The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-18
BY ELLA MIDDLETON TYBOUT
Copyright, 1907
j. ID. Lippinc0tt 90.
CHAPTER /.
A Strange Passenger.


mot have been mixed up with it..
/ don't know. after all, whether 1t
was not Gabrielle's gold beads
that were to blame, just as much
as Elizabeth's hay fever.
My name is Eliza, but l prefer
to spell it Elise. However, that
doesn't belong to the story, which
really begins on the steamer that
carried us to Canada.
|! We were sitting on deck, watch
ing the moonlight on the water.
when q man came around the cor
ner of the cabin and sat down
near us. Suddenly Gabrielle, who
was next him, jumped up and
clutched my arm.
Come away" she whispered.
Come away"
II And, of course, We came forth
with. She was quite pale and
trembling when we reached the
cabin.
"He threw a chair into the wa
ter" she said, in an awed voice.
i "Oh." said Elizabeth, lis that
all? l thought it was something
interesting"
at was quite enough" insisted
Gabrielle. II was afraid he might
throw me next. You should have
seen his face and heard him NUT
tering."
What did he mutter?" Eliza
beth liked the whole of d story
or none at all.
il Il couldn't hear. But / think"
Gabrielle glanced around ap-
prehensively-"I think he's a
crazy, and I don't like being on
boat with an unguarded insane
man."
il Perhaps his keeper is some
where around" speculated Eliza
beth. Lets 60 back and see if he
is still there"
So we rec0nnoitered stealthily,
and saw him sitting quietly smok-
ing and not looking at all danger
ous-a rather tall, spare man in
blue serge clothes. with a cap
pulled down over his eyes.
HE looks just like anybody
else," said Elizabeth, plainly dis
appointed. "Oh!"
!, For at that moment he leaned
forward, looked with interest at
the chair beside him, and shot it
over the railing into the water be-
low.
i There" triumphed Gabrielle.
Now what do you say?"
i We said nothing for just then
he reached for another chair. This
time, however, he was not bent
on destruction, for he merely de-
tached dark object hanging on
its back. For the second time
Gabrielle clutched my arm.
i tits my bag!" she exclaimed.
"My new shopping bag. / lett it
hanging on my chair-and he's
opening 1t, Oh. the wretch"
I, The wretch" proceeded to in
vestigate the contents of the bag,
and carefully examined each ar
ticle. First a pair of gloves, and
then a handkerchief, which he
held critically to his nose after
scrutinizing the monogram.
81 hope he likes it," calculated
Gabrielle, in an indignant whis-
per.
Next came a small powder puff,
20 cents. a latch-key, and a square
card, at which he looked long and
earnestly.
"It is a good thing you wear
your money around your neck"
remarked Elizabeth, but Gabrielle
pointed an outraged finger at the
unconscious blue serge back.
'It is our picture" she said
1--WE three together. Did you
ever!"
Il went with Gabrielle and Eli
zabeth to their stateroom, where
we spent some time in discussing
the strange incident. At length
4 / babe them good night and set
out to find my own berth, as we
had not been fortunate enough to
get adjoining rooms.
In the saloon / found the stew
ardess, who at once accosted me.
The burden OF her speech was
j request that / share my state
room with a lady who had not
been able to secure one. and who
was much fatigued.
That's her." she whispered,
"over there under the light"
II I looked in the direction indi-
Gated. 1t was comparatively
young face which rested against
the back of the chair, but so pale.
SO unutterably weary, that one
wondered what blow fate had seen
fit to deal this woman to so rob
her of her girlhood. One hand
lay on the arm of her chair, and
as ! advanced toward her no
ticed the CLEAN Of her wedding
ring.
| 1.-THE stewardess tells me you
have no state ROOM" I said. 81
am alone. and shall be glad to
share mine with you"
The heavy lids lifted slowly,
and found myself looking into q
pair OF wistful dark eyes.
Thank you." she said. In a
sweet, low voice. you are most
kind. My humsband-"
She paused abruptly and faint
color tinged her cheeks As a man
approached.