Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-25

which she was unable to detect any ele-
ment OF surprise
She was disappointed that they were
too far apart TO exchange more than an
occasional glance. 80
He was among the first. too. 10 leave
the table-rising, with another friendly
look and semi-formal bow 10 her and
hurrying of. as though under pressure OF
urgent AFFAIRS. She found this veNatious.
but was reasonable enough 10 allow for
the demands OF his position. which.
though she had but vague notions OF
pursers place in the scheme OF ship
board things she conceived to be one or
responsibility. Crittenden looked. she
thought. little worried and preoccupied.
Having subjected him to a rather close.
TX furtfve. review as contrasted with the
man she had met only two days before.
she adJudged him notably changed In
aspect as well as In manner He showed
less OF that spirit she had called boyish.
a shade OF care toned down the youthful
that she had not before remarked
though that they were OF recent acquisl-
ton she was not prepared TO assert
His going left her free to give more
attention TO the remainder OF an oddly
assorted crew. TO gain first Impressions
OF the few who assumed distinction in
her estimation by reason OF individual
popularity, position or subsequent ac-
tivity.
For one there was. naturally foremost.
the captain. calling himself Angus Lobb
and claiming Nova Scotia for his birth
place; a tall. se-jointed rogue. with a
bold eye. a fixed smirk (who rather
fancied himself with the LADIES' and a
bushy black mustache overhangtng his
mouth. through which he filtered liquid
nourishment and the kings English with
equally vast and discordant gusto
His first officer. answering to the name
OF Claret. Cynthia identified as the man
she had noticed pacing the bridge. She
hit him Off. to her satisfaction. in
phrase-a man in monotone: soft
voiced. close mouthed. saturnine person.
apparently owning some pretensions to
education. and a secret, gnawing con-
tempt for himself. his employment. sur
roundings and associates.
Opposite the captain. at the farther end
of the table. sat Mr.. Youngling. chief en-
gineer. fat and easy-going. with moisture
in his beaming eye. and In his breast
pocket lit developed) a photograph OF his
wife and children grouped stolidly round
q plush sofa.
There were several others present.
mostly men OF a shadowy stamp In Gym
thia's understanding: figures with faces
and functions and names-Bergen. Green
away. Spelvin. an inevitable Smith. Muir
Easily dominant (Rhode being absent)
she found her vis-a-vis. Hippoiyte Perez.
q Brazilian, swart as one could wish a
buccaneer. but suave and sleek as any
cat: a rather portly person. yet alert and
positive in action with a bland urbanity
enhanced by a bright black eye and the
hint Of a cheerful smile about his mouth.
where, as on cheek and jowl. the close
shaver beard added a purplish shade to
the native darkness of his skin.
With a graceful courtesy. not over
done, an easy command OF perfect Eng
lish on the tip OF q glib tongue and a
wide range OF conversational subject
matter: with his fetching and seeming
imperturbable good humor and an air OK
leadership conceding not an inch to OPP
position: here. Cynthia recognized. in
this man Perez was a personality or un-
usual force. as formidable as that OF
Rhode-with. perhaps, an even greater
capacity for mischief. his somewhat
higher order OF endowments considered.
His status on shipboard was underlined
or rather. II seemed to Cynthia from
the Difference accorded him by everybody
easily a leading spirit possibly the lead
ing spirit, but certainly nothing less than
full partner in the enterprise
With what excuse shall transpire. Gym
tf1ia thought to detect in the manner OF
all, with few exceptions On the number
of which Rhode was mott, spirit OF tacit
resentment and diligent tolerance OF the
presence of women In their company.
Perez, to be sure, was superf1cially too
that hostile: while Capt Lobb was too
entirely the ladys man to grudge him.
self this exceptional opportunity to pa
rade his disastrous fascinations. OF the
others, not one discovered TO Cyntnias
perceptions an aspect of welcome, or. in
deed, anything but passive endurance: as
who should say: This is not woman's
business: what are you doing here?
Go be continued tomorrow)