Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-24

might have intended to employ Crittender
on some more esoteric ramification OF his
| scheme. and have commissioned him with
/ an errand and duties ashore.
If so, Cynthia wanted to know about
| il, immediately-with. she discovered tC
/ her considerable surprise, an intensity Of
interest quite unWarranted by anything
| in the length or the nature Of their ac-
| quaintance. They had not in one after
noon become such close friends that She
ought to feel so woefully disappointed al
the bare suspicion they might not be fell
observation-disclosures on this voyage.
Family annoyed. she puzzled over this
| newly recognized obsession, until. a,
| length impatient of her ineXplicab BILE self
she sought relief from the nearest source
the steward, impassively waiting fol
| her to go. that he might clear the table
Briefly she studied the man more close
! ~ than heretofore He was something
understood and stocky, apparently mid
dle-ased. and carried himself with a GER
| tain manner of assurance and quick
| footed readiness that seems native tc
| men of his occupation. This more mar
| row inspection furnished her with a sur
| prise in the discovery that his eyes Were
| anonymously gentle and pleasant in a
/ face. tanned and modelled by exposure
/ that was somehow reminiscent of pOr-
traits she had seen of heroes of the prize
| ring-Cynthia couldn't say just how OIL
/ why. unless it were by the ruthless line
! of his thin lips. or a sense of conten-
| tlOuSneSS conveyed bS MS rather lON
| forehead and square jaws
! But he remarked her interest and came
| forward instantly.
| Anything you'd like me to get you
4 miss"
| His intonation was notably English and
! his manner civil could be wished
| in these respects likewise he resembled
| other stewards of Cynthia's experience
! Encouraged. she preached openly the
| subject uppermost in her thoughts.
nrin toll a
| is there Mr.. Crttenden on board"
''Yes, miss. there is. if I'm not mis-
tyken ,E's purser. this trip
THANK you" said Cynthia. disturbed
! to learn she could feel SO unrea sonably
elated over so light a matter. She swung
round her chair. preparing to rise
If you'd like to speak to i'm. miss, 'e's
in is Office. l could easily tell i'm
| you-''
"Oh. no. thank you Cynthia inter
posed. hastily Its not necessary.
dare say l shall see him some time dur
ing the day She rose, adding, pleas.
antly: Il hope l haven't made you much
trouble being SO late this morning.
without enthusiasm. Besides it's bit
| balancedlike, YOU and Nine Savarar
'aving your myde do up your rooms"
Cynthia hesitated. Are you the state.
room steward, too" she asked, blankly
Yes. miss-supposed to be. for your
selves and some of the officers. That's
my regular work; I'm not accustomed te
wytin' at tyble. / hope you'll overlook
mistykes the first day two. miss.
| Why, certainly. . But isn't 1t un
1 usual
Yes miss. it is: but being bit short
'anded the s'ying is. the work doubles
hup on us, so to speak 1t aynt as II we
We're in the north Atlantic tryde carryin
passengers regular. But when a char
| gets out OF is job in New York, e in
clines to tyke on anything that turns up
you know: at least e does il 'c's ar
Englishman
| you've worked on the big boats-tht
| transatlantic steamers-then?'
/ Yes, miss" replied the man. in q
| subdued tone. Il was with the Wife
/ Star until | lost my job.
Something plaintive III his accents
moved Cynthia TO pursue, kindly: How
| did that happen"
4 Il got drunk, miss. was the matter
of-fact il thoroughly regretfui answer
Every man Likes q bit Of g. lark once iI