The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-10
GEORGE BARR MeCUTCHEON
Author of BEVERLY of GRAISTARK.
BREWSTERS MILLIONS, Etc.
Illustrations by R. F. Schabelitz
CHAPTER IX.
THE PRINCE MEETS MISS GUILE.

ATER on r. Schmidt sat alone in
l1- sheltered corner of the promenade
I'LL deck where chairs had been secured by
I|IU"I the forehanded Hobbs. The thin drlz-
lIl= zle aspired to something more
definite in the shape of steady down
pour; and the decks almost deserted. save for
the few who huddled in the uneXposed hooks where
the sweep and swish of the rain failed TO penetrate
There was a faraway look in the young mans eyes.
as of one who dreams pleasantly. with little effor,
but excellent effect. His pipe had gone out. his
dream must have been long and uninterrupted. Eight
bells sounded. but what is time TO dreamer! Then
came one bell and two. and now his eyes closed
Two women came and stood over him. but little
did they suspect that his dream was of one of them:
the one with the lovely eyes and the soft brown hair
They surveyed him. whispering. the with little
perpleXed frown on her brow. the other with dis
tinct signs of annoyance in her face. The girl was
not more than twenty. her companion quite old
enough to be her mother Il considerable if not com
pllmentary estimate. for girls mother may be
either forty. fifty or even ffty-fve. when You come
to think Of it.
They were looking for something. That was quite
clear. And it deplorably clear that whatever
It was. K. Schmidt sitting upon il. They
that he asleep. which made the search. if not
the actual recovery. quite out of the question. The
older woman was on the point of poking the sleeper
with the toe of her shoe. being materof- fact sort
Of person. when the girl imperatvely shook her
head and trowned upon the lady in way TO prove
that even though she old enough to be the
mother of girl of twenty. she by means
the mother of this one.
AT THAT very instant X. Schmidt opened his
"a eyes. 1t must have been kindly poke by the
god of sleep that aroused him opportunity, but
even so the toe of shoe could not have created
graver catastrophe than that which Immediately
betell him. He completely lost his head If one had
suddenly asked what had become of it, he couldn't
have told. not for the life of him. For that matter
he couldn't have put his finger. to speak. on any
part of his person and proclaimed with confidence
that it belonged to r. Schmidt of Vienna. He was
looking directly mp into pair of appraising.
startled eyes. in which there a very pretty
fusion and far from iml,cr,i,us blink
Il beg Your pardon" said the older woman. with
out the falntes trace of embarrassment. - indeed.
with some asperity.- think You occupying
OF chairs"
lie scrambled out of the steamer rug and came
to his feet. hluslng to the roots of his hair.
81 beg your pardon" he Sammered and found
his awkwardneSs rewarded by an extremely sweet
smile - in the eyes of the one he addressed
I'VE looking for letter that | am quite
left in my chair. said she.
"A letter" he murmured vaguely. and at
began to search with his eyes.
"Fron her father" volunteered the elderly one.
as if it were necessary bit of information. Then
she ierked the rug away and three pairs of eyes
examined the place where X, Schmidt had been
clinng. "That's odd Did You happen to it when
you sat down, sir!'
81 am confident that there no letter -"
began he and then allowed his gaze to rest on the