The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-18


It's priceless. l doubt II the skipper
himseh knows that Won Heumann
has it on him.
And he has2'
Must have"
WITH"
He answered me without word.
something white was fluttering past
once more, and Raffes, stepping
forth, made the promenaders three.
II.
I do not ask to set foot aboard a
finer steamship than the Uhlan of the
Norddeutscher Lloyd. to meet a kind
lier gentleman than her then COM
mander or better fellows than his Of
ficers. This much at least let me
have the grace to admit. | hated the
voyage. II was no fault of anybody
connected with the ship; 1t was no
fault of the weather, which was mo-
notonously IDEAL Not even In my own
heart did the reason reside: con-
science and l were divorced at last
and the decree made absolute. With
my scruples had fled all fear, and
was ready to revel between bright
skies and sparkling sea with the light
hearted detachment of Raffles him
self. 1t was Raffles himself who pre-
vented me, but not Raffles alone. 1t
was Raff1es and that colonial mink on
her way home from school,
What he could see in her-but that
begs the question. OF course he saw
no more than did, but to annoy me,
or perhaps to punish me for my long
detection, he must turn his back on
me and devote himself to this chit
from Southampton to the Mediterran-
can. They were always together. 1t
was too absurd. After breakfast
they would begin and go on until IL
or 12 at night, there was no interview
Ing hour at which you might not hear
her nasal laugh or his quiet voice
talking soft nonsense into her ear.
OF course II was nonsense! 1t is con-
ceivable that man like Raffes, with
his knowledge of the world and his
experience of women Ca side of his
character upon which l have pur-
posely never touched, for 1t deserves
another volume)-is it credible, 1 ask,
that such a man could find anything
but nonsense to talk by the day to-
gether to a giddy young schoolgirl?
l would not be unfair for the world.
| think l have admitted that the
young person had points. Her eyes,
/ suppose. were really fine, and GER
tainly the shape of the little brown
face was charming, so far as mere
contour can charm | admit also
more audacity than l cared about
with enviable health mettle and VI
tally. | may not have occasion TO
report any of this young lady's
speeches tthey would scarcely bear
it). and am therefore the more anx-
ious to describe her without injustice.
| confess to some little prejudice
against her. | resented her success
with Raffles, of whom in consequence
| saw less and less each day. 1t Is
q mean thing to have to confess, Dut
there must have been something not
unlike jealousy ranking within me.
Jealousy there was in another quar-
ter-crude. rampant, undignihed Jeal-
ousy. Captain Won Heumann would
curl his mustaches into twin spires,
shoot his white cuffs over his rings
ard stare at me insolently through his
4 risnless eyeglass: we ought to have
ennsoled each other, but we never
exchanged a syllable. The captain
had a murderous scar across one or
his cheeks, a present from Heidel-
berg, and used to think how ne
must long to have Raffles there to
serve the same. 1t. was not as though
s Won Heumann never had his innings.
Raffles let him go In several times
a.
bowling him out as he was getting
set" those were his words when l
taxed him disingeniusly with obnox-
ions conduct toward a German on
German boat
"Youll make yourself disliked on
board"
by Won Heumann merely"
But is that wise when he's the
man we've got to diddle?'
1.-THE wsest thing l ever did. TO
have chummed up with him would
have been fatal-the common dodge.
I was eonsoled, encouraged, almost
content | had feared Raffles was
neglecting things. and I told him so
in a burst. Here we were near Glib
raltar and not a word since the So
lent. He shook his head with smile.
'.Plenty of time, Bunny, plenty OF
time. We can do nothing before we
get to Genoa, and that won't be till
Sunday night. The voyage is still
Young and so are we; let's make the
most of things while we can.
It was after dinner on the prone
made Geek, and as Raffles spoke he
glanced Sharply fore and ait, leaving
ne n,xt moment with a step fun of
nurnose. retired to the smoking
room to smoke and read In a corner
ami TO watch ven HeuInarn. who very
soon came to drink bee, and to sulk
in arcther.
Few travellers tempt the Red sea at
midsummer; the Uhlan was very
empty indeed. She had, however, but
a limited supply of cabins on the
promenade deck, and there was just
that excuse for my sharing Rafhes
room, / could have had one to my
self downstairs, but l must De up
above. Raffies had insisted mat 1
should insist on the point So we
were together. | think. without sus-
picion. though also without any op-
iect that | could see.
On the Sunday afternoon | was
esleep in my berth, the lower one,
when the curtains were shaken by
Raffes, who was In his shirt sleeves
on the settee.
sAchiles sullsing in his bunk
.What else is there to dor asked
him as I stretched and yawned.
noted however, the good humor OF
his tone, and did my best to eaten H.
II have found something else, Bun
ny"
IT dare sayv
"you misunderstood me. The
whinper-snappers making his CEN
tury this afternoon. I've had other
fish TO fry
I swung my legs over the side of
NV berth and sat forward as he was
sitting. all attention. The inner door.
a grating. was shut and bolted ana
curtained like an open portfolio.
1--WE shall be at Genoa before sun
set continued Raffes. ITS the
place where the deeds got to be
done" ,,
$50 Won still mean to do I'll"
"Did I ever say | didn't"
"You have said so little either way"
"Adyisedly so, my dear Bunny; why
spoil pleasure trip by talking un-
necessary shop? But now the time