Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-14
CHAPTER I.
"R THINK l shall enjoy this trip"
purred Isobel Barring. Nesting
III comfortably among the cuSh-
e L.

II comfortably among the cush-
ions of her deck chair. 4 stew
ard was arranging tea for two at
small table The Kansas, with placid
hum of engines, was speeding evenly
through an azure sea.
81 agree with that opinion most
heartily, though. to be sure. so much
depends on the weather. replied her
friend, Elsie Maxwell, rising TO pour
out the tea. Already the brisk sea
breeze had kissed the Chilean pallor
from Elsie's face, which had regained
its English peach bloom Isobel Bar
ing's complexion was tinged with the
warmth of a pOmegranate. At sea.
even in the blue Pacific, she carried
with her the suggestion of a tropical
garden.
Il never gave 4 thought to the
weather" purred Isobel again rs she
subsidized more deeply into the cush-
ions.
Let us hope such q blissful state
of mind may be justified But you
know. dear we may run into dread
full gale be ore we reach the strait"
Isobel laughed
"Ail the better" she cried People
tell me l am most fascinating in
valid loo', re creamy orchid.
And what luz, 10 have a chum so dis
Interested a. yrI where a lot of nice
men are roaa cnel. What have 1
done to dc rre t? Because you are
reall! cDaril51-, Won know"
Does Tat rea. that you have al.
ready discovered lot of nice men on
board?"
Elsie handed her friend cup of tea
and plate of toast.
Naturally While you were moon
ing over the lights and tints of the
Andes l kept an eye-both eyes, in
fact-on Our compulsory acquaintance
of the next three weeks. To begin
with, there's the captain"
HE is good looking, certainly. Some
what reserved, l fancied."
Reserved" IsObel showed all hel
fine teeth in smile. incidentally she
took satisfactory bite out of a squar,
of toast. "Pll soon shake the reserve
out of him. He is mine. You will SCI
him play pet dog long before we NEE
that terrible gale of yours
"lsobel, you promised your father
ITO look after my health during tn
voyage. Do you think 1 intend only t
sleep, eat and read novels all the wa.
to London? Then indeed 1 should b
Ill. But there is a French count o
the ship. He is mine too"
you mean to find safety in nun
bers?"
ooh, there are others. OF course
am sure of my little count He twist
ed his mustache with such an air whe
l skidded past him in the companion
way 1 am sure NJ. lie Comte Edouar
de Poincilit will do our French ia
more good than a course in NJ
liere."
Am to be included in the lessons
And you actually know the man
name alreadyY'
Read 1t on his luggage, dear cir
He has such lot. See if he doesn
wear three different colored shirts fC
breakfast. lunch and tea. And, if yo
refuse to help,swho is to take care c
lie pitt Edouard while give the cal
tain a trot round? Don't look eros
there's a darling!'
Now, Isobel, that does not matte
a bit in Valparaiso, where you al
known, but in Paris and London
"Where> 1 mean to be equally we
known. 1t is a passport to smart soc
ETY. to be trifie rlsque. Stewar
give my compliments to Captain Cou
tenay and say that Miss Maxwell an
Miss Barring hope he will favor the
with his company TO tea"
Elsies bright, eager face fiushe
slightly She leaned forward, with
certain squaring of the shoulders, b
ing determined young person In SON
respects.
For once l shall let you off," 81
said in a low voice. $50 l give yC
fair warning, Isobel-I must not
included in impromptu invitations
that kind"
"Good gracious! I only meant to
polite. Tue, tut, as dad says when