, and a twitching of
the corners of her mouth that showed that
the attack was likely to return at any mo-
ment.
"We've strapped him down and locked
the door,, said Stanley $50 there will be
no more trouble. OF course l shall stay
with him. Curiously enough, I am the
only one who seems to quiet him."
And now what are we to do when we
arrive tomorrow morning? OF course, I can
have him sent to a hospital. but-the re-
porters1 fairly dread the reporters
TN attend to all that If you will let
me. I'll have the count sent back home
Get a nurse to take charge Of him And as
for the reporters. don't you worry about
them. I fancy I've invention enough to put
them off the track. I've done harder things
than that" said Stanley with a smile to
Miss Ethel.
II know you have" that young lady re-
piled. Il think you are simply wonderful"
1t was Stanley that carried the count
his dinner. it was Stanley who immolat ted
himself on the altar of friendship that
night, and remained by the counts bedside
until a late hour.
There's only one thing I can't under
stand, he said he was leaving ''Why
in thunder didn't you froth at the mouth as
l told you toe"
II could not" replied the count TT was
CHI T ha1 Str,aI