, 1914-12-10

'HO euiu diter she udu teSLeu uef
ankle and found the damage inconsid-
cradle.
VERY much. Miss Lee"
DO you intend to remain IA
sailor2"
81 am not a sailor. I am a deck
steward. and ! am about to become a
butler"
THAT vas our agreement" she dash
ed at me.
Certainly. And to know that | In
tend to fulfill It to the letter / have
only to show this"
1t had been n Of McWhirter's in
SEPARATIONS. on learning how had been
engaged, the small book called THE
Perfect Butler" l took 1t from the
pocket Of my flannel shirt, under my
oilskins. and held it out to her.
II have not got very far" l said
humbly. "It's 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.
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 |
imagine literally 1t vas a skin of wine.
They didn't have jugs. did theyT"
"You know the 'RubaiyatY " she ask
ed slowly.
81 know the jug of wine and loaf of
bread part" | admitted. irritated at
the slip. 'In 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 / was shortly to place her
dinner before her in the capacity Of
upper servant. | thrilled to the last two
words.
land thou" | repeated.
She looked up at me, startled, and
for a second III glances held. The
next moment she vas gone. and was
alone on a rain swept deck. cursing my
folly.
That night In a white linen coat |
served dinner in the after house. The
meal was unusually gay. rendered SO
by the pitching Of the boat and the
uncertainty of the dishes. In the gen.
erai hilarity my awkwardness went
unnoticed. Miss Lee, sitting beside
Vail. devoted herself to him. Mrs.
Johns. young and blond. tried to inter
est Turner md. 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 cabin, they
lounged into the chart room-except
Mrs. Johns, who. following them to
the door. closed 1t behind them and
came back. She held a lighted ciga-
rette. and she stood just outside the
zone OF candlelight. watching me
through narrowed eyes.
"You got along very well tonight.
she observed. Are you quite strong
again2"
"Quite strong, Mrs. Johns"
.You have never done this sort OF
thing before. have your"
Buffers work? No, but 1t is rather
simple"
81 thought perhaps you had she
said. ~ seem to recall you vaguely
that is, 1 seem to remember a crowd
OF people and a noise. l dare say
did see you in a crowd somewhere.
You know. you are rather an unfor-
getabie type"
was nonplused as to how a butler
would reply to such a statement, and
took refuge In no reply at all. As 1t
happened none was needed. The ship
gave a terrific roll at that moment. and
l Just saved the chartreuse as 1t was
leaving the table. Mrs. Johns was
holding to a chair.
..weIl caught" she smiled. and.
taking a fresh cigarette. she bent over
a table lamp and lighted 1t herself. AL
the time her eyes were on me. | felt
that she was studying me over her
cigarette. with something In view.
"Is 1t still rainingr'
Eyes. Mrs. Johns"
"will you get u wrap from Karen
and bring 1t to me on deckf IL want
air tonight"
The forward companionway led
down into the main capin. She moved
toward it. her pale green gown fading
into the shadow. At the foot of the
steps she turned and looked back al
me. had been stupid enough, but !
knew then that she had something to
say to me. something that she would
not trust to the cabin walls. 1 got the
wrap.
She was sitting In a deck chair when