Williams news., 1917-07-05
CHAPTER l.

In her maiden season the Alsatia, largest steamship in the world" of her day and generation, was advertised to leave Liverpool for New York via Queenstown, promptly at five o'clock In the afternoon of every third Satur- day.
 At about one o'clock of Saturday late in September one forehanded pas senger found her way by dint of per sistence through the pandemonium in the pier-shade to the Alsatia's first cabin gangway.
 This was a young woman not far beyond her twentieth year, with tall and slender body, face of uncommon distinction, and at the time somewhat pale, and striking abundance of hair the color of raw, red gold. Dressed simply in dark travelling costume, with hat in excellent accord, she carried, in addition to a light wrap and tightly rolled umbrella, conspicuously new Oxford bag lettered in black, 'L. G. New York" Behind her porter stag gered beneath her only other piece of luggage-a battered black-leather trunk of great age, which, curiously enough, bore the legend in letters of white, half obliterated, 'L. C.-Lon- don."
 Tipping and dismissing the man, the girl confidently ascended the gangway to the saloon deck of the Alsatia, and asked steward to conduct her to her stateroom, displaying at the same time a ticket entitling Lucy Carteret, Spin ster," to berth in Room 75, Deck B.
 Once alone in her room, she bolted the door, fingered before full-length mirror to remove her hat, eying her reflection with a shadowy, puzzIing smile, and turned away to review the cubicle, one-half of which she was en- titled to call her own for the next six days. The other half had been engaged by a woman of whom she knew noth- Ing whatever, not even so much as her name.
 It was stateroom unusual in ar- engagement and luxurious in appoint nent. Twin brass bedsteads stood end to end against the inner wall. The other furniture comprised a capacious .hest of drawers, a comfortable sofa, and two wicker armchairs. At one snd narrow doors admitted to a :ramped but adequate lavatory and a eoomy clothes-press. The woodwork was enameled creamy white, and the walls boasted panels of golden bro cade-a color scheme conveying an ef- feet at once of warmth, airiness and scrupulous cleanliness.
 With grave little nod, the girl 1- proved. If expensive-and it was hor- ribly expensive for her slender purse this stateroom was well worth all 1t had cost her. There ran in her blood the instinct for luxury, though now her purse, upon examination, yielded but four golden sovereigns, a half-sover- eign, half-crown, a shilling, and a few ponderous copper pennies, barely enough for the inevitable tips at the end of the voyage. She would land in New York practically penniless. But that would be on day the seventh distant {: sufficient unto 1t its potential mischief.
 She was very tired: the last few nights had brought her little sleep,
 
 by contemplation of step whose bold ness was unprecedented in her history. But now, with that step successfully taken, excitement yielded place to fa- tigue. Unlocking and in part unpack- ing both bag and trunk, she appropri- ated a fair half of the wardrobe ac- commodations, then wrapped herself in dressing gown and lay down on one of the beds. Transient, odd visions painted the ruddy gloom within her closed eyelids-of the life she had dis missed; of the temerarious adventure that engaged her; of the life to which she looked forward.
 In time knocking sounded on the door. The girl stirred and moved her head impatiently. The knocking grew imperative, and the deeps of sleep were disturbed by other sounds as well,