Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-10

There was no in the bar. Gardner capped his
hands, so to the keeper of his presence. 1t
seemed though replied from the little side
room. Exasperated, he shouted What a pretty lot
of rascals you stewards are! Can't you give
something to drink Wake up, there whiskcy and
soda-and quick! D-n quickv Nobody appeared,
so he dashed into the little room, determined to have
it out somebody But the empty! He
hastily left the bar and made for the grand stair
case, of finding Medley in his Office the first
landing
But the purser not in his usual place. After
moment of hesitation Gardner ground his teeth and
beat a tattoo the door, hoping to rouse the purser
who slept back Of his office No answered, and he
turned the knob and enered. The office was unoccu-
pied, but the curtain drawn across the inner cabin
door announced that Medley he in the land of
dreams.
"Medley! Oh, Mr.. Medley" called Gardner, slightly
raising the curtain that his voice might penetrate.
II say Mr.. Medley, wake up bit appeal to your
authority. The service this boat is unspeakable.
Something must be done and at once!
Hes probably just dropped off, muttered Gardner.
"That's why he's hard to wakeP
Medley, he continued ITS Jack Gardner that's
calling you. l. Jack Gardner! I'm thirsty, and there
is one TO serve me?'
Medley apparently didn't
Il say, Mr. Medley, you must excuse me for bother
ing you but you'll admit that it is strange not to be
able to find a steward to bring you whiskey!'
Medley didn't to mind in the slightest
Gardner angrily erked aside the curtain. Medley
was nowhere to be
That's the last straw" he exclaimed. There are
his clothes on the chair Here his shoes. He can't
be Jar off. I've only got to wait But it is provoking
trile disconnected, he let himself fall into chair
Presently he got Zip and began pacing the cabin, finally
going out on to the landing and mounting guard near
the door All about him regned the deep silence OF
night The labyrinth of corridors and companonways
was strangely and mysteriously dismal in time Gard
ncrs anger died away and he almost decided to 90 to
bed, abandoning his whskey and soda and his com
plants until the morrow. But his obstnacy was I'M
compromising.
MY whiskey-by Cad I'll have it, even lit
have to wake up the captain.
As these reflections went through his mind happy
thought presented itself. The chief stewards cabin
was opposite the pursers Why hadn't he thought of
that before The door closed, and Gardeners scru-
pies made him hesitate before knocking.
poor fellow-hes probably just turned in he said.
Then he added: This will teach him that discipline is
mighty good thng~ And he thumped on the door.
He fanced he heard sleepy reply at which he ex-
claimed: Its Ia passenger who wants to be servedr
He waited to sec the doorknob turn and the aston
ished inmate appear: No one moved within
"Oh-I say-chef steward' he bawled.
No response.
Chief steward! Chief steward, I summon you to
appear! The bar and the smoking are abandoned
All vour stewards are drunk or dead Now demand
a whiskey and soda; your not being hand
I'm obliged to have recourse to you Answer me-
answer say! Come out here-or-or-the purser will
come and drag you OUT
Then Jack Gardner began kicking at the door with
all the force that one when wearing dancing
pumps But his noise didn't to disturb the chief
steward And Purser Medley still continued to remain
invisible
Half blind with rage Jack rushed up the stairs and
into the bar.
Still no one to be seen.
Then he went into the smoking room.
Nobody about.
He rang the bell.
No response.
There was not sound to be heard anywhere. He
re-entered the bar, determined to find some one or
smash something, for the silence palled on him. But
he contented himself with leaning over Selling whs-
key bottle and pouring himself generous glass Once
he had drunk his troubled brain reganed its calm and
his fury gave way to immense desire to laugh and
take the whole thing as joke.
what fool l am to be angry he sQloquized.
mo one will believe it, but sure as I'm alive,
there's not single steward on hand Neither here
nor in the smoking room nor in the lbrary-and those
are the only three places that care anything about
When go below I'll take the remainder of this bottle
with me and III give it back to the chief steward to-
morrow with my compliments. What face he'll make
But by ove it's his fault for no Christian has
a right to sleep as soundly as he does"
His sides shook with mirth but suddenly his noisy
laughter sounded strangely hollow in the dead silence
of the night and his merriment abruptly ceased.
What's the matter with me, | wonder' Do Ii:
c it--can | be afraid? Afraid Of what? OF whom"
No, certainly Jack Gardner was no coward for az
i he poured out his second glass of whskey his hanC
was as steady could be desired and he had now made
up his mind to discover just how far the joke had beer
carried But the seats in the bar were uncomfortable
s and so he decided to go into the smoking room. A
he opened the door, he started instinctvey for every
thing was plunged in absolute darkness. Holding ope'
the door, as his eyes gradually became accustomed t.
f the obscuriy, he present. god '' '9arS an'
IT tables. All disorder had t-..-~'uu, ana each ob)ec
1t had been put in its place