Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-16
Cynthia-ot -the-Minute
Copyright 1911 By Louis Joseph Vance

sy pivot seats immovsbly fixed at close
intervals down the side of the table and
at its either end The other tables were
quite bare but the main one boosted
three nickcl-platel casters with cruets
FOR vinegar. pepper. oil and sauces.
cynthia sat near one end of this main
table. where & small white cloth nal
heen laid FOR her. She assumed thatevery-
body else had had breakfast long since.
The main Companionway ran up TO her
right forward TO the left. at the after
end Of the saloon, were doors 10 star
board ana port. giving access to the
galley and the officers quarters respec-
lively. No one passed through either
While she occupied her place. save only
the steward attending her. a tactturn'
hard-faced fellow whom she thought
little strange to his duties
He serve1 her acceptably. however
and she found the food ample in guam
tity and well-cooked. II restricted as to.
variety.
She ate with appetite. watching the
wide bars of sunlight that played
through the open posts, shifting over
the interior TO the slow, steady roll. or
the vessel Now and a gain the line OF
the horizon would bisect the openings,
showing at once clear sky and gentle
sea.
Her thoughts were quite as clear and
calm-like her dreaming eyes. She was
thinking OF Crittenden and vaguely re-
preaching herself for having forgotten
him so completely In the turmoil and
confusion Of yesterday. She wondered
II he had really troubled to lunch again
at Suzanne's. in the hope of meeting her
there: perhaps he, too, had been so pre-
occupied with the hurry Of getting away
az short notice that the suggested APP
pointment had slipped his mind.
Cynthia decided to hunt him up and
ask him. She owed him gratitude for
a great kindness, and she like him for
himself. besides. 1t would be pleasant
TO talk TO him again.
She made sure he must be aboard. 1t
was for this mysterious voyage, undoubt-
edly, that the Red Man had enlisted
him. His yelled illusions. the half
admissions their conversation had drawn
from him. all had pointed to some odd,
anomalous adventure such as this prom
ised to be-gratuitously to endow IT with
the equivocal complexion favored by
Madame Savaran.
Stll. she might be mistaken; Rhode
might have intended to employ Critten-
den on some more esoteric ramification
OF his scheme and have commissioned
him with an errand and duties ashore.
/ IL SO, Cynthia wanted TO know about
Il, fmmediately-with, she discovered to
her considerable surprise, an intensity
cf interest quite unwarranted by any
thing IL the length or the nature of their
lacouaintance. They had not in one aft
ernoon become such close friends that she
ought 10 feel so wofully disappointed at
the hare suspicion they might not be
fellow adventures on this voyage.
! Family annoyed, she puzzled over this
lnewly-recognized obsession, until, at
| length impatient OF her inexplicable
self, she sought relief from the nearest
source-the steward, impassively waiting
for her TO go, that he might clear the
able.
Briefly she studied the man more
closely than heretofore. He was some
thing understood and stocky, apparently
nliddIe-ag ed, and carried himself with
a certain manner or assurance and
quick footed readiness that seems native
TO men Of his occupation. This more
| narrow inspection furnished her with a
surprise i'm the discovery that his eyes
\ were incongruously gentle and pleasant
in a face, tanned and modelled by eX-
/ posture. that was somehow reminiscent
Of portraits she had seen of heroes Of
the prize-ring-Cynthia couldn't say just
how or why. unless il were by the ruth
less line OF his thin lips or sense OF
contentiousness conveyed by his rather
/ low forehead and square jaws.
But he remarked her interest. and
came forward instantly.
Anything you'd like me to get you'
miss?"
His information was notably English
and his manner as civil as could De
wished: in these respects likewise he
resembled other stewards of Cynthia's
/ experience. Encoura ged, she preached
/ openly the subject uppermost in her
thoughts.
Il was wondering If you could tell
/ me-is there a Mr. Crittenden on
board?"
yes, miss. there is. if I'm not mis-
l tyken. 'E's purser, this trip"
Thank YOU" said Cynthia. disturbed
10 learn she could feel so unreasonably
II eIated 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 rs office. ! could easily tell i'm
| you
"oh. no. thank you." Cynthia inter
posed hastily. Its not necessary.
| I dare say / shall see him some time
during the day" She rose, adding
l pleasantly: Il hope 1 haven't made you
much trouble. being so late this morn
ing"
Not at all. miss" the man affirmed
| without enthusiasm. Besides. it's a
bit balanced-like. you and Madame Saw
aran 'aving your myde do up your
/ rooms"
Cynthia hesitated. Are you the
stateroom steward. too?" she asked
blankiy.
! Yes, miss-supposed to be, for your
selves and some Of the officers. That's
my regular work; I'm not accustomed
TO wytin at tyble. ] hope you'll over
look mistykes the first day or two,
miss"
why certainly. .. But isn't
IL unusual"
Yes. miss. IL is; but being bit
short-anded as the s'ying is. the work
doubles hup on Us. so to speak. 1t aynt
as II we were in the North Atlantic
tryde, carryin' passengers regular. But
when a chap gets out Of is job in New
I York, e inclines to tyke on anything
that turns up. you know; at least, e
does IL 'e's an Englishman."
You've worked on the big boats-the
transatlantic steamers-then7"
Yes, miss" replied the man in a sub
dued tone. II was with the wife Star
until I lost my job"
Something plaintive in his accents
} moved Cynthia TO pursue. kindly: How
& did that happen?"
"I got drunk. miss" was the matter
of-fact if thoroughly regretful answer.