The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-11-28
CHAPTER I-continued.

CHAPTER i.-ContfnucC.
The light was burning in my state
room when at last ! forced myself to
enter il. and Mrs Graham lay asleep
in the lower berth, her lips slightly
parted and her face resting upon her
hand. Nature had meant 10 be kind
to this woman. and had been liberal
indeed with her gifts. The lashes
which swept the pale check were dark
and curling, like the luxuriant hair
carelessly pushed aside on the pillow.
while the face itself. though thin and
haggard, had evidently once been a
perfect oval. with singular purity of
outline and innocence of expression.
AS noiselessly as possible, | made
my preparations for the night and
climbed into my berth. tnrning of the
electric light with sense of relief
that the switch was within easy reach
OF my hand,
| lay staring into the darkness wide
awake and alert TO every sound, \
murmur of voices came from the next
room, interspersed with occasional sub
dued laughter, and at last ] heard a
window opened, and some one appar
emily leaned out with an ejaculation of
geliei.
"Joye. what night, And TO think
od wasting il in a cell like this Blake,
you old sinner, have you no sou! for
the beautiful? Look at the light on
the water"
Tn. reply was inaudible. Evidently
Blake had gone sensibly TO bed, but
the voice continued undaunted
Il say. wouldn't it be jolly to dive OFF
the railing and swim a mile or so? !
declare. rye half mind to do it,"
] caught my breath apprehensively.
Suppose he should jump? a match
was now scratched. and the odor of a
cigarette noated through my Slated
blind.
Maybe you think you're on an or
binary steamer, Blake, but it's nothing
of the kind. 1t is royal barge be
ohging to the gods. and it's carrying
the Three Graces to attend Apollo
I'm Apollo. you understand. and Venus
isn't in it this trip. | think-of course
I'm not yet sure-but | think Thalia
is the chosen one"
The berth creaked plaintively. and
a second match was struck. Apparent
ly Blake considered it wiser to join
his patient at the window.
Don't be an ass he said, with a
SLOW drawl but his companion mere
ly whistled few bars of an old song.
How happy could be with either.
were t'other dear charmer away eh.
Blake9" he laughed That's the way
with this world-always too much or
too little"
Quite enough for you, l think
Not a bit of it. The thing | want
most l lack, but some time, some how,
I'm going to get it,
Silence for a few moments, then he
resumed more gravely:
''Of course it's no end jolly to have
you with me, Blake. but it is a queer
business for you to take up, and l
don't altogether like it. You were
built for better things
1T is interesting work, and said to
require special fitness"
NO doubt. Well. it's an i'll wind,
you know, and. since it blew you my
way, I've no kick coming. But, old
chap. there is no use in publishing
what you are doing. and for both our
sakes it is better you should pass
simply as my guest"
LAS you please, Bennett. Now, for
heavens sake, come to bed"
l don't know whether l had actually
been asleep, or whether l was merely
In that delightful state OF half-con-
sciousness which precedes profound
slumber, but suddenly l started up
broad awake, with the echo Of a cry
ringing in my ears. Was l dreaming? !?
| wondered, for l heard nothing but
the sound OF the waves against the
boat.
Then it came again, from just be-
meath me, a sobbing, frightened cry.
infinitely distressing to hear, and In
stinctively l turned on the light and
jumped to the floor.
Mrs. Graham sat upright in her
berth, her dark eyes looking into
space, and her hands tightly clasped.
Not again, Harry" she moaned !;
mot again-so soon"
l took her hands in mine and spoke
10 her, calling her by name several
times, and gradually the blank look
In her eyes was replaced by utter be-
wilderment as she began to realize her
surroundings.
What is it?' she said. What
have I been doing?"