The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-01

+ in the light and in the shadow, and acted
+ for all the world as If she were display
ing rare piece of embroidery, instead
of a rim-crack remnant Women are
clever at that sort of thing, and this is
/ especially true of the best women. to
whom such conversational thimbIe rig
/ gfng is fine art Of seIf-defense.
/ Mrs. NoeI's was not moving narrative.
vet she illuminated it with all the vi
vacity that an Arabian Nights tale
could possibly require And. Of course,
Mrs. Noel the-Einger seduIousIy avoided
/ one toDic-that Of Mrs. Noel the woman.
she was interrupted by a vibrant bel
low. It was the voice Of tae ship. The
throb Of engines sIackened. and the hiss
Of surge along La Bfscaye's steel sides
was hushed TO d mere puIiing. The very
sea was pressed fat, as if beneath an in
visible weight. So much as could be seen
of its opaque surface suggested the clean
swept floor Of a circular tent-a tent of
cloud instead Of canvas. Mrs. Noel
turned her head in search Of the sunIit
road she had Travelled, but it had van
ished. The ship was carrying with her,
as snail carries its house. a little disk
of percepubiity. beyond which was the
unknown. Again she emitted her doIefuI
/ cry. The woman shivered. with a snug
/ Cling motion into her shawl. She was
/ startled out OF her reverie by saluta-
ton.
Amt you scared Of catchin' cold in
this fog, miss?"
It was the voice Of Samuel P. Twee-
/ die, O'Mara's travelling companion. He
was standing at her elbow. blinking at
her inteIIigently. OWara had lifted his
head and was staring bewiIderedIy into
! the smother.
What's the matter. Brian?" inquired
the newcomer loosely Been sea
sick?"
I've been boring Mr.. o'Mara TO death
with ny stupid "reminiscences, inter
posed Mrs, Noel We were just saying
that 1t must be time 10 get ready for
dinner"
Allow me, miss" Tweedie helped
her to rise, with an elaborate air, and
tucked her hand under his arm. Bet
ter come along, Brian, and have a
brush up before dinner!" he shouted
over his shoulder
Their ways parted. At the foot Of the
companion stairs 8Trs. Noel vent to
her sezteroom; O1Iara and Tweedie to
theirs.
What sort o. steer was you givin'
that girI2" inquired Tweedie, pleasantly.
as he applied touch Of brilHantiue to
his mustache. III I hadn't seen that you
was both bit under the weather, /
wouldn't have Clipped in. She's a real
nice girl Her singing's out Of sight
and she's got lots of tact. Widows al
ways do have tact TO burn. Or maybe
she's a divorcey. They're better stfH.
Has she piped you of yet which it is2"
OMara-s face had turned white and
there was a curious twItching Of the
muscles about his Jaws. It was with
struggle that he mastered his voice SUI
fcientIy TO say:
"ThatH do, Tweedie. 7 won't have
you talk about Mrs. Noel I won't have
you mention her name. Do you hear2''
You won't, hey?" mimicked Tweedie.
without looking around Wen, If that
amt the best yeti So because you're
such q devil of a fellow with the women
and because you've gone dany over this
singer girl. I mustn't mention her name
even If she did squeeze ms. arm coming
down the"
The boast died away IN wbeeze,
snapped of by the grip Of ten strong
fingers at the boaster's throat. An eIee-
trict light bulb popped into finders as
the two men reeIed against It. Next the
mirror cIattered to the floor aud
Tveedie'z heel ground fracture in the
glass as he tried vainIy 10 tear the
Irisbman's grasp from his throat.
Locked together thus. they careened We
hementIy to the cabin door. which
bulged at The impact. Feeling himself
slip backward, TweeIie wrenched a pis-
;oI from n pocket in his trousers and
poked the muzzIe Of it against the pit Of
his antagonists stomach. ObIara had
not detected this maneuver. but at that
moment be relaxed his hold with an
abrupt gesture, and Tweedle tumbIed to
the floor, firing as he landed. The bullet
pierced q panel Of the ceiling.
What a laundering bIockhead 1 AMI
muttered O'Nara. The whole shlp1I
know it now. and all because ] couldn't
keep my temper with fellow who's
cad through no fault Of his own, sim
ply because he was born one.
And I've broken my compact with him.
Beg your pardon. Tweedfe,
Hope J didn't hurt you much"
Fc vas staring out OF the omen mort