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

night | fancied it was for months
that we we're saying good-by.
But as we waited for the train [
say those clear eyes peering at me
under the station lamps, and when
met their glance Raffles shook his
head.
You don't look well on it, Bunny"
said he 81 never did believe In this
Thames valley. You want change
of air.
wished I might get 1t.
what you really want is a sea
voyage"
you recommend Cannes or Cairo? It's
all very we'll, A. J., but you forget
what l told you about my funds"
Il forget nothing. l merely don't
want to hurt your feelings. But shall
come with me as my guest. Well
spend July in the Mediterranean"
but you're playing cricket"
Hang the cricketr'
Well Thought you meant it"
"Of course l meant it. viii you
Gomez"
Like a shot--if you 60"
And [ shook his hand and waved
mine in farewell. with the perfectly
good-humored conviction that l should
hear no more of the matter. 1t was
a passing thought, no more, no less.
I soon wished it were more; that
week found me wishing myself out of
England for good and all. l was
making nothing. I could but subsist
on the difference between the rent
paid for my fiat and the rent at
which | had sublet 1T, furnished, for
the season. And the season was near
its end and creditors awaited me in
town Was it possible to be entirely
honest? had run no bills when |
had money in my pocket, and the
more downright dishonesty seemed to
me the less ignoble.
But from Raffies of course I heard
nothing more; a week went by, ana
half another week; then late on the
second Wednesday night l found a
telegram from him at my lodgings,
after seeking him vainly in town and
dining with desperation at the soli-
tary club to which 1 still belonged.
"Arrange to leave Waterloo by
North German Lloyd special" he
wired, 1926 a. m. Monday next; VIII
meet YOU Southampton aboard Uhlan
with tickets; am writing.
And write he did, a light-heaIted
letter enough, but full of serious So
Iieitude for me and for my health
and prospects-a letter almost touch
ing In the light of our past relations,
in the twilight of their complete rup-
ture. He said that he had booked
two berths to Naples that we were
bound for Capri, which was clearly
the island of the Lotos eaters; that
we would basl1 there together land
for a while forget" 1t was a charm
ing letter. ! had never seen Italy;
the privilege of initiation should be
his No mistake was greater than to
deem 1t an impossible country for the
summer. The bay of Naples was new
err so fine, and he wrote of faery
lands forlorn" as though the poetry
sprang unbldden to his pen. To come
back to earth and prose, might
think It unpatriotie of him to choose
a German boat, but on no other line
did you receive such attention and
accommodation for your money. There
was a hint of better reasons. Raj
files wrote, as he had telesraphed,
from Bremen; and 1 gathered that
the personal use of some little in
fiuence with the authorities there had
resulted in material reduction in
our fares.
Imagine my excitement and delights
I managed to pay what 1 owed at
Thames Ditton, to squeeze a small
editor for very small check and my
tailors for one more flannel suit.
remember that 1 broke my last sover-
eign to get a box of Sullivans Gig
arettes for Raffles to smoke on the
voyage. But my heart was as light
as my purse on the Monday morning,
the fairest morning of an unfair sum-
mer. when the special whirled me
through the sunshine to the sea.
A tender awaited us at Southamp-
ton. Raffes was not on board, nor
did I really look for him till we
reached the liners side. And then 1
looked in vain. His face was not
among the many that fringed the
rail; his hand was not of the few that
waved to friends. climbed aboard in
a sudden heaviness. / had no ticket.
nor the money to pay for one. l did
not even know the number of my
room. My heart was in my mouth
as I waylaid a steward and asked
If a Mr.. Rafhes was on board. Thank
heaven-he wasi But where? The
man did not know, was plainly on
some other errand, and a-hunting l
must go. But there was no sign of
him on the promenade deck and none
below in the saloon; the smoking
room was empty but for a little Ger
man with red mustache twisted into
his eyes; nor was Raffes in his own