Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-04-20

bedridden, SO to speak. They were
very disagreeable, cross and unpleas-
ant. and somehow he felt that they
hated their cheerful. happy faced
prince.
At last the young man battled his
way down the deck and soon found
himself in the we'll protected corner.
A half dozen unoccupied chairs were
cluttered about, having been aban-
doned by persons who overestimated
their hardness One of the stewards
was engaged in stacking them up and
making them fast.
Miss Guile's chair and that OF Mrs.
CASTOR were stanchly fastened down
and their rugs were in place. Il.
Schmidt experienced an exquisite
| sense of pleasure. Here was a perfect |
exemplifcation of that much abused
thing known as circumstantial evil
dence. She contemplated coming on
deck. So he had his chair put IN
place, called for his rug. shrugged MS
chin down into the collar of his thick
ulster and sat down to wait.
She literally was blown into his
! presence. He sprang to his feet TO
check her swift approach before she
could be dashed against the wall or
upon the heap Of chairs in the corner
She uttered an excited little shrek as
she came bang up against him and
found his ready arms closing about
her shoulders.
"Oh, goodness!" she gasped. with
what little breath she had lett. ana
then began to laugh as she freed her.
self In confusion-a very pretty con-
fusion, he recalled later on, after ne
had recovered to some extent from
the effects Of an exceedingly severe
bump on the back Of his head. HOW
awkward"
mot at ALL" he proclaimed, retain
ing a grip on one Of her arms until
the ship showed some signs OF resum-
ing its way eastward instead of down
ward.
~ am sure it must have hurt dread
fully" she cried. "Nothing hurts
worse than a bump. 1t seemed as
though you must have splintered the
wall" :.
81 have a singularly hard head"
said he, and forthwith felt OF the
back of it.
"Will you please stand ready to re-
ceive boarders? My maid Is follow
ing me, poor thing, and can't AFFORD
to have her smashed to pieces. here
she Isl"
Quite a pretty maid. with wide,
Mortified eyes and pale green COM
plexion came hustling around the
corner. R. Schmidt, albeit prince
received her with open arms.
"Merci. m'sieur!" she squealed anc
:. added something in muffled French
!, = that strangely reminded him of VIVA
Hobbs had said in English. Then sh'
ie deposited an armful Of rugs and mag
D.. azines at Robins feet and clutche'
I'd wildly at a post actually some tel
feet away, but which appeared to b
I coming toward her with obligini
swiftness. so nicely was the deck 70
". tating for her. "Mon dieu! MOI
h dieu!"
you may go back to bed, Marie,
M cried her mistress in some haste.
II But re rug, feex it." groaned IN
unhappy maid, and then once more
"Merci. m'sieur!" She chung to tn
arm he extended and tried bravely I
lie smile her thanks.
ek Here! Go In through this door
q he said. bracing the door open wit
re his elbow. You'll be all right IN
nd little while. Keep your nerve" d
ia closed the door after her and turne
he to the amused Miss Guile. well. 1t
he an III wind that blows no good" b
said automatically, and she flushed III
hit der the steady smile in his eyes. "A
1T low me to arrange your rug for yo'
IL. Miss Guile"
". THANK you, no. I think woul
better go inside. 1t is really te
en- windy
ay 1.-THE wind can't get at you back hel
in this cubbyhole," he protested. L
am sit down. I'll have you as snug as
l bug in a rug before you can say JaS
eW Robinson. See! Now stick 'em o
ge' and I'll wrap 1t around them. Their
You're as neatly done up as a muinn
gnu and a good deal better of, becau
ely "Iu Lone wav short of beiI
1000 years old" 80
lno How is your head, Mr.. Schmidt
Is she inquired. with grave concel
. you seem to be quite crazy. hope"
the every one is little bit mad, dol
=. YOU think, especially in moments
Ivy great excitement. daresay my ne
has been turned quite appreciably. a
I'm glad that you've been kind enou
ret TO notice 1t. Where is Mrs. CASTOR
He was vastly exhilarated.
ao- She regarded him with eyes II
sparkled and belied the unamiable
co. ture of her reply.
ana sOrh. ,,ror Iadv IL where she is