Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28

Yachting cap white shoes and trousers and
dark blue coat fastened only by the lower buttons
on account of his expansive chest. This heightened
the effect of his taperng lines, from shoulder to hip,
from hip to ankle. and now as he stepped into the
moonlight with careless. eatlike swing; woman
would have said of him. - He can dance!' A man
would have said He can box!
He NAV have done both neither; yet beyond
doubt Bruce Morson of Virginia wore an air of posi-
tive cockiness This due partly, perhaps. to his
gilt buttons; for. strangely, in the weakness OF
human flesh uniform begets species OF overbear.
ing. staggering superiority; be 1t worn by regal
grenadier or the little black hallboy cheap apart
Tlent.
Morson liked his costume.-he liked it vastly
yet had he been conscious of pair of big brown,
talf-closed eyes which watched him critically from
q shadowy angle of the deck. he might have been
warned that certain rooster was IN danger OF hav.
ing his comb cut. But. unfortunately, he seemed
conscious only of his personal appearance and his
mental satisfaction therewith,-a condition some
what difficult to understand in man that had been
literally thrown upon the world or, to put 1t more
correctly the English Channel with nothing to his
back but tattered shirt and an unusually pleasing
breadth of shoulders.
cabin whistled softly then took short stroll OF IN
vestigaton, coming eventually upon the lady IN the
steamer chair.
Good evening"" he greeted cheerfully, as he
paused and made her another of his dancing master
bows Permit to acknowledge my double debt
Of gratitude the first, in somewhat tring matter
Of saving my life; the second, in providing an ap-
preciative wretch with dry clothing
"Oh, don't mention it, please" she answered,
with studied lack OF interest beheVe me, we
should have done the same tor any member OF your
This was not particularly flattering; yet the young
man. in the vastness of his vanity, seemed pleased
to take an optimistic view of it.
Thank you" he said, smiling happily; even
snutty faced coal HEAVIER could scarcely fail to ap
preciate the luck of being rescued by Miss Girard
May sit DOWN."
Valda drew in her breath sharply; She was taken
aback by the very brazenness of him; yet she her
self had planned the interview, and the sooner 1t
he hetf
Yes" she answered, pointing to a camp stool;
Il want very much to talk with you.
He expressed his gratitude for the honor, drew up
stool beside the rail. seated himself, and carefully
adjusted the creases in Beasleys trousers.
This is lovely" he remarked. Luck seems to
be literally chasing me-
Of something else. The reckless young man had
foolishly selected spot where the moonlight tell
full on his handsome features; and, while 1t was
most probably done for effect, still it afforded her
the verv opportunity desired that of watching the
face of George c. Brown when he tried to worm her
secrets out of her.
Her own face was partly in shadow but Brown,
or Morson or whoever he really was, could discern
enough of it to claim his entire approval and cause
him to feel assured of a most delightful interview
CHE herself was wondering just how to open the
- painful subject when the rescued man spoke
suddenly and saved her the trouble
Miss Girard," he began, before we discuss the
INSIGNIFICANT subject of nv own affairs should like
with your perrnission-to ask few simple ques-
tons
Valda pasped mentally This was exactly the
POSITION that She wished to occupy herself; but,
in the very suddenness of it, she murmured faint
assent and endeavored to still the beatings OF her
heart His first question hardly tended TO that par
ticular state of quetude:
Who may l ask, the two gentlemen guests
on board your fathers yaCht!'
Vada had leaned forward; but she sank back
quickly into the shadow. 1t had come, then! This
man was not only officer of the law, as Ormond
had told her. but started in by scoring buIs-eye!