The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-11-21

found myself looking into a pair ot
wIstful dark eyes with an unanswered
question in thin.
Thank you" she said, in a sweet
low voice You are most kind.
know it is not pleasant to share one's
room with a stranger. but | will come
gladly. for am very tired My hrs
band
She paused abruptly and faint col
or tlnged her cheeks as man ap
preached and bent over her with an
unmistakable air of possession.
It's no use. Juliet" he said; q
can't get you q stateroom at any price
and you are regularly done up, too
We must manage with one of these
sofas"
1t is all right. dear" she replied
gently This young lady is good
enough to offer 10 share her room with
with me. My husband, Mr.. Graham
Miss"
supplied the name and bowed to
Mr.. Graham, looking curiously at him
as | listened TO his ELUSIVE thanks.
The man evidently possessed the
vitality his wife lacked. His every
movement indicated that he was filled
TO the finger tips with vibrant, pulsing
life, and one admired him with the ad,
mlration one involuntarily accords a
perfect specimen of the animal king.
dom. whether man or beast Perhaps
his lips were a trifie too full and red.
and his teeth rather unpleasantly daz-
Zling when they cleaned under his
dark mustache; perhaps, also. there
vas something in his large black eyes
now and then which might cause a
woman 10 blush and turn aside II he
looked TOO long at her; but his man.
ner was very gentle as he bent over
his wife. and he collected her wraps
and helped her to rise with genuine
solicitude.
The stewardess was waiting to show
Mrs. Graham the room, and | decided
TO remain In the saloon until she had
retired, so sat down in a green plush
chair and amused myself watching my
fellow passengers and speculating as
to their destinations | had just deter
mined that a fat old lady opposite
was the mother Of large family and
going 10 visit married daughter
when the cabin door opened and Mr..
Graham returned alone.
He raised his hat as he passed
hesitated moment, then seated him
self on the arm of an adjoining chair.
We really owe you debt of graf
itude," he said "Of course | can get
along perfectly we'll anywhere, but
Mrs. Graham is not strong. She has
had tiresome journey, and tonight
seemed to be the last straw. / sup
pose you noticed how awfully done
up she was
She certainly seemed very tired.
She will be all right tomorrow, aft
er a nights rest-thanks to you. We
are going TO spend the summer in
| think the climate there
will benefit her, it is SO invigorating
And you? Are you also bound for
Canada. and are you travelling alone?3
| replied somewhat curtly that l
was with friends, for | had no desire
TO prolong the conversation. Mr..
Graham. however, fingered with the
manner of one who has something on
his mind, but finds expression difficult.
At last he rose and said ood-night,
after Offering to look out for our bag
gage when he landed in the morning.
And by the way" he remarked.
carlessly, don't be alarmed If my
wife should talk bit in her sleep.
She does it now and then, especially
if she Is overtired. She is apt to
dream. | think, and sometimes talks
a lot of gibberish. | trust you may
not be disturbed, but | thought ] ought
to warn you. Goodnight again, and
many thanks
So Mrs. Graham talked in her sleep,
| thought rather ruefully of my pros
poets for peaceful night as | slowly
walked the length of the cabin-for
mine was an outside stateroom, and
it was necessary to go on deck to
reach it.
The moon shone brilliantly. path
which rippled and sparkled alluringly.
was so fascinated by the beauty of
the scene that when | reached my
door | did not enter at once, but leaned
over the railing, watching the white
foam that marked our course, and
quite forgetful of the flight of time.
After g, while two men approached
and one of them fitted a key in the
door next mine. AS he stopped to ex-
anime the lock, the moonlight shone
full upon his face, and l recognized
our friend in blue serge with the
strange aversion to chairs. wondered
if the person with him was an attend
ant, and hoped the partition wall was
substantial | was also conscious of
a strong desire to waken Gabrielle and
Elizabeth and seek shelter with
them.
CTO BE CONTINUED)
Y AZ