The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-01-16
Like Unto
Caesar.
By J. LgDLUM LEE
By j. LgDLUN LEE
Copyright, 1907. by N. E. Daley.


The giant steamship tossed and
pitched. The decks were wet with
spray from the angry waves, and you
could count the passengers on deck on
one hand. Two husky men lurched
against each other as they turned the
corner, both mufied to their ears, puff
ing vigorously 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
two.
Rotten don't describe it, sir. It's
well, IN be hangedi Ny pipe went
out In that collision, I guess. Got a
matchF"
"sure 1 havei But what good is II
out here? A torch wouldn't stay light
ed in this2wind. Come inside Z minute
and light her up"
They were back on deck in mo-
ment 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 wealth
er. The older man was talking.
"T suppose you think a man Of my
age ought to be in his cabin a night
like this. But, you see, my wife is
sick in one bunk and my daughter
down and out in another. Guess you
and I are about the only ones to ven
ture out aren't veT"
Guess we are, sir, unless, of course.
the 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. as e
"weI, 1 don't know. She is the
usual mystery found aboard a boat of
this character. Captain says she's a
titled woman from the continent going
over to see the States. Whoever she
is, she's sumner, old man. Here she
Is now" he 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 enveloped 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 l
guess I'll 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 Eng
lish 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 pulled at his pipe and won
dered what the girl In the sable coat
was doing. He didn't want to appear
of1cious, but he could not help won
der1ng, and as he walked he kept his
eyes well open for the fur clad figure.
He did not have In look long, for she
passed him very soon. Try as he
would he could find no plausible ex-
cuse for speaking TO this evidently self
reliant young. woman of title, SO on he
strobe.
Just amfdnhip he heard a voice-such
a voice that today he can shut his eyes
and hear It In his dreams-saying: ::
"Oh, I beg your pardon, but would
you help me to open this door? I sim
ply cannot 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 10 all over" Hollis
had grown bold Of a sudden.
well, really, LIDO not want to go
In, but<yoH know my maid is dreadful
~ i'll, and 1t 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 prorered arm, and OF
they went.
The next morning broke clear and
bright, and the girl in1sable had chang.
Cd her raiment to a suit which bespoke
the art Of England's best tailor. That
night her gown vas Of soft, clinginR
material which showed her figure to
perfection, while the, cloak that GOV
cred her shoulders was the envy Of
the women passengers. With every
gown were bits Of Jewelry that seemed
to belong to them and to Just suit her
who wore the gorgeous raiment Hol-
lis stared as did the rest, then shut
his eyes and lived over again the walk
Of the night. before, with her frail arm
close to his strong one and
that sweet, distractins voice chatting
IN his ear.
He started up as from q reverie as
the purser passed him. Hollis offered
him a cigar.
81 say, purser, who's the woman
over there that nobody speaks to and
every woman on the ship envies for
her clothes?"
ooh, that is the Countess Of Brienne.
Beautiful creature, isn't she? Cad, but
she'd make a good show piece ior some
IF those newly rich Americanst" he
as he passed on with the
cigar in his mouth.
Hollis turned in disgust at the last
to be confronted by the "beau-
.iful creature" His attempt at an ex-
PLANTATION was cut short by her rip
ping laugh.
ooh, don'tT' she cried laughingly. 81
was tickIed to death to hear Il. You
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