The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-13

they wouldn't promise TO keep me by
myself We ought TO see about il be-
fore they shove in some alien. In any
case we shall have TO get out Of this"
For Quartermaster had entered the
wheelhouse. and even while we had
been speaking the pilot had taken pos
session Of the bridge. As we descend
ed, the tender left us. with flying hand
kerchiefs and shrill goodbys. and as
we bowed to Miss Werner in the
promenade deck there came a deep,
slow throbbing underfoot and our voy-
age had begun.
II did not begin pleasantly between
Rallies and me. On deck he had over
borne my stubborn perplexity by dint
Of & forced though forceful ioviality
In lis cabin the gloves were off.
You IDIOT" he snarled. you've
given me away again.
How have 1 given you away:"
l ignored the separate insult in his
last word.
How? I should have thought any
clOd could see that | meant Us to meet
by chance
after taking both tickets yourselff"
They know nothing about that on
board. Besides I hadn't decided when
! took the tickets"
Then you should have let me know
when you did decide. You lay your
plans and never say a word and ex-
pect me TO tumble TO them by light of
nature How was to know you had
anything onE"
I had turned the tables with some
effect. Rallies almost hung his head
The fact is. Bunny, l didn't mean
you TO know. You-you've grown such
a pious rabbit in your old age"
My nickname and his tone went far
TO mollify me. Other things went far
Their but l had much TO forgive him
still.
IF you were afraid of writing" l
pursued. ''it was your business 10 give
me the tip the moment I set foot on
board l would have taken it all right
l am not so virtuous as all that"
Was it my imagination or did Rafiles
look slightly ashamed? If so it was
for the first and last time in all the
years ! knew him, nor can l swear TO
it even now"
That" said he, was the very thing
l meant to do-to lie in wait in my
room and &c. you as you passed, but
you werc better engaged?'
Say otherwise"
The charming Miss WernerT
'She is quite charming"
Most Australian girls are" said I.
How did you know she was oneY'
he cried
~ heard her speak"
Brute said Raffles, laughing. "She
has no more twang than you have.
Her people are German; she has been
to school in Dresden and is on her
way out alone"
Money" l inquired.
"Confound you" be said. and, though
he was laughing. I thought it was a
point at which the subject might be
changed.
Well" 1 said, 'it wasn't for Miss
Werner you wanted US to play stran-
gers. was it? You have some deeper
game than that, eh?''
Il suppose have"
Then hadn't you better tell me
what 1t is?"
Rafies treated me to the old, cautious
scrutiny that l knew so well. The
very familiarity Of it. after all these
months, set me smiling in a way that
might have treasured him, for dimly
already OWNED his enterprise.
1T won't send you of in the pilots
boat, BunnyT'
Not quite"
"Then-you remember the pearl you
wrote the
1 did not wait for him to finsh his
sentence.
You've got it," cried, my face on
IRE, for l caught sight of 1t that mo-
ment in the stateroom mirror.
Raffies seemed taken aback.
Not yet" said he, but 1 mean to
have 1t before We get to Naples"
rs 1t on board?'
YES"
But how-where-who's got it,"
"A little German officer. a whipper.
snapper with perpendicular mus
taches."
Il saw him in the smoke room"
That's the chap He's always there.
Herr Captain Wilhelm Won Heumann,
If you look at the list Well, he's the
special envoy of the emperor. and he's
taking the pearl out with him.
You found this out in Bremen?'
mo, In Berlin, from a newspaper
man know there. I'm ashamed to
tell you. Bunny, that went there on
purposem
/ burst out laughing.
You needn't be ashamed. You are
doing the very thing was rather hop
ing you were going to propose the
other day on the river"
you were hoping itT" said Raffles,
with his eyes wide open. Indeed, it
was his turn to show surprise and
mine to be much more ashamed than
felt.
YES" answered. 81 was quite keen
on the idea. but wasA't going to pro
pose It,"
yet you would have listened to me
the other day."
Certainly l would. and told him so
without reserve; not brazenly. you I'M
derstand: not even now with the gusto