The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1913-02-13
. Il. Llppincott Coz


They'll all be In bed by that time, /
hope"
Stanislas had given me the seat OF
honor at the table, on his right, but
he was too busy to put in an appear
ance. On my other side was Senior
Gonzales. still very upset. and growl-
ing to the steward something | could
not hear abok his cabin
The German. who kept on drinking
champagne, was TIE first to address
nae, with the question:
DO you play poker?"
II never gamble. Why do you Ask"
Because We might have game in
the smoking room tonight / thought
perhaps you'd like to join
Il will join you in a smoke" said,
but not in the game. / never play"
I'm awfully fond of a spin at
poker" put in M. Van Vloot, "and
so is Becky, II her tooth does not
worry her How Ii your tooth, Becky?"
THANK you. Sol, l feel much bet
ter. l dare say little game would
just put me right. And l don't mind
the smoke
Mr.. Knowles, who had not opened
his lips at dinner, remarked in a
rasping voice:
"a sea trip without poker Is like
dog without a tail. I'll play, too"
"Ill also take a hand" said Mr.. Lo.
PEE.
Il gamble on principle" grunted the
comedian; Its the only principle l
have" joke which sent Nine. Van
Vloot into fit of imbecile laughter.
AS soon as dinner was over there
was a general rush for the smok-
ing room, and in the saloon remained
only the priest and Mrs. Knowles,
doing in their chairs; and Miss
Knowles, book on her lap, deep in
thought with smile on her pretty
face
For a long time | paced the deck
enjoying the fresh air and the still
ness around me, and having wished
Stanislas good night, | decided to
turn in, when curiosity prompted me
to see how the gamblers were getting
on. Nine. Van Vloot was standing in
the door of the smoking room, very
much out of temper.
Don't you play?" I asked.
Il have played" she replied in a
solemn tone "and l have lost my
money. And so has Sol, and so has
that German gentleman, and so has
Mr. Knowles, and so has the actor
with the funny name. We have all
lost our money. Senior Gonzales has
| raked it all in. What luck that man
has! l never saw anything like it."
AS l entered the room Gonzales
passed me- He was tired he said.
| and wanted to go to rest. l saw the
other players looking at one another,
| and the atmosphere seemed charged
with voiceless currents of thought.
He cleared US out very nicely" at
last remarked Mr. Knowles.
HE did," repeated the others in
| chorus
I'll tell you what l think" began
Van Vloot in an excited tone.
"You needn't express your thoughts
| cut in Mr.. Knowles, for we all think
the same thing. AS for me, l don't
intend to play again with that gentle
man; and l wish you all pleasant
| dreams"
| 1 was beginning to feel more con-
| tented. Our old steamer was not
so black as she was painted, and be-
meath her somewhat fresh exterior
she hid few sterling qualities in the
way of comfort. / lit another cigar
| cite and resumed my walk. But a
| change had come over the weather.
1t was blowing very hard, and the
| waves rolled in mountains under a
| sky Of lead. In less than a quarter
of an hour a gale broke, and heavy
seas swamped the deck.
| You'd better turn in said the first
officer, "it will get worse during the
night"
l followed his advice, although sleep
was out of the question.
The wind howled and the water
| crashed against the side of the steam
er with a deafening noise. 1t was
anything but soothing to the nerves.
| Toward FIVE in the morning | dozed
| off, and may have slept for half an
hour, when I was roughly shaken and
some one called out my name. l felt
| the wind blow on me through the
open door, and there stood Stanislas
with the first officer behind him.
Come at once" shouted the cap
| tain, I'VE want you!"
| Having forced me into my trousers
and coat, he took me to the cabin on
| the port side, facing mine. The storm
| had abated, but there was still a
heavy sea, and Stanislas gripped my
| arm to steady me. The steward stood
! outside as if on guard. Stanislas push
! ed him aside, opened the door, and
| said:
| Look at that"
| recoiled with horror. The cabin
was despatched with blood.
Great heavens! Whose berth Is
| this?' I asked.
Gonzales" replied Stanislas.
| But where is he?"
eve can't find a trace Of him. An
hour ago the steward, fancying ne
hoard him cell oDened the door and