The Irish standard., 1909-11-13

Lady Maud looked at the gondola,
and as 1t came still nearer, she saw
that it brought only one passenger,
and that he had fair beard. She
quietly opened her cabin door, and
went in to dress for dinner
Meanwhile Mr.. Van Torp had COM
pleted his toilet, and sent for the cap
tain.
Il suppose you're ready at any mo-
ment. captain?" inquired the million
aire.
Eyes. sir. The pilot is on board.
and the gentleman you expected ia
just coming alongside"
Then you can start now" said the
owner, after moments thought.
Where are we bound, sir?"
"Oh, we'll, I don't know. I wanted
to say a few words about that, cap
tain. Do you happen to know anything
about yacht called the Erinna, be-
longing to a Mr.. Logotheti, Greek
gentleman who lives in PARISH"
Eyes, sir" answered Capt. Brown,
for 1t was part of his business to
ASeN tAS y1SAtAA6 ACW6. one was DIT
Cowes when we sailed. She was re-
ported the other day from Gibraltar as
having entered the Mediterranean aft
er taking fresh provisions, owner and
| party on board. There is no further
word of her."
WELL" said Mr.. Van Torp, "I have
an idea she's gone to Naples, but l
want you to find her right away wher-
ever she is. owner and party on board.
That's all, captain. If you happen to
see her anywhere, you just come and
tell me If I'm alone, and If I'm not, why
send one of your young men to say
you want to know something-any-
thing you happen to think of, and I'll
come to your room and tell you what
to do. See? That's all, and now let's
start, please"
"All right, SIR"
When the party assembled in the
deck saloon for dinner, Lady Maud
was missing. Stemp, who did not
intend that his master should dine
without his personal attention, no mat
ter how much the chief steward might
object to his presence, approached Mr..
Van. Torp and whispered something
Lady Maud begged that the party
would sit down without her, and she
would join them in moment.
So they took their places, and the
vacant one was on the owners right
between him and the prima donna.
"You see," said Mr.. Van Torp, ex-
planning to Mrs. Rushmore, which was
wholly unnecessary, I'VE are Ameri.
cans, and this ship is America, so the
English guest goes first"
But Mrs. Rushmore knew these
things, for she was used to handling
lions In numbers; and the little lions
and the middle-sized ones are very
particular about their places at table,
but the great big ones do not care
"one dingle SAM" as Mr.. Van Torp
would have elegantly expressed their
Indifference. For he was a great big
lion himself.
did you ever meet Lady Maud?"
he inquired, speaking to Kralinsky.
(Which Lady Maud?" asked the for
eigner in his rather oily voice. There
are several"
Countess Leven, who was Lady
Maud Foxwell," explained Mrs. Rush
more.
Kralinsky turned quietly to her, his
single eyeglass fixed and glittering.
"No," he answered. II knew poor
; Leven we'll, but I was never intro
duced to his wife. 1 have heard that
she is very beautiful"
"You say you knew the late Count
Leven?" observed Mrs. Rushmore,
with an encouraging and interrogatory
smile.
Intimately" answered Kralinsky
with perfect self-possession. 1--WE were
In the same regiment in the Caucasus.
dare say you remember that he be-
gan life as cavalry officer and then
! entered the diplomacy. Gifted man.
very" the Russian added in thought.
,, full tone, "but no balance! It seems
to me that / have heard he did not
treat his wife very we'll"
Mr. Van Torp had met several very
cool characters in his interesting and
profitable career, but he thought that
If the man before him was Leven him
self, as he seemed to be, he beat them
all for calm effrontery.
Were you ever told that you looked
like him?" asked Mr.. Van Torp care.
| lessly.
Even at this question Kralinsky
showed no embarrassment.
ITO tell the TRUTH" he replied, II re.
member that one or two in the regi-
ment saw slight resemblance, and
we were Of nearly the same height, l
should say. But when last saw
Leven he did not wear a beard"
At this point Lady Maud came in
quietly and made directly for the va.
cant place. The two men rose as soon
as she appeared, and she found her.
self face to face with Kralinsky. with
the table between them. Their eyes
met. but Lady Maud could not detect
the slightest look Of recognition in his.
Van Torp introduced him, and also
watched his face narrowly but there