Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-27

way toward the smoking room. deter
mined TO enlist the help OF his new
acquaintance. Stein.
Midway aft he paused. 4 girl had
emerged from the deckLOuSe ahead OF
him, whose appearance was ufncient-
" striking 20 divert him. momentariiy
at least. from his quest. She was well
above the usual height. quite slender
[ yet OF an exquisite rounded fullness,
while her snug fitting tailor made gown
showed the marks Of taste. Kirk let
his eyes follow her. then retraced his
way around the deck in the hope Of
meeting her face TO face.
But when they had met and passed
he went his way vaguely disappointed.
/ Instead OF a girl. rs the first sight Of
her youthful figure had led him 70 ex-
pect, he had seen a woman Of perhaps
! forty. She was certainly not so hand
some as he had imagined from a dis
/ lance Yet the face was attractive
I The eyes were wide set. gray and very
\ clear. the mouth large enough to be ex-
I pressive. Her hair shone in the morn
| ing sun with 4 delicate bronze luster
/ Ike that OF n turkeys wing.
He dismissed her from his thoughts
and continued his search for number
seventeen shirt and collar TO match.
| But he did not fare well. He found
/ Mr.. Stein in the smoking room. but dis
I covered that his size was fifteen and
half, and there was no one else to
whom he could apply.
For a second tine Stein importuned
him 10 buy a chance on the ships run.
and. falling in this. suggested that they
have a drink together. Had not Kirk
realized in time his inability to recipro-
cate he would have accepted eagerly.
for his recent dissipation had left him
curiously weak and nervous. At the
cost OF an effort. however. he refused.
Stein laughed. Don't get sore. All
ships are alike We have to talk about
something. Sorry can't help you
with the shirt question. Deuced care
less of them TO lose your luggage"
Eyes. It makes one feel about as
comfortable as u man with broken
arm and the prickly heat. Something's
got TO be done about ii. that's all He
gIared enviously at the we'll dressed
men about the room.
Over in a corner. propped against the
leather upholstery, was Mr.. COrtlandt,
as pale. as reserved and as saturniue
as at breakfast. He was slipping
Scotch and soda. and in all the time
that Anthony remained he did not
speak 10 a soUl save the waiter. did
not shift his position save 10 beckon
for another drink. Something about
his sour. retrospective aloofness dis
pleased the onloOker. who shortly re-
turned TO the deck.
The day was warming up. and on
the sunny side Of the ship the steamer
chairs were filling. Two old men were
casting quoits; a noisy quartet was
playing Switchboard After idIinC back
and forth on deck for a time Kirk Sc
Iected a chair and stretched himself
out
DO you wish this chair for the voy-
age. sir:" asked the deck steward.
Yes. l think so"
III put your name on it"
Anthony. suit \. third floor front"
Very well. sir" The man wrote out I
a card and fitted il to the back of the +.
chair. saying. "OLe dollar. il you .
please"
Il haven't got dollar"
The steward laughed. as If to humor
his passenger. I'm afraid then, you .
can't have the chair"
so l must stand mp all the way TO
Panama. eh:"
You are joking. sir. I'll have to pay
L myself If you don't"
That's right. Make me as uncomfo-t-
I'll q as possible. BY the way. what
Sc collar do you wear:"
sixteen"
Kirk sighed send the purser 70
NE, will you? I'll TX up the chair mat
ter with him"
While he was talking he heard the
rustic OF skirts close by and saw the
woman he had met earlier seating her
self next 10 him II annoyed the young
man 10 realize that out Of all the chairs
on deck he had selected the one near
est hers.
Then the purser appeared. did you
send for meF" he inquired.
Yes. There was 4 strange man
around just now. and be wanted n dol
ar for this chair"
"WenF"
Il want to establish a line Of credit"
The purSer grunted.
And. say" Kirk ran on seriously.
I've been all over your little ship, but
he passengers are boys size. / can't
wear this collar any longer
And / can't find any baggage OF Z
-ours. I've seen the captain about
hat ticket matter" be went on. and
Ie says you must buy another. IF you
ire joking you've carried this thing
ar enough. If you are really strap
,ed. as you say you are. how does it
lappen that you are occupying the
,est suit on the ship:''
1T Is a long story"
"Humph. You will have to give up
hose quarters and go forward"
Why? You have your money for
hat ticket?"
Yes. but you're not Mr.. Locke"
We'll. sir. now that ! come 10 think
/ over. l believe my name IS Locke.
fter ALL He grinned. Anyhow, /
Dve my little room, and 1 think III
cen it Please don't be peeVish. /