Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-20
CHAPTER II-Continued.

But he admitted that they meaning
would return early this evening""
II am sure he Is right in that. But
where are the twenty odd domestics and
members Of the crew? When Peter and
went ashore at 10 o'clock today the
Sans Souci was alive with people"
II only know that Mrs. Baumgartner
seems to have been thoughtless where I
am concerned" said the girl. absorbed
in her own troubles.
Nevertheless. she frightened consider
ably when Warden assisted her to reach
the spotless deck Of the Nancy. BY dint
Of much scrubbing and polishing that taut
little cutter had no reason to shirk the
vivid sunlight. At the beginning OF the
cruise she had been fitted with new suit
Of sails and fresh cordage. For the rest.
Peter and Peters fourteen-year-old son.
Chris" reused now from sound sleep
in the cabin by his fathers loud sum-
mons. kept brass fittings and woodwork
in a spick-and-span condition that would
bear comparison with the best found
yacht in the roadstead.
Miss Dane was accommodated with a
camp chair aft. while Warden dived into
the cabin to change his clothes. The boy,
after a wide-eyed stare at his employer.
was about to busy himself with tying up
the dinghy, when Peter babe him be on
and see to the stove II he wished to es-
cape q rope-ending. Chris was hurt. He
had not expected such greeting from
his revered parent: but he disappeared in
stantly, and Peter imagined that. his Off
spring was thus prevented from fnvesti-
eating the mystery Of the gourd, which
he took good care to leave in the bottom
Of the boat.
to the exclusion of all else by the strange
combination Of events that brought her a
guest on board the Nancy She was not
50 much perturbed by the absence OF Mrs.
Baumgartner as by Warden's manifest
disapproval Of the lady. A railway re-
turn ticket sufficient money in her purse
to pay for q room in a hotel, and the ex-
istence OF a friend Of her mothers In
Portsmouth. friend whose good ofces
might be invoked If necessary. made her
independent. But she did not want to go
back defeated to Oxfordshire. Her father
carelessness had left her practically at
the mercy Of a stepmother, who enjoyed
the revenue Of fair estate until death.
The settlement was not to the liking Of
either woman. and Evelyn was goaded
into an endeavor to escape from 1t by the
knowledge that she was regarded as an
interloper in a house that would ultl-
mately come into her possession If she
survived the second Mrs. Dane.
The well paid appointment offered by
the Baumgartners was apparently. an
opening sent by the gods She had been
strongly recommended for the post by a
friend, and there seemed to be no reason
whatever why 1t should not prove an ideal
arrangement for both parties. Yet War
den. Enthusiastically a gentleman. II rather
eccentric in his ways. evidently did not
view the mining magnate's family with
favor. That was a displeasing fact.
Though she had no personal experience of
the section Of society which dubs itself
the smart set." she gathered that the
Baumgartners belonged to 1t, and 1t was
a risky undertaking for a young woman
to constitute herself part and parcel OF
the household of one OF its leading mem
bers.
Her somewhat serious reverie was In
terrupted by the grateful scent of cook
ing that came from hidden region Tor
ward. Warden reappeared In dry cloth
ing The cut on his forehead was COW
was bareheaded and slight powdeine
Of gray In his thick black hair made him
look more than his age.
Our glass and china are Of the pilot
pattern" he explained. placing a laden
tray on the deck. but we balance de.
ficiencies In these respects by a high tone
in our cuisine. Today's luncheon con-
sists of grilled chicken and bacon, fol-
lowed by meringues and hgs, while the
claret was laid down last week in Ply
mouth
II am so hungry that I can almost dis
pense with the glass and china" she ad-
mitted. but won't you let me help? ]
am quite domesticated.'
What? Would you rob the cook OF his
glory? You must eat and admire, and
thank the kindly gales that waited Peter
to the Indian ocean when he was putting
in his sea service. because he learned
there how to use charcoal In the galley
instead Of an abominable oil lamp"
IT was born In India" she said. with
delightful irrelevance.
"Ah, were your people in the army"
mo. My father was in the Indian
marine. But he retired when I was two
years old-soon after my mothers death.
/ lost him eight years later, and, having
lived thirteen years with a stepmother.
thought it high time to begin to earn my
own living"
She fancied that this brief biography
might encourage him to speak OF the
ton did not run on conventional lines.
Il find your career most tnteresting.
he said. Now that we know each other
SO well I want to hear more OF you.
Promise that you will write every month
until early December. and report progress
in your new surroundings. Here Is my
card A letter to the Universities Club
will always reach me-"
She read: capt. Arthur warden, dep
uty commissioner. Nigeria Protectorate.'
"Why must I stop in December" she
asked, with smile and a quick glance
under her long eyelashes.
Because / return to Nigeria about that
date and / shall then supply a new ad-
dress
"Dear me! Are we arranging a regular
correspondence"
Your illusions can be absolutely curt.
Just the date and locality. and the one
word happy or miserable. as the case
may be-"
The arrival Of Chris with a drilled
chicken created q diversion. Peter had
to be summoned from the galley. He ex-
planned sheepishly that he thought the
meal was of a ceremonious character.
They Toasted regally. and all went we'll
until the unhappy Chris asked his father
regarding Chris with an eye that boded
for dinner.
"Wot marrer?" demanded Peter. un-
guardedly.
1.-THE big one in the dinghy"
"By JoVe, we have never given
thought to the calabash that created all
the rumpus." cried Warden. What about
that black face you saw on 1t. Miss Dane?
didn't notice it afterward. Did your
mo. was too excited and frightened
Your SON might bring it to us now, Mr..
Evans"
"Beggin' your pardon. miss. we'll leave
IL till you've finished lunch" said Peter
regarding Chris with an eye that BODIED
unutterable things.
but why. most worthy mariner7" de-
vi