The Washington herald., 1908-02-13

and faster boats There were less than
fourscore passengers in the first cabin,
and Dorsey Adams looked forward 10 a
long. quiet week with Nell Sommers.
For more than a year Dorsey had
sought to win Nell's hand, and with fair
prospect OF eventual success. When he
heard that the family was going TO Eu-
rope for the winter he planned to take
the same boat, and the evident pleasure
with which Nell greeted the announce
ment greatly cheered the anxious Adams
But the boat had not reached the Banks
before the course Of true love showed its
customary unwillingness TO move smooth
~. They had, in fact, been out less than
twenty-four hours when the love course
began 10 resemble the serpentine wind
ings Of the Mississippi. and evinee far
greater roughness than the November
seas.
Miss sommers had spent her first night
aboard in the agonies Of seasickness, and
it was late the next morning when
careful steward and sympathetic stew
ardess helped the exhausted girl to the
deck and comfortably installed her in
deck chair, where Dorsey presently found
her.
Dorsey seated himself on stool beside
her chair, and prepared to make himself
diverting. but 1t was Miss SOmmeTs who
found the diversion. Against Dorsey's
dark coat her sharp eyes spied a golden
strand She leaned forward 10 remove
il, and the next moment she was holding
Il accusingly before his eyes, while her
glance sought the sunny-haired soubTette
who was crossing 10 play the London
music halls.
You must have missed me last night
as you say" said Miss sommers, bitterly.
But look here Nell declared Dorsey.
miserably. I swear 10 you that I spent
the whole evening in the smoking room,
except for a few minutes on deck, just
before I turned in. I was alone all the
evening"
DO not add perjury TO your other Of
lenses" said Miss Sommers. coldIy. 1t
hate a man who does not tell the truth
Therefore, hate you. Please &c away"
Dorsey went, miserably enough, while
Nell S0mmeTs sank back in her steamer
chair lost in her bitter thoughts She
liked Dorsey, and it cut her to the quick
that he should have spent the evening
flirting with the little soubrette, while she
herself Law in her berth vainly wishing the
ship would run aground if only the awful
rolling Of the vessel might stop.
Dorsey. manlike, made for the solace OF
the smoking room. At the head of the
companionway lounged one Of the men
who had been engaged in a poker game
the night before. Now his face was
wreathed in smiles as he followed the
miserable lover 20 the deck below
Il see you We're caught with the goods"
he said with laugh as he took a seat at
Dorsey's table. Adams looked at him
savagely.
II wish you'd mind your own blamed
business he growled. The stranger only
smiled pleasantly.
Don't be nasty. old man. he coun-
seled. I'm not trying 10 rub it in. /
want to help you out"
There was real friendliness in the tones
and Dorsey colored as he held out his
hand.
You might go and tell her that I was
here in the smoking-room all last even
ing he suggested. THAT was the row"
"A lot of good 1t would do 10 say that"
said the intruder with d smile ''She
would simply declare that ! was bolster
ing you UP in an untrutn. You've got TO
do better than that old chap. BY the
way, my names Greyson, Ben Creyson
What's yours2"
Dorsey made reply, and over the high
balls they planned a campaign. The first
gun was fired at luncheon, when Greyson
leaned across the table and advised Dor
seq that there was a hair on his coat
Dorsey carefully removed a long golden
strand while he made the retort courteous
and pointed out to Greyson the fact that
there was hair upon his own coat. The
little soubrette at the end Of the table
beamed miTthfuly upon the ahashed men.
I'm glad they are so long" she de-
clared. If it wasn't such a long one,
folks might think it was one of mine.
Amt It funny that I'm the only blond
on bOard?' she ran on. IT'S real blond
too she said proudly as she shook her
yellow cuTls.
Greyson passed her the hair he had re-
moved from his coat. IT your hair was
that long" he said with a smile, you
could work in a museum instead of on
the stage"
Gee" said the small soubrette admir-
inCly. Il guess one of the Hair Tonic
Sisters must be abroad. That hairs I'VE
foot # it's an inch"
Let's ask the purser," suggested Grey
son. He knows the passenger list, and
1 guess he knows the blond, too There's
haii on his coat
The purser, who was firtatiously in
clined, and who had been making himself
very attractive to the little soubrette,
blushingly denied that there was any
such person as a blonde with long hair
~ -
fused 10 believe his statement and kept
up the Joke.
The joke became a mystery when long
golden hairs continued 10 be found on
the coats Of the men passengers. and
even occasionally on the dresses of the
women. Even the gruff old captain swore
softly under his breath when one Of the
discriminating hairs was found on his coat
TO the great glee Of his officers, who knew
him 20 be a woman hater of the most
pronounced type
As the DAYS progressed, the mystery
deepened. and in default Of matters OF
greater moment became the chief top,c
OF talk. Through it all Dorsey vas
coldly courteous to Nell. and she returned
the GOODNESS with interest
L was not until the last day OF the
run that he ventured TO reopen his case
for q second pleading. Miss Sommers
had come on deck after dinner and had
sought a place in the bow where she
could watch the sWirling waters slip
past, all afoam from the impact with the
PROV. The clouds were breaking up after
storm and great pillows Of vapor filed
the sky, occasionally obscuring the moon.
which rode serenely in the heavens.
SO engrossed was she with her thoughts
that she did not hear footsteps until a