The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-01-22
tain's eyes twinkled as he turned

chatting like old friends, such is the
magic of the sea. After a little Mr..
Jcnnlson suddenly ceased his pacing
and craned his neck to look beyond
one Of the lifcboats.
"There's Marion now,'' he observed,
with a new infection in his voice.
So her name was Marion! Nothing
could be finer and more appropriate.
thought Brill. He repeated it mentally
three or four times, and it did not lose
its charm-a sure test.
Thcn he looked at the boat. All
there was visible Of f%cmininity was q
blue skirt %coqucttiny with the wind, a
rough WOODEN cap and the tip Of a coil
of the aver wing hair. The girl was
talking to some ono. and now and, then
Il peal OF mclodious laughter f1tated
toward him.
Brill felt an overwhelming desire to
know at once the identity of his UNI
known rival. His problem WAS solved
by natural means. The two rose from
behind the boat and turned in Bri|l's
direction. The beautiful MariUn's at
tendant was Benedict, the swarthy
man who had come to Brill's financial
rescue, with Il ruby bracelet as security.
From his position on the bridge deck
Brill could see Marion Jennison and
her dark courtier walking back and
forth on the deck below. He thought
Of his first intuitive dislike for Bene-
dict and knew that this episode had
strengthened the feeling. He fclt that
he was unworthy the friendship OF any
decent a certainly Of any good wo-
man.
After Il little OF this introspection
Nh. Jcnnison having gone to the s,nok.
ing room with anathcmas against the
wind, he laughed almost aloud.
II oWc him money, and lie is polite
to Il young he has known may
he for years." he said. "Tl,at's all the
basis l have for dislike"
He determined to put the whole mat
ter from his mind and to occupy him
s"lf with Stebbins. usually a vast mine
of amused interest to him. AS he
made his way to the saloon deck he
noted that a long and ugly swell was
on the face of the waters, making the
ship roll in a way not approved by
squeamish stomachs. Therefore he
was not u%nprepared to find his protege
curled up on the sofa Imply. n look of
dark foreboling on his round face.
Don't feel quite yourself, l guess,
JAY"
How far is it to America. MI. Over
ton?"
about 800 miles,"
That's the nearest land?"
eyes. unless you go this way" And
he pointed downward.
"Well. | suppose I'll have to stay on
board" said Stebbins, with the resig.
nation of despair. Then he buried his
head in Il pillow and refused to become
party to any further conversation
whatever.
At luncheon Brill found that various
circumstances had reduced to himself
and Il other passenger the visible
guests of the purser's table. That
other vas a CHEEKY faced. tlorid, short
and thick gentleman Of perhaps fifty.
This jovial and alert person lost no
time in introducing himself as Chris.
TOPPER c. Marsh. He would have been
more explicit as to detail but that he
noticed that Brill was merely toying
with his food.
"Feeling the bit of sea-" he asked
genially. Brill laughed scornfully and
shook his head.
II don't see your FRIEND" persisted
the other.
"Oh, Jay? Well, he's not making
out very WELL"
MI. Marsh grew confidential. I've
been travelling the ocean lane for TWEEN
ty years. I'm not Il gambler, so |
must be Il drummer; we're the only
ones who 10 that. Great changes in
my time. There's the wireless now"
Not much good this voyage" said
Brill. Marsh rolled an cyelid express
sively, and smackcd his lips.
"1hurston: Good operator. but never
could take Il social glass without think.
ing himself Il wine press. But they're
taking messages now. Your friend
fixed that"
JAY: Brill had certainly not been
aware that his protege was an expert
in that line. Mr.. Marsh's next words
explained matters.
"Known Benedict lons:' he asked.
SO this was the 'fricnd." Had Marsh
seen them together at that first inter
view. he wondered.
Never met him except on this ship"
said Brill shortly.
".Ah," returned the commercial
traveller, With Il rather odd infection.
then perhaps you don't know hes got
Il telephone concession in Africa and
is taking over Il lot of men and ap-
paratus:"
Brill shook his head.
zone of his men, it seems. is Il Wire,
less operator. Sleepy chap. Mexican,
| guess. like Benedict.
"Oh. lie don't brag of it, continued