Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25


But a moment later, with air of quiet
unconcern, she asked, Isn't Mr. Valentine
teleggraphe1?" s., :, .,. ;, soo.,,.
know anything about wireless. Didn't you
notice when we were at the station yesterday
what a lot of machinery it took to make 1t go!'
''Oh, just gasolene motor and a generator
and spark COIL" she said.
Beaumont laughed, We'll, motor and
generator and spark coil as much Greek
to Valentine they are to me. believe you
know more about them than we do. Valen-
tires a good secretary; but he has any
sense of humor, and he hasn't any sand. He
really seemed to think last night that we were
in immediate danger of ASSASSINATION. No,
there is no thoroughfare there
She nodded as if in assent. WE'LL" she
said, there is one thing you might do. You
might write out the message you want sent and
give it to me, and then if | should find the Wire
less operator when you aren't around, and
should be able to get him into an amlable mood,
l could send the message as we'll as you. 1t
gives better chance, dent you Think"
He looked at her a little curiously. That
sounds reasonable" he admitted, and taking
out his pocketbook he wrote out the message
But don't do anything reckless, Pussy he
admonished her, as he handed her the scrap
"Oh, WON'T" she said gaily; but now
run along and let me dress"
He left the room with the vague sense that
she had more in mind than she had revealed
to him. notion that would not have been so
vague IT he could have heard the remark she
addressed to him after he had left the room
and she was sure the door was shut.
Now, dad she observed, you see what
a good deed you did when you let me have
the little motor car to be all my very own,
and let me learn how to run it myself Then
she laughed. Such lot of machinery to
make it gor" she quoted.
REAUMONT'S prophecy, that he would not
hoa 11c tot n11c ,1cN a
the days he was likely to have to spend on the
island, was verified by the appearance of young
Rogers at the breakfast table.
If there had been any doubt in anybodys
mind whether the mishap to the Orpheus
might not, after all, be laid to accident, not
to design, that doubt would have been dis
PEELED by the i'll concealed embarrassment
and agitation with which young Rogers joined
the breakfast party. That he was not guest,
but Jallor told off to act like one, was plainly
to be read in his face the moment he appeared.
This embarrassment Beaumont promptly set
himself at work to overcome.
He talked to young Rogers as II nothing In
the world but pleasant evening and good
nights sleep had interviewed between their
last meal and this one He succeeded SO well
in his endeavor, that he counted on Christa-
bells appearance-she was a little late in get
ting down-to make the victory complete.
Much to his surprise. she failed him here COM
Pletely. Her greeting to young Rogers was
just what the barest courtesy demanded, and
nothing more. From then on, she seemed
almost studiously cool toward him. What
surprised her father still more, was the fact
that she made her neglect of Rogers more
Pointed by her compensating cordially toward
Valentine the secretary.
1t may be noted in passing that this young
man, until he began to take the new attitude
for granted, he very soon did, was much
surprised at it as her father He was not
in the least the sort of person she hked,-thin
blooded, precocious, and, she thought, little
too deferential. In all the years during which
he had been her fathers shadow, he had never
been anything more definite to her than an
impression of thin hair, eyeglasses, and a
stoop. But now all at once he found himself
basking in the full sunshine of her pleasure.
This state of things continued all through
the breakfast and when they adjourned to
the veranda afterward The only possible
explanation Beaumont could make of her
conduct was that she might think too cordial
manner toward Rogers would merely
his suspicion and that she stood better
chance of getting him interested by the age
old process of seeming interested herself in
another man.
If that was her game, Beaumont felt pretty
sure she OVERRIDING it when she interrupted
a dissertation of his own on the decline and
ultimate fall of the Republican party, by the
announcement that she and Valentine
going out for walk Beaumont was on the
point of suggesting that they all take stroll
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