The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-06-08

most ~overbearing, selfish person."
1--WE must inquire at the office for
the letter, dear, before
1T may have dropped behind the
chair" said the girl.
Right" cried X. Schmidt, dragging
the chair away and pointing in tri-
umph at the missing letter. He stoop-
ed to ecove the missiVe, but she was
quick to forestall him. With a little
gasp she pounced upon 1t and, like a
child, proceeded to hold II behind her
back. He stiffened. Il remember that
you said it was from your father"
She hesitated an instant and then
held 1t forth for his inspection, rather
adroitly ~concealing the postmark with
her thumb. 1t "a addressed to Miss
b. Guile, S. S. Jupiter, New York City,
N. Y" and typewriter.
at Is only fair that we should be
quits in every particular" she said,
with q frank smile.
He bowed. "A letter Of introduc-
tion." he said. "in the strictest n
OF the word. You have already had
my card thrust upon you, so every
thing is quite regular. And now 1t Is
only right and proper that | should
e what has become of your chairs.
Permit me-
Really, Miss Guile" i%nterposed her
companion. this is quite irregular. |
may say it Is unusual. Pray allow me
to suggest
Il think it is only right that Mr..
Schmidt should return good for evil"
interrupted the girl gayly. Please in
quire, Mr.. Schmidt. No doubt the deck
steward will know"
Again the prince bowed, but this
time there was amusement instead Of
uncertainty in his eyes. 1t was the
first time hat any one had ever
urged him. even by inference, to
"fetch and carry" Moreover, she was
extremely cool about 1t, as one who
exacts much of young men in serge
suits and outing caps. He found him
self wondering what she would say II
he were to suddenly that he
was the Prince Of Graustark. The
thought tickled his fancy, account
ing, no doubt, for the even deeper
bow that he gave her.
"They can't be very far away" he
observed quite meekly. ooh. 1 say,
steward! One moment. here" A deck
steward approached with alacrity.
"What has become Of Miss Guile's
chair?"
The young man touched his cap
and beamed joyously upon the fair
young lady.
Zach! See how l have forgot! 1t Is
here! The best place on the deck-on
any deck. See! Two-side by side
above the door, away from the draft
See, in the corner, ha, ha! Yes!
Two by side. The very best. Miss
Guile complains of the draft from the
door. l exchanged the chairs. See!
But I forgot to speak. Yes! See!"
And, sure enough, there were the
chairs Of Miss Guile and her compan-
ion snugly slowed away in the cor
ner, standing at right angles to the
long row that lined the deck, the foot
rests pointed directly at the chair R.
Schmidt had just vacated, not more
than a yard and a half away.
"How stupid" exclaimed Miss
Guile. This is much better. So sorry,
Mr.. Schmidt, to have disturbed you.
/ abhor drafts. don't your"
"Not to the extent that I shall move
out of this one." he replied CALAMITY,
"now that I've got an undisputed
claim to 1t. Are you not going to sit
down. nov that we've captured the
disappearing chair?"
mo-" she said. and he fancied he
saw regret in her eyes. 81 am going
to my room-if I can find 1t. No doubt
1t also is lost. This seems to be a day
for misplacing things"
"At any rate, permit me to thank
you for discovering me, Miss Guile"
"Oh, I daresay I shall misplace you,
too, Mr.. Schmidt" She said 1t so in
solently that he flushed as he drew
himself up and stepped aside to allow
her to pass. For an instant their eyes
met. and the sign of the humble was
not to be found in the expression of
either.
"Even that will be something for
me to look forward to, Miss Guile"
said he. Far from being vexed, she
favored him with a faint smile Of
was 1t wonder or admiration?
Then she moved away, followed by
the uneasy lady-who was old enough
to be her mother and wasn't.
Robin remained standing for q mo
ment, looking after her, and some
how he felt that his dream was. not
yet ended. She turned the corner OF
the deck building and was lost to
sight. He sat down, only to arise al
most instantly. moved by a livelier
curiosity than he ever had felt be-
fore. Conscious Of a certain feeling
Of stealth, he s%crutinized the cards in
the backs Of the two chairs. The
steward was collecting the discarded
steamer rugs farther down the deck,
and the few passengers who occupied
chairs appeared to be snoozing-all of
which he took in with his first APP
praising glance. "Miss Guile and
CASTOR" yer the names he
read