The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-02-06

hS tDeNh"
SO he walked till the glow of sunset
had faded from the face of the sea,
and out to the east the mysterious
darkening Of night blotted out the
heaving waters. Far down on the
southern horizon began to grow out OF
the blue the pale points of an evening
star. Was it Venus or Mars he
dered idly-love or battle? He smiled
as he thought of the verses OF his
childhood:
Star light. star bright.
First star I've seen tonight.
I wish I could. l wish l might,
Have the wish / wish tonight.
"Ah. yes,' he said to himself softly,
that was the time of perfect faith,
and If we didn't get the things we
wished for we knew ii was because
we hadn't wished hard enough or had
made a mistake as to the first star.
But now
He turned abruptly from the wildly
beautiful picture before him and made
his way back to the saloon. En- route
he ran into Marsh, the commercial trav-
eler, a CHEEKY object at any time M
especially congenial at the present mo-
ment.
"How's your sick friend?' cried the
jovial Christopher heartily.
Brill smiled and shrugged his Shout
ders. Marsh grinned appreciatively.
Tell him that, after all, the ship
most to be dreaded is courtship," he
said, yet it carries more passengers
than all the rest"
AS they passed the Office of the wire
less telegraph Marsh nudged his COM
panion's arm and wagged his head to-
ward the interior. Brill saw Benedict,
with his mouth close to the ear of the
provided.
Hes whispering to him." said the
incorrigible Marsh. Ought not to he
allowed. Illegal. you know-priva ate
caring
But as they drew out of range Of
the office the commercial travellers
tone of levity vanished completely.
Its nonsense, l know" he said ear
nestly, but the night l first saw Bene-
dict he was leaning like that oyer his
partner in that Texas gambling house
and whispering. A ranchman had just
risen from faro, winner of $4,000.
Next morning his body was found with
q bullet in the heart"
This sinister story impressed Brill
strongly. 1t was only on arriving at
his stateroom and finding Aristides
quite well again and full of remors ut
his neglect Of his patron that he shook
off it's dark suggestiveness. He con
forted Stebbins by reminding him that
master and nan were no more on his
voyage, and that his sartorial effects
were not so elaborate as to need a
Wallets services.
Dinner tonight proved to be n jovial
and well attended function. All but
the hopeless victims Of oceans disquiet
had emerged from their seclusion, hun
CRY and happy. The tables were well
filled, and at the head Of the n In
the center. crowned by the apex OF
the exquisite stained glass dome of the
saloon. sat the captain, a veritable
king. whose subjects laughed Loyalty
at his every witticism and hung on his
words with rapt attention when he oc-
~casionally voiced some bit of sea lore.
The b%rilliancy. the chatter. the clat-
ter. the whole spirit of gayety and
good nature. worked nightly upon the
susceptibilities of Aristides Stebbins.
who almost neglected his roast beef
and Yorkshire pudding for the fasci-
nations of the scene. He decided, nee
and for all, that an ocean voyage on
such a steamer as the Olympiad was
a thing not to be summed. but courted.
AS for Brill. he was taciturn ard ir-
responsive. Marsh noted. too, that his
eyes often sought certain seats at the
captains table, having ascertained the
pretty cause, he turned his attention
to Aristides, as n more promising max
err of conversation
Meanwhile Stebbins' protector saw
one CLEAN OF sunshine in the situation.
Benedict was not with the Jennisons.
vet a moment later he was forced to
| admit that the empty chair next to the
young girl was meant for him.
But what was this? Captain
HUMPHREYS seemed to be pointing to
Brill's portion of the purser's table and
| even directing thither the attention OF
Miss Jennison. And then-a marvel.
The girls lustrous dark eyes met his.
and the finely poised head inclined the
slightest bit in the world. On the rosy
lips was the phantom of a smile.
Brill was carried aloft to realms of
| bliss by this small incident. but he
managed TO bow in return on the way.
Still his wonder grew when a steward
came from the captain directly to him,
1t seemed.
Capt 'Umphries' compliments to
Mr.. Marsh" said the man, land will e
| please consider 'imself hin charge OF
the Christmas concert, has on h'other