The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-31

"Stolen, probably" remarked the chlef
officer. He looked at the groups sitting
about in the sun.
"who owns this book?" he called.
None answered; Bailey was still below.
Him. going to deny It," he remarked.
"Ex Libris Francis Bailey" read the
Chicago girl. II wonder, now. Looks
sort of baronial, doesn't it?'
1t was at this moment that Bailey ar
rived on deck. The companion was
close to the place where he had put the
book down and he looked for 1t at once.
81 beg your pardon" he said to the
Chicago girl, II think you have my book
where d'you get that book?" de-
manded the chief officer.
bought it," said Bailey calmly. and
held out his hand for 1t.
ITS got a name in IT, said the Chi
cago girl doubtfully.
Yes said Bailey, taking 1t from her.
MY name. Thanks"
I'm sorry" said the Chicago girl i'm |
pulslvely. Il didn't mean to be bother.
but I wasn't expecting to find Meredith
lying around here. And then saw the
plate"
Bailey smiled. ITS not bad. is it,"
he said. But you didn't notice the
binding"
"Oh! do let me see," she cried prettily.
She could do things handsomely when
she chose. The first officer fumed apart
and Bailey explained to her the true in
wardness Of binding which had come
from under the hand Of a great artist.
She listened with interest. which was
not wholly for the subject matter of his
discourse. while the steerage folk stared
in bovine fashion and the wonderful girl
of the bewildering speech glowered at
them from the rail.
Thank you ever so much" said the
Chicago girl at last. II guess | won't
live much longer without having book
or two with that sort of binding"
When she had gone Bailey composed
| himself to read again, but no sooner
was he in his place than the girl came
| over from the rail and squatted down
beside him.
so" she said. "Youn like SOP"
| Her fine eyes were allght with some
thing that seemed like anger. and she
| terked her thumb contemptuously in the
direction the Chicago girl had departed
What's the natter" asked Bailey.
The girl seemed to struggle to range
words which should enlghten him.
Me-" she cried at last. and struck
her hand on her breast, glaring at him.
"Me-and so, you see that"
There was no installing that she was
angry now: her vehemence and the tense
passion Of her face put 1t past doubt.
But Bailey could get no nearer the
cause of her trouble.
MY dear girl" he said soothingly.
"Tve no notion what's worrying you,
but wouldn't bother really. It'll come
all right"
She heard him with a sort Of eager
ness. and shook her head.
Me-" she querled again.
AN right" said Bailey, nodding, but
understanding nothing. Anyhow, II
seemed to pacify her, and presently she
: moved away and went and sat down
with some of the other women.
Late that afternoon the truculen'
steward accosted him. He was passing
the pantry when that official looked out
of the door and beckoned to him.
What Is it?" demanded Bailey.
) Keep your hair on" counselled the
steward. IT was wantin' to warn you
You're not yearnln' to have knife ii
the back. are you?"
4 IT think not" replied Bailey.
Zoos you're in the way of gettin' i
II you don't leave that Pole girl alone,
replied the steward. "Oh, don't star
, flyin' out; I'm givin' you the tip"
Somebody's Jealous of herr" inquire,
, Bailey. Nobody need be, may say"
, Them Poles" said the steward, "the!
2 don't stop to think. They see a chal
$ passing the time of the day with a girl
!. and they just take an PUNK half a foo
r Of iron into him to make sure. l tel
d you for yer own good--you'd bette
$ quit foolin' with her. Just drop her"
: "All right" said Bailey. IT won
d forget that you gave me the tip any
Il how"
But it was not easy to drop the Polisl
girl. Her soft eyes followed him every
. where: wherever he disposed himsel
e her rich. quiet voice murmured at hi
elbow. Nothing that she said was II
q the least comprehensive to him: 1t wa
, his first experience of those banishe
L. races who have no authentic tongue Q
their own and can express themselve
ID only in a murdered version of the Ian
guage OF their adoption. He noticed to
. that his fellow passengers in generi
III seemed to watch his movements rattle
closely and the whole thing began to /
rather nuisance.
The Chicago girl took some troub
20 to complicate things yet further. ST
!, had discovered mute ingloriol
- student of Meredith in the steerage ar
-, was not disposed to let II go at tina
- She wanted to see him again. ST
q, talked Of him at dinner that night ar
,a at lunch that day; in the afternoon 81
-. paid her second visit. Bailey lifted h
20 hat to her and she came straight to hir
II They had barely begun to talk when
I'M hand was laid on his arm and he WI
an roughly pulled aside. The Polish 81
go confronted the lady from Chicago. III
IN shawl was thrust from her head and h
of black hair was tumbled. She shrek
her wrath at the smart woman fro
ba the first class saloon.
Ike "Me." she cried, striking herself
le, the bosom with her hand in the gestu
Oh Bailey remembered. Nod like so. I
MS you. Und then-und then, you CO."
1t She stretched her hand, curved '
'ty ciously, as though to tear the Chica
it'll girls face, and Bailey pulled her bat
irt Men were running up from the ma
Id deck; the officer Of the watch was sta
to ing over the rail Of the bridge at the
ng Zach" said the Polish girl, a
Co.. x.,,th