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

cabin. whittier I inquired my way in
desperation. but where the sight of
his own name on the baggage was
certainly a further reinsurance. Why
he himself kept in the background,
however, | could not conceive, and
only sinister reasons would suggest
themselves in explanation.
SO there you arei I've been look
ing for you all over the ship!
Despite the craven prohibition had
tried the bridge as a last resort and
there indeed was A. J. Raffles seated
on a skylight and leaning over one
of the officers long chairs In which
reclined girl in a white drill coat
and skrt-a slip of girl with pale
skin, dark hair and rather remarkable
eyes. So much l noted as he rose
and quickly turned; thereupon | could
think of nothing but the swift grim
ace which preceded start of we'll
feigned establishment.
ssWhy, Bunny" cried Raffes.
"Where have you sprung from?'
l stammered something as he pinch
ed my hand.
And are you coming in this ship?
And to Naples. too? Well, upon my
world Miss Werner, may l intro
duce him?"
ana ne ulQ SO d DluStlf Nt-
scribing me as an old school-fellow
whom he had not seen for months,
with wilfui circumstances and gratui-
tous detail that filled me at once with
confusion, suspicion and revolt. felt
myself blushing for as both, and
did not care. My address utterly de-
serted me, and l made no effort to
recover 1t, to cary the thing off. All
would do was to humble such words
as Raff1es actually put into my
mouth, and that l doubt not with
thoroughly evil grace.
$50 you saw my name In the list OF
passengers and came in search of me?
Good old Bunnyl l say though |
wish you'd share my cabin. I've got
a beauty on the promenade deck, but
they wouldn't promise to keep me by
myself We ought to see about 1t
before they shove in some alien. In
any case we shall have to get out OF
this
For quartermaster had entered
the wheel-house, and even while we
had been speaking the pilot had taken
possession of the bridge; as we de-
scended the tender left us with flying
handkerchiefs and shrii good-bys, and
as we bowed to Miss Werner on the
promenade deck there came deep,
slow throbbing under foot and our
voyage had begun.
you idiot" he snar ed, you've
given me away again.
.How have / given you away?"
T ignore the separate insult in his
last word.
How? 1 should have thought any
clod could see that l meant us to
meet by chancei"
After taking both tickets your
self?'
"rhey knew nothing about that on
board; besides I hadn't decided when
l took the tickets"
'.rhen you should have let me know
when you did decide. You lay your
plans and never say word, and ex-
pect me to tumble to them by light
of nature. How was | to know you
had anything on?"
| had turned the tables with some
effect. Raffies almost hung his head.
''The fact is, Bunny, I didn't mean
you to know. You-youve grown
such a pious rabbit in your old age!F
NV nickname and his tone went far
TO mollify me; other things went fur
Their, but I had much to forgive MIN
still.
"If YOU were afraid of writing"
pursued, at was your business to
give me the tip the moment l set
foot on board. l would have taken
II all right. / am not so virtuous as
all that
Was it my imagination or did Raj
fies look slightly ashamed? IL so,
it was for the first and last time In
all the years I knew him; nor can L
swear to it even now.
THAT" said he, was the very
thing l meant to do-to lie in walt In
my room and get you as you passed.
But"
you were better engaged?"
Say otherwise"
1.-The charming Miss Werner!
she is quite charming
Most Australian girls are said l.
How did you know she was one?'
he cried.
1T heard her speak"
.'Brute!" said Raffies, 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!" 1 inquired
"Confound you!" he said. and,
though he was laughing. I thought 1t
was a point at which the subject
might be changed.
"wen," / said, 'it wasn't for Miss