Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-04-13

filed The air, yet they were
swarming 18th the busy pedestrians
who never lose an opportunity to let
every one know that they are on
board. New York was twenty-four
hours astern, and the brief Sunday
service had come to peaceful end.
Three tall. interesting looking men
stood leaning against the starboard
rail of the promenade deck, unmindful
of the mist, watching the scurrying
throng Of exercise fiends. Two were
young, the third was old, and of the
three there was one who merited the
second glance that invariably was be-
slowed upon him by the circling pass
ersby.
He stood between the gaunt soldier
ly old man with the fierce mustache
and the trim. military young man with
one that was close cropped and smart.
Each wore blue serge suit and af-
fected a short visored cap of the same
material, and each lazily pulled at
very commonplace briar pipe.
The customary he gossip and peren-
NAL snooper who is always making the
voyage no matter what ship one takes
or the direction one goes. nosed out
the purser and discovered that the
young man was R. Schmidt of Vienna.
He was busy thereafter mixing with
the throng. volunteering information
that had not been solicited, but which
appeared to be welcome. Especially
IL
grateful to the he gossip when he &C.
costed them as perfect stranger to
tell them the name of another and
even more perfect stranger.
Il am sorry we lost those rooms on
the Salammbo," said the younger of
his two companions. II had them
positively engaged. money paid down"
Some one else came along with
more money, Dank," observed R.
Schmidt. I'VE ought to be thankful
that we received anything at all. Has
it occurred to you that this boat isn't
crowded."
mot more than half full" said the
older man. -All of the others appear
ed to be packed from hold to funnel.
This must be an unpopular boat"
81 don't know where we'd be, how
ever. If Mr.. Blithers hadn't thought of
the Jupiter almost at the last minute"
said r. Schmidt.
Mine day boat. though" growled the
old man.
Il don't mind that in the least. She's
a steady old tub. and that's some
thing"
Hobbs tells me that It is most ex-
to find the eastbound
steamers crowded at this season of
the year." said Dank. He can't under
stand 1t at all. The crowds go over In
June and July, and by this time they
should be starting for home. Thought
we'd have no difficulty In getting on
any one Of the big boats, but, by jove,
l went they said they
we're full up"
1T was uncommonly decent Of Blith-
rs not coming down to see us on"
aid the elderly man, who was down
N the passenger list as Totten. Il
vas apprehensive, pom my soul. He
tuck like leech up to the last min
tie"
R. Schmidt was rejecting. at struck
ne as queer that he had not heard of
be transfer Of our securities in Lon
on"
Il cannot understand Bernstein &
ons selling out at a time when the n
rice Of our bonds is considerably be- b
w their actual value" said Totten, Il
owning. "A million pounds sterling
what their holdings really repre- n
snted, according to the dispatches "
ley must have sold at loss Of nearly b
10000. Ot
We should have Marconigram to- o.
ght or tomorrow In REGARD to the bid a,