The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-02-26

"Wonder why she didn't ask Bene-
dict to be her guide?" unused Brill on
the way to his stateroom as his mental
trail at last led him inevitably to that
swarthy individual. Then came a
thought like a great fash of lightning.
He turned to Stebbins and fairly
shouted: |
81 asked you the other day II you |
thought 1 was a fool. There's no longer
any doubt Of it; I am"
Brill was glad when Marsh knocked |
at his cabin door that afternoon. I'm
til the assembling Of the Christmas
concert committee next morning there
was little likelihood of any meeting
with Miss Jennison. Next to such
happy event came the compan. Of this
keen travelling man whom he had come
to place in his list Of friends despite
his occasional lapses into atrocious lev
ity. He shook hands with his visitor
as cordially as if he had not seen him
for years.
"Well," announced Marsh cheerfully,
1--WE just left Pennythorpe.'
Brill smiled at this important state
ment. II thought you looked particu-
larly happy" he said.
is an ass, isn't he? Guess, though,
he knows something despite his efforts
to conceal it. Perhaps he'll know more
when he gets through with Hum
phries.'
"What's he going to do, give the cap
tain instruction in seamanship:'
He's been about with a paper, petit
ton he calls it, demanding why the
ship is out of her course"
j, "And he's going to present that to
Humphries?' asked Brill delightedly.
Marsh nodded, and his host laughed
outright as he called to mind the iron
, severity he had seen under the smiling
mask the captain habitually presented
: to his passengers. But Marsh did not
respond in kind. He was more serious
, than Brill. had ever seen him.
Il don't know whether it's a laugh
ing matter after all, Overflow" said he,
n twirling his heavy watch chain be-
tween his fingers.
What do you mean" asked Brill
2 curiously.
O II guess Pennythorpe's right" said
the other, lowering his voice.
h about the ships being off her
@ c%ourse:"
Yes. Although the Olympiad's a
new ship to me, I've made friends with
e some of her officers OF other ships"
G You don't mean that they
j. OF course not was the quick reply.
Have to use thumbscrews to get any
thing out of a Junior officer. But a
man can talk without saying anything
e I'm pretty certain Pennythorpe's not as
$ big a fool as he looks, though tina,
wouldn't be possible, would it,"
Then you think began Bril-
S n~crvously.
p Nothing, except that the Olympiat
d is hundreds of miles out of her purse
Cunt there be some mistaken"
f. Gin navigation? Likely. isn't it ii
t. the weather we've had: I've only one
theory. There may be Il war"
y Brill remembered that Stebbins haL
$, told him that the steamers of the line
y We're designed to be used as armed
/. cruisers in case of need, but the Olym
n. piad was only a passenger steamer
0. now. How could she possibly be affect
e ed? He said as much to Marsh.
l. That's right" admitted his rotunt
companion. But what can 1t be
e then?"
At the gathering of the clans fol
le dinner they met Pennythorpe, his face
wearing m unusually pompous an6
te' self satisfied air. Like another ancien'
D. mariner, he fixed the two with his eye
n INC Marsh he seized by the coat lapel
Il was right" he began in his pro
Il found tones. I'VE are heading towar,
,r Portugal. The captain admits it,"
10 I'm the name of Neptune, what for?
10 cried Marsh.
Pennythorpe loved oratorical circum
~ locution, and With all due solemnit.
and proper emphasis. he rolled out thu
il story Of his visit to Captain Hum
phries, the impression it appeared t.
Id make on the sailor and the effective
ie presentation Of the passengers petit
ton. Finally he arrived at the onl,
~ point of Importance.
70 Captain HUMPHREYS explains" h,
said. that he has taken M extreme
n southern course to avoid the floating
n ice and DergS, with altenuanC area O.
VI fog, of which warnings have been Civ
NJ en- over the wireless"
ID "Mighty careful all Of a sudden,
ercwled Marsh.
IA HE has had special instruction!
in from the management to proceed thus,
w continued the professor, sublimel!
y needless Of Interruption, but thu
course will be changed at once to tn
:, direct route to Southampton
Saying which he hustled away, ant
Lo Brill could hear the booming OF nj
~ voice above the shriller staccato o
", general meal talk.
Queer" had been Marsh's only com
ment on the statement. Thereupon h
~ lapscd into what was for him an a
most uncannN silence. breaking it onl