The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-07-27
CHAPTER |.

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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 a 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, 81. c.
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, IL. C.-Lon-
DON"
Tipping and dismissing the man, the
girl confidently assembled the gangway
to the saloon deck of the Alsatia, and
asked q steward to conduct her to her
stateroom, displaying at the same time
a ticket emitting Lucy Carteret, Spin
ster," to a berth in Room rs, Deck B. |
Once alone in her room, she bolted |
the door, fingered before a full-length |
mirror to remove her hat, eying her
reflection with a shadowy, puzzling
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 moth
ing whatever, not even so much as her
name.
1t was staterOOm unusual in ar
rangement and luxurious in appoint
ment Twin brass bedsteads stood end
to end against the inner wall. The
other furniture comprised a capacious
chest of drawers, a comfortable sofa,
and two wicker armchairs. At one !
end narrow doors admitted to a
but adequate lavatory and a I
roomy clothes-press. The woodwork |
vas enameled creamy white and the !
walls boasted panels of golden bro
,ade-a color scheme conveying an eff t
ect at once of warmth, airiness and I
crupulous cleanliness. r
With a grave little nod, the girl ap- t
'roved. If expensIve-and 1t was hor- a
IDLY expensive for her slender purse s
his stateroom was well worth all 1t f,
ad cost her. There ran in her blood II
he instinct for luxury, though now her
urse, upon examination, yielded but a
Dur golden sovereigns, a half-sover-
Ign. a half-crown. a shilling, and a d
w ponderous copper pennies, barely al
lough for the inevitable tips at the end In
the voyage. She would land In New dt
ork practically penniless. But that &C
ould be on a day the seventh distant: ht
Ifficient unto II its potential mischief. be
She was very tired: the last few IL
ghts had brought her little sleep, I'll
anks to the excitement engendered
contemplation Of a step whose bold W,
SIS was unprecedented IN her history. s,x
IT now, with that step successfully
ken, excitement yielded place to IA int
rue. Unlocking and in part unpack- IN,
3 both bag and trunk, she appropri- .
ed a fair half Of the wardrobe &C ala
mmOdatiOns. then wrapped herself In :