The Glasgow courier., 1916-08-04

either.
"Even that will be something for
me to look forward to. Miss Guile"
said he. Far from being vexed, she
favored him with faint smile Of
was it 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 a 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 livelier
curiosity than he ever had felt be-
fore. Conscious Of certain feeling
of stealth, he scrutinized 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 ap-
praising glance. "Miss Guile" and
"Mrs. CASTOR" were the names he
read.
"Americans," he unused. "Young
lady and chaperon, that's it. A real
American beauty! And Blithers loud
ly boasts that his daughter is the
prettiest girl in America! Shades Of
Venus! Can, there be such q thing on
earth as q prettier girl than this
one? Can nature have performed the
impossible? Is America so full of
lovely girls that this one must take
second place to a daughter of Blith-
ers? l wonder il she knows the i'm
perial Maud. I'll make it a point to
inquire"
Moved by sudden restlessness. he
decided that he was In need of exer-
else. After completely circling the
deck once. he decided that he did not
need the exercise after all. His walk
had not benefited him in the least.
He returned to his chair. As he turn
ed into the dry. snug corner he came
to an abrupt stop and stared. Miss
Guile was sitting in her chair. neatly
incased in a mummy.like sheath Of
gray that covered her slim body to
the waist.
She was quite alone in her nook,
and eaading. An astonishing intaao-
idity induced him to speak to her AFT
aca41nqaa Of i've aF!atx minutes, and
20 ss,rprising was the impulse thaksAA
blurted out hts question without pre-
amble.
"H0w did you manage to get back
30 quickly!' he inquired.
She looked up. and for IN instant
there was something like alarm In
her lovely eyes. a. Of one caught in
the Preparation Of guilty act.
n beg your pardon" she said.
rather indistinctly.
II was away less than eight min
utes," he declared. and she was con-
fronted by q wonderfully frank smile
that never failed to work its charm.
To his surprise. q shy smile grew in
her eyes. and her warm red lips
twitched uncertainty. He had expect
ed cold rebuff. "You must have
dropped through the awning?"
"Your imagination is superior to that
employed by the author Of this book"
she said. "and that is saying a good
deal. Mr.-Mr."-
Schmidt" he supplied cheerfully.
"Many l inquire what book you are
reading?"
"You would not be interested. 1t is
by an American"
II have read great many Ameri-
can novels" said he stifay. my
father was an American. Awfully
jolly books, most Of them"
~ looked you up in the passenger
list a moment ago." she said coolly.
"Your home is in Vienna. like
Vienna"
He was looking rather intently at
the book, now partly lowered %sn't
that the passenger list you have con-
cealed in that book?" he demanded.
1T is." she replied promptly. "You
will pardon natural curiosity? l
wanted to see whether you were from
New York.
"May look at it. please?"
She closed the book. ut isn't neces-
sary. am from New York"
"By the way. do you happen to
know a Miss Blithers-Maud Blith-
ers?"
Miss Guile frowned refiectively.
"Blithers? The name is Q familiar
one. Maud Blithers? What is she
like1"
"She's supposed to be very good
looking. I've never seen her"
How queer to be asking me II !
know her. then. Why do you ask"
1--WE heard 80 much about her lately.
She 10 the daughter Of William Blith-
ers. the great capitalist"
"Oh. know who he is." she exclatm-
Cd. Perfect roodles of money. hasn't