Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-01-16
Like Unto
Caesar.
By ). LUDLUM LEE.
copyrlght. ia01. by N. =. paIey.

spray AtOAh lHe hukFy waves, ana you
could count the passengers on deck OF
one hand Two husky men lurchet
against each other as they turned the
corner, both muhled to their ears, pun
ing vigorously at their pipes to produces
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, I'll be hangedl My pipe went
out in that collision, guess. Got q
match7"
"sure havel But what good is II
out here? A torch wouldn't stay light.
ed In this wind. Come inside minute
and light her up"
They were back ON deck In a mo.
ment and, as so often happens on
board ship, in that time seemed Ia
have made friends. Arm In arm this
time they bTaved the wind and wealth.
er. The older man was talking.
II suppose you think 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 are about the only ones to ven
ture out, aren't weT'
Guess we are, sir, unless, Of course,
the girl with the sable coat is ON deck.
Nothing keeps her below"
''GiTl In sable coat. Who's she7" de.
handed the elderly man, his attention
somewhat aroused.
swell, l don't know. She is the
usual mystery found aboard 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
IL 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. Ill take better peek In
the daylight, and In the meantime l
guess III go below and look after my
sick. Good night, sir"
"Gpod night" said the younger man.
as he left his newly made friend at the
eompanionway
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 long, steady stride around the
deck. He puffed at his pipe and won
dered what the girl In the sable coat
was doing He didn't want to appear
Oftlcious, but he could not help won
derlng, and as he walked he kept his
eyes well open for the fur clad figure
he did not have to 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 amidship he heard a volce-such
a voice that today he can shut his eyes
and hear II In his dreams saying:
"oh. | beg your pardon, but would
you help me to open this doorP sim.
ply cannot do It,"
He sprang to her side in an instant.
but the door did not yield 80 easily.
do you want 10 go in2 You know
the moon is just coming up, and |
think the storm Is all over" Hollis
had grown bold of sudden.
.Well, really, do not want to 90
IN, but You know my maid Is dreadful.
" Ill, and It seems cruel to leave her
alone" answered the sweet voice.
''Oh, bother the maidl Take my
arm and let's see how 1t 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 gltmmer OF the moon
breaking through the clouds. hesltated
for Just a moment. then without q
word took the proffered arm, and Oh
they went.
The next morning broke clear and
bright, and the girl In sable had chang.
cd her raiment to a suit which bespoke
the art OF England's best tailor. That
night her gown was Of soft, clinglng
A~-~%N<AAAA NAANA HnQNCA AtE tkuFG
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
bis eyes and lived over again the walk
OF the night before, with her frall arm
singing close TO his strong one and
that sweet distracting voice chatting
in bis ear.
He started up as from a reverle as
the purser passed him. Hollis offered
him cigar
II say, purser, who's the woman
over there that nobody speaks to and
every woman on the ship envies for
her clothesY'
"oh, that Is the Countess OF Brienne.
Beautiful creature. isn't she3 Cad, but
she'd make good show piece for some