The Washington herald., 1914-04-05


officers long chairs. in which reclined I
girl in a white drill coat and skirt-i
slip of a girl with a pale skin. dark hair
and rather remarkable eyes.
| $50 there you areL I've been loolini
for you all over the ship?'
"why-BuEny?' cried Raffies. "wher,
have you sprung from?'
/ stammered something as he pinchet
my hand.
And are you coming in this ship? And
to Naples, too? Well. upon my word
Miss Werner. may introduce him?''
And he did so without blush, describ
ing me as - old schoolfellow whom hi
had not seen for months. with wfifu
circumstance and gratuitous detail thai
| filled me at once with confusion. suspi
| cion. and revolt. All could do was &c
humble such words as Raffies actually
put into my mouth. and that doubt moi
with q thoroughly evil grace.
| so you saw my name in the list OF
| passengers and came In search of mel
Good old Bunny. 7 say. though, wish
you'd share my cabin? I've got a beauty
on the promenade deck. but they wouldn't
promise 10 keep nrs by myself. We ought
to see about It before they shove in some
| alien. In any case we shall have to get
| out of this
For a quartermaster had entered the
wheelhouse, and even while we had been
speaking the pilot had taken possession
| Of the bridge; as we descended. the ten
der left US with flying hsndkerchiefs and
shrill good-bys; and as We bowed to Miss
Werner on the promenade deck. there
came a deep. slow throbbing under foot,
and our voyage had begun.
1t did not begin pleasantly between
Raffies and me.
You IDIOT" he snarled. you've given
me away again.
How have 1 given you away"
How? I should have thought any clod
could see that I meant US to meet by
chancei'
After taking both tickets yourself?"
They know nothing about that on
board; besides. I hadn't decided when I
took the tickets"
Then you should have let me know
when you did decide. How was to know
you had anything on?'
had turned the tables with some ef-
feet. Raffies almost hung his head.
IF you were afraid of writing" pur-
sued. 'it was your business to give me
the tip the moment set foot on board.
would have taken It all right am not
so virtuous as all that
That" said he, was the very thing
I meant to do-to lie in wait in my room
and get you as you passed. But"
You were better engaged?"
Say otherwise"
THE charming Miss Werner
She is quite charming"
Most Australian girls are" said I.
How did you know she wac one?" he
cried.
Il heard her speak"
Brute" said Rafles. laughing: "she
has no more twang than you have. Her
people are German. she has been to
school in Dresden, anu is on her way
out alone"
Well" I said, 1T wasn't for Miss
Werner you wanted US to play strangers,
was it? You have deeper game than
that, eh?"
Il suppose have"
Then hadn't you better tell me what
It is?'
Raffies treated M to tn old cautious !
scrutiny that 1 knew so well.
1T won't send you of in the pilots |
boat, Bunny?"
Not quite"
"Then-you remember the pearl you
wrote the"
I did not wait for him to finish his
sentence.
You've got it," cried. my face on
fre, for 1 caught sight Of it that moment |
IN the stateroom mirror
Raffies seemed taken aback
Not yet" said he; but 1 mean to
have it before we get to Naples"
rs it on board?"
YES"
But how-where-who's got it?"
"A little German officer, a whipper
snapper with perpendicular mustaches."
Il saw him in the smokeroom."
That's the chap: he's always there.
Herr Capt Wilhelm Won Heumann, IL
'ou look in the list Well, he's the spe-
,ial envoy Of the Emperor, and he's TAX
ng the pearl out with him."
You found this out in Bremen?"
NO. in Berlin. frcm a newspaper man
know there. I'm ashamed to tell you,
Bunny. that 1 went there on purpose""
I burst out laughing
You needn't be shamed. You are do
ng the very thing I was rather hoping
-ou were going to propose the other day
N the river"
You were hoping it," said Rafies,
With his eyes wide open. Indeed. it was
lis turn to show surprise, and mine to
e much more ashamed than 1 felt.
Yes" I answered. 'T was quite keen
n the idea, but wasn't going to pro-
ose it"
Yet you would have listened to me
he other day."
Certainly would, and I told him so
yithout reserve
Then you don't still think Il too re-
larkable to sell?' asked.
I'VE might take a fishery and haul II
p with smaller fry. 1t would come after
ionths Of Ill luck, Just as we were going C
sell the schooner: by Jove it would be !
ne talk OF the Pacificr
well. we've got to get it first Is this r
on Whats-his-name a formidable cuss p" b
More so than he looks; and he has
he cheek Of the deviIi" I
As he spoke white drill skirt fiuttered t
asst the open stateroom door. and 1 n
Iught glimpse of an upturned mus
Iche beyond. 4
Then we have only him to deal within S
He answered me without a word. Some n
ing white fiuttered past once more. r,
rzr MI,