New-York tribune., 1908-06-14

ting a qrieVOuS breach OF etiquette. lHeiStC
he shoOl, his head, and approached the Nl7l'oi
with a sort of ChOked HUMILITY.
Il meant no impudcnCe, sir. and nope you
will 50 take IL - but what with Mr.. Glrard III
London. ordering me to wait tor hlfl' ana III
a foreign country. with so many SharPti2
about, you II pardon a man IcI DSLlS q "
careful sir"
Ormond checked an angry retort, regarded gsi
the Captain critically, and smiled On.
begin to see. Haven't YOU received 1nstruc-
tions from Mr.. Girard,
"No. sir, | haven't"
This time the stranger laughed-and. by
the way, it was rather pleasing laugh
Then that accounts for 1t. he said as ne
once more turned to the troubled othcer- ~
all right. Captain. | understand perfectly;
Listen to this" He produced telegram and
began to read as follows:
Mr.. JAMES ORMOND,
Hotel Du Bois. Calais France,
"Spitfire in port, just of mole clears To-
night. Tracy to meet you. TO on podrd anu
What roared Captain Joe, Take full
charge of this YACHT You, SIR And me the
sailing MASTER Why. sir
" Exactly, interrupted Ormond' Snlling'
Listen to the rest
take full charge of course and anchorage.
Have wired instructions to Valda and Captain
Larris. See you in New York-twentleth!,.
MARCUS GIRARD.
"There YOU are" concluded the stranger.
Captain Zoe took the telegram as directed,
read it twice through in silence, and handed
it back again.
I'm not denying its on the paper, sir. I'm
not denying it; but He paused and lett
the rest to Imagination.
Ormond nodded indulgently. Right my
friend | commend your caution. | know. OF
course. that my introduction may seem a
trife unusual; but the interests OF Mr. 'Tirard
have made it necessary, and | think you viii
E,j =
Miss Valda aboard
No sir she's ashore.
When will she return:"
"She's shopping, sir.
That settled it SO far as masculine expert
ence was concerned the visitor was prepared
to expect her IN five minutes or five hours. as
the exigencieS OF the feminine art OF purchase
demanded. He seated himself in a steamer
chair and produced his cigar case.
Thank you. no." returned the Captain,
with shade of grutfness. When l smoke,
smoke a pipe"
"Oho!' laughed the attractive stranger.
No wonder YOU are suspicious OF human
nature But, by the way Ii you want TO
wire Mr.. Girard, YOU had better do 50 at once.
He sails this evening at eight-fOr New York
"What2"
Just So reiterated Ormond, glancing at
| his hotel the Victoria
The Captain drew in his breath sharply.
Il think | will wait for Miss Valda. sir
oh, just as you like said Ormond with
| irritating carelessness. Its all one to me,
| YOU know | merely thought YOU might like
| to verify this despatch OF nine Pray, par
don my presumption in suggesting 1t "
Whereupon the cool interloper assumed an
air Of further refrigeration, took out a news
paper. and proceeded to ignore Captain Joe
as completely As though he was part OF the
polished deck rail.
THE Captain waited for a few uncomfortable
moments. then climbed slowly to the
bridge where he stood for half an hour scratch
ing his rough blue chin in troubled thought.
That Girard would sail for New Iorl, the
regular ocean steamer when he might cross
the Channel and travel at ease on his own
yacht. was past belief. That he should not
only do this, but send an utterly unknown