The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-04
The EVENING STORY
Like Unto Caesar.
by J. Ludlum Lee.1

count the passengers on deck on one
hand. Two husky men lurched against
each other as they turned the corner,
both muffied to their ears, putting Wig
orously at their pipes to produce a
welcome speck of warmth.
BEG pardon-didn't see you in this
rotten fog" said the younger of the
Rotten don't describe it. sir. it's.
Weil-IH ne hanged-nny pipe went out
In that collision I guess-got a match ?'
sure have, but what good is it out
mere! A torch wouldn't stay lighted In
TINS wind. Come inside a minute and
light her up
They were back on deck in a moment,
and. as so often happens on board Ship
IN that time seemed to have made
friends. Arm in arm this time they
braved the wind and weather The
older man was talking.
suppose you think man of my age
ought to be in his cabin a night like
this, but, you see, my wife is sick in one
punk and my daughter down and out
the only ones to venture out, aren't
wa?"
Guess we are, sir, unless of co<yst
.ne girl with the sable coat is on deck.
Nothing keeps her below"
Girl IN sable coat. Who's she?" de-
manded the elderly man, his attention
somewhat aroused.
We'll, don't know. She is the usual
d
character. Captain says she's a titled
woman from the continent going over
TO see the states. Whoever she is-she'S
a sumner, old man. Here she is now"
ne whispered as the figure of a woman
passed them.
The old gentleman turned, but too late
to see anything save the outline of a
woman. clad in a long sable coat, which
enyeloped her from head to heels.
Looks pretty good in the dark,
young man. I'll take a better peek in
the daylight, and, in the meantime,
guess III go below and look after my
sick. Good night, SIR
GOOD night" said the younger man,
as he left his newly made friend at the
companionway.
Eaton Hollis, representing an English
syndicate and bound for New York, was
not ready to turn in. He had no one
below to look after, and fell into a long,
steady stride around the deck. He puff
ed at his pipe and wondered what the
girl In the sable coat was doing. He didn't
want to appear officious, but he could
he kept his eyes we'll open for the fur
clad figure. He did not have to look
long for she passed him very soon. Try
as he would he could find no plausible
excuse for speaking to this evidently
self-reliant young woman of title, SO
on he strobe.
Just amidship he heard a voice
such a voice that today he can shut
his eyes and hear it in his dreams
saying:
"Oh. beg your pardon. but would
you help me to open this door? I
simply can not do it,
He sprang to her side in an instant,
but the door did not yield so easily.
do you want to go in you know
the moon is just coming up and
think the storm is all over" Hollis
had grown bold of sudden.
well, really, do not want to go
in, but you know my maid Is dread
fully i'll. and it seems cruel to leave
her alone" answered the sweet voice.
ooh, bother the maid. Take my
arm and. let's see how it goes driving
double-you can fight the wind so
much better with two abreast" urged
Hollis. as he extended his left arm.
She looked up at the strong features
and then at the glimmer of the moon
breaking through the clouds. hesitated
for just a moment, then without a
word took the proffered arm. and off
they went.
The next morning broke clear and
bright, and the girl in sable had
changed her raiment to a suit which
bespoke the art of England's best
tailor. That night her gown was of
soft, clinging material which showed
cloak that covered her sh oulders was
the envy of the women passengers.
With every gown were bits of jeweiry
that seemed to belong to them. and to
just suit her who wore the gorgeous
raiment. Hollis stared as did the
rest, then shut his eyes and lived over
again the walk of the night before,
with her frail arm clinging close to his
voice chatting in his ear.
He started up is from a reverie as
the purser passed him. Hollis offered
him a cigar.
st say, purser, who's the woman
over there that nobody speaks to, and
every woman on the ship envies for
her clothes?"
"Oh, that is the Countess OF
she? Cad, but she'd make a GOOD
show piece for some of those newly
rich Americans" he murmured as he
passed on with the cigar in his mouth.
Hollis turned in disgust at the last
to be confronted by the
beautiful creature" His attempt at
an explanation was cut short by her |
ripping laugh.
ooh, DON'T she cried laughingly. |
IT was tickled to death to hear it. You
see I had no idea was going so well
such a big hit. as It were. /
am going out for a few turns on |
deck. Shall 1t be single or double !
oreasted?" she asked naively
Don't you want to change your
Traps?" suggested Hollis as he glanc-
I'd at the beautiful drapery that was
about her.
ooh no, it doesn't natter" care
essly remarked the countess
They circled the deck only once,
because the crowd was Inconvenience /
Y large, and soon they were seated |
'ide by side in their chairs. The air
vas chilly and Hollis offered to go for
Extra wraps but just then the maid
,ame up and asked If she would be
leeded again that night. The count
,ss asked for coat. The pale-faced
'ervant soon returned and heedlessly
brew the sable lined wrap of the pre-
,ious evening over the feet of her mis-
ress. Hollis wa5 dumfounded with
his display of extravaganza, yet star
ID in blind alteration at his compan-