Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-10-04

with Dan.
"Beg pardon, gentlemen" he
said, care you first class7"
ono; we are second Glass; an
swered one of the men.
"Have you business with the
purser or any officer of the ship?'
There was a moments hesita-
ton.
Why do you ask'" queried one
of the men.
1T is forbidden to pass other
wise" !
Again there was a moments
hesitation, and Dan strained his
ears to catch the reply.
owe have business with the
commander" said one of the men
at last, in a low tone.
The guard was obviously sur
prised.
"The commander is very busy"
he said, deprecatingly. perhaps
tomorrow will do?"
Tomorrow will not do" was
the curt answer.
81 must, at least, announce
you" said the guard. MAY l have
your card?'
A card was produced and hand
ed to him. Without looking at it,
he blew a sharp blast on a little
whistle which hung about his
neck. In a moment another man in
uniform appeared at the head Of
the ladder. The guard mounted
and handed him the card.
For the captain" he said, and
came down again. II regret that
| must detain you, gentlemen" he
added, "but | must obey the regu-
lations."
Certainly" agreed one of the
men, and they stepped a little
apart and stood talking together
in low tones. But almost immedi-
ately the messenger appeared
again at the top of the ladder.
"The captain will receive you,
gentlemen" he said, and swung
open the gate and waited for them
to pass. Then he closed the gate
and hurried after them. Dan
could see them going along the
upper promenade; then they
passed from sight.
The guard had stared after
them as they climbed the lad
der, and he stood staring for
some little time after they had
gone. Plainly he was much aston.
isehd. But at last, with a shake of
the head, he turned away and re-
sumed his walk.
Dan was about to turn away,
too, when another incident at
tracted his attention. A bare
footed sailor in white duck, com
ing from the stern Of the ship,
climbed to the rail, tested the rope
holding the canvas windshield, and
then, as the guard turned away,
grasped a stanchion of the railing
above his head and drew himself
up quickly to the first promenade.
Dan, looking after him, saw him
run rapidly up the ladder to the
forward boat deck and disappear
behind a life boat.
That was a way, certainly, to
evade the guard. Dan measured
the distance from the rail to the
upper deck, and wondered if he
could pull himself up as quickly as
the sailor had. He would have to
be quick, or the guard would see
him. And it was quite an athletic
feat. Besides, he would be handi-
capped by his shoes he might cas-
lily slip off the rail and over the
side. No, that road was too dan
gerous, except as a last resort. Be-
sides, if he were caught, it would
be very awkward.
He returned to his bench and
sat down again. After all, was
there really any reason why he
should warn Miss Vardq The
whole thing was, most probably,
nothing but a bit of rhodomontade
on Chevrials part. And who was
Chevrial, anyway? How did it
happen that he was so familiar
with spies and secret services and
systems of espionage2 A most pc
culiar wine merchant. Perhaps
he was not a wine merchant; per-
haps 80.
"a penny for your thoughts,
Mr.. Webster" sad a low voice,
and some one sat down beside him.
He turned with a violent start.
"Kasia!'' he cried, and then
stopped, stammering. IT beg your
pardon, Miss Yard" he said, also
lowering his voice. "You startled
~ "