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

They were looking for something.
That was quite clear. And ii was de-
plorably clear that whatever 1t was X.
Schmidt was sitting upon it. They
saw that he was asleep, which made
the search IL not the actual recovery
quite out OF the question. The older
woman was on the point of pOking the
sleeper with the toe OF her shoe, be-
ing a matter Of fact sort of person,
when the girl imperatively shook her
head and froWned upon the lady in q
way TO prove that, even though she
was old enough to be the mother of a
girl Of twenty, she was by no means
the mother Of this one.
At that very instant r. Schmidt
opened his eyes. 1t must have been a
kindly poke by the god OF sleep that
aroused him so opportunity; but, even
so, the toe of n shoe could not have
created n graver catastrophe than that
which Immediately befell him. He
completely lost his head. If one had
suddenly asked what had become of
1t he couldn't have told, not for the
life Of him. For that matter he
couldn't have put his finger, so to
speak, on any part OF his person and
proclaimed with confidence that it be-
longed to r. Schmidt of Vienna. He
was looking directly up into a pair Of
dark, startled eyes, in which there was
a very pretty confusion and a far from
impervious blink.
Il beg your pardon" said the older
woman without the faintest trace Of
embarrassment-indeed, with some
asperity-"I think you are occupying
n Of our chairs"
He scrambled out OF the steamer
rug and came to his feet, blushing to
the roots of his hair.
Il beg your pardon" he stammered
and found his awkwardness rewarded
by an extremely sweet smile-in the
eyes OF the one he addressed.
I'VE were looking for a letter that I
am quite sure was left in my chair
said she.
"A letter." he murmured vaguely
and at once began to search with his
eyes.
From her father" volunteered the
elderly one, as IL 1t were a necessary
bit of information. Then she jerked
the rug away, and three pairs of y e
examined the place where r. Schmidt
had been reclining. That's odd. Did
you happen to see 1t when O sat
down. sirT"
&" am confident that there was no
letter. began he and then allowed
his gaze to rest on the name card at
the top Of the chair. This happens
to be my chair, madam" he went on,
pointing to the card. or. Schmidt
l am very sorry"
1.-THE steward must have put that
card there while you were at lunch
dear. What right has he to sell
our chairs over again? l shall report
this to the captain
~ am quite positive that this is my
chair. sir" said the girl, a red spot in
each cheek. at was engaged two
days ago. I have been occupying it
since-but it really doesn't matter. It
has your name on 1t now, so I sup
pose I shall have to-
"Not at ALL" he made haste to say.
ut Is yours. There has been some
miserable mistake. These deck stew
ards are always messing things up.
Still, 1t is rather a mystery about the
I assure you I saw no.
"No doubt the steward who chang
ed the cards had sufficient intelli-
gence to remove all discriminating
said she coolly. 1--WE shall
find 1t among the lost, strayed and
stolen articles, no doubt. Pray retain
the chair. Mr. She peered at the
name card-"Mr. Schmidt"
Her cool insolence succeeded in net
thing a nature that was usually most
gentle. He spoke with characteristic
directness.
"Thank you. l shall do so. We
thereby manage to strike q fair av-
erage. / seize your deck chair, you
my table. We are quits"
She smiled family. ar. Schmidt
did not sound young and gentle. but
old and hateful. That is why / seized
the table. ! expected to find R.
Schmidt a fat old German with very
bad manners. Instead. you are neither
fat. old nor d~isagreeable. You took
1t very nicely, Mr.. Schmidt, and I am
undone. Won't you permit me to re-
store your table to your"
CHAPTER TX.
The Prince Chats With Miss Guile.
"HE elderly lady was tapping the
deck with a most impatient
foot. Really, my dear. we were
quite within our rights In ap-
the head waiter. He"-
HE said 1t was engaged" interrupt
ed the young lady. "R. Schmidt was
the name he gave, and l informed him
It meant nothing for me. am very
sorry. Mr.. Schmidt. l suppose 1t was
all because / am so accustomed to
my own way"
I'm that case 1t Is all very easy to
said he. "for l have al
longed to be In a position where
could have my W way. am sure
hat II ] could have It l would be a