The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-20


with him in New York. That was a
mystery So was his possible acquaint-
ance, or connection, with the eastern
girl who was looking for him, If there
was a shadow of truth in Logotheti's
story. Lady Maud did not believe
there was, and she felt morally sure
that the tale had evolved itself out of
the Greeks fertile brain, as a fantas-
tic explanation of his atrocious con.
duct.
While she was thinking over these
matters and rehearsing in her
thoughts the scene that was before
her, she saw gondola making
straight for the yacht across the fast
fading green of the lagoon that lay
between the vessel and the Piazzetta.
1t came nearer, and she drew back
from the rail against her cabin door.
under the shadow of the promenade
deck, which extended over the gang
way and was supported by stanchions.
as on an ocean liner. The Lancashire
Lass, with her single yellow funnel,
her one short signal mast, her turret-
shaped wheel-house, and her generally
business-like appearance, looked more
like a cross between q fast modern
cruiser and an ocean greyhound"
than like private yacht. She even
had a couple of quick-firing guns
mounted just above her rail.
Lady Maud looked at the gondola.
and as it came still nearer, she saw
that it brought only one passenger.
and that he had a 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 can
tain.
Il suppose you're ready at any mo-
ment, captain?" inquired the million.
alre.
Yes, sirn The pilot is on board,
~ The gentleman you expected is
Just ccnnlnS dloh6lAde."
Then yoa INIT now said the
owner, aftsf q lwst's thought
Where are ~ s1nd, sir?"
"Oh, well, 1 don't know wanted
to say few words about that, -
tain. Do you happen to know anyth16
about yacht called the Erinna. ~
longing to Mr.. Logotheti, a GreAk
gentleman who lives in PARISH"
Eyes, sir" answered Capt. Brown.
for 1t was a part of his business to
read the yachting news. "She was at
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, 81 have
an idea she's gone to Naples, but
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 a 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
lone 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. IL knew poor
Leven well, but / was never intro
duced to his wife. | 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. I'VE were
in the same regiment in the Caucasus.