Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-19

way Forward through the DRIVING rain
and asked me If 1 could take his place.
! said that 1 was probably not so
! useful that / could not be spared and
that would try. Wallis suggestion
had come back to me. and this was
| my chance to get Williams keys.
Miss Lee having spoken to the captain.
I was relieved from duty and went aft
with her. What with the plrpgin9
Of the vessel and the slippery decks
she almost fell twice. and each time
caught her.
The second time she wrenched her an
kle and stood for a moment holding to
the rail. while l waited beside her.
She wore n heavy ulster OF some rough
material and a small, soft hat of the
same material pulled over her ears.
Her soft hair lay wet across her fore
head.
How are you liking the sea. Les
lie?" she said after she had tested her
ankle and found the damage inconsid-
cradle.
Very much. Miss Lee"
do you intend to remain IA
sailor?"
II am not a sailor. am a deck
steward, and I am about to become a
butler"
THAT was our agreement" she fash
ed at me.
Certainly. And to know that in
tend to fulfill it to the letter have
only to show this"
1t had been one of IcWhirter's in
SEPARATIONS, on learning how 1 had been
engaged, the small book called THE
Perfect Butler" 1 took it from the
pocket of my flannel shirt, under my
oilskins, and held it out to her.
II have not got very far" I said
humbly. Its not inspiring reading.
I've got the wineglasses Strengthened
out. but it seems a lot of fuss about
nothing. Wine is wine, isn't it? What
difference, after all, does a hollow
stem or green glass make
The rain was beating down on us.
1.-The Perfect Butler" was weeping
tears. as its chart OF choice vintages
was mixed with water. Miss Lee look
ed up, smiling. from the book.
You prefer "a jug of wine.'" she
said
''Old Omar had the right idea. only
fmagin literally it was a skin of wine.
They didn't have jugs. did they?'
You know the 'Rubaiyat| she ask
ed slowly.
81 know the jug of wine and loaf of
bread part" 1 admitted, irritated at
the slip. I'm my home city they're
using it to advertise a particular sort
of bread. You know-'A book of
verses underneath the bough. a loaf of
Virgins homemade bread and thou
In spite of myself, in spite of the alb
surd verse, of the pouring rain, of the
fact that l was shortly to place her
dinner before her in the capacity of
upper servant, thrilled to the last two
words.
And thou" repeated.
She looked up at me. startled, and
for second our glances held. The
next moment she was gone, and L was
alone on a rain swept deck, cursing my
folly.
That night in a white linen coat l
served dinner in the after house. The
meat was unusually gay, rendered so
by the pitching of the boat and the
uncertainty OF the dishes. In the gen
eral hilarity my awkwardness went
unnoticed. Miss Lee. sitting beside
Vail, devoted herself to him. Mrs.
Johns. young and blond. tried to inter
est Turner and. failing in that, took
to watching ME, to my discontinue.
Mrs. Turner. with apprehensive eyes
on her husband. ate little and drank
nothing.
Dinner over in the main ca bin. they |
BOUNCED into the chart room-eScept !
Mrs. Johns. who. following them TO
the door. closed it behind them and |
came back. She held a lighted ciga- !
rette. and she stood just outside the
zone of candlelight. watching me
narrowed eyes.
You got along very well tonight,
she observed. Are you quite strong
again."
quite strong, Mrs. Johns"
You have never done this sort OF
thing before. have you?"
Buffers work? No, but it is rather
simple
Il thought perhaps you had" she
said. Il seem TO recall you vaguely
that is. L seem to remember crowd
of people and a noise. 1 dare say 1
did see you in n crowd somewhere.
You know, you are rather an unfor-
getable type"
i was nonplused as to how a butter
would reply TO such n statement, and
took refuge in no reply at all. As it
happened none was needed. The ship
gave n terrific roll at that moment, and
just saved the chartreuse as il was
leaving the table. Mrs. Johns was
holding to i chair.
well caught" she smiled and,
,aking u fresh cigarette. she bent over
/ table lamp and lighted it herself. All
he time her eyes were on me, felt
hat she was studying me over her
cigarette, with something in view.
lis it still raininS?"
yes. Mrs. Johns"
Twill you get a wrap from Karen
nd bring 1t to me on deck? IL want
ir tonight"
The forward companionway led
ON. INT ha ,DsF h; ,