The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-07-20

backed away almost overcome, and
supporting himself against ladder,
burst into a fit of laughter.
He had lost his bet, but he had also
made a discovery.
Meanwhile, Fate was busy in an
b other part of the Ship-the wireless
operator was stretching himself and
wondering how soon it would be before
the seas were a closed book, when the
clicking of the key announced the be-
ginning of a message.
He took it down llStleSSly, for 1t
began like thousands of other mes
sageS, but when he reached the end,
he stared at the written words and
then stared again, for surely here was
d puzzle. He had heard Of the myS-
FERROUS lady in No. Z, but here was
something even more mysterious. He
resolved to deliver the marcOnigram
in person.
Still wondering he knocked at the
StaterOOm door and with his eyes on
the message waited till It was opened.
He then looked up. "a message for
you, sir" and stopped short, for he
was gazing into the blueSt eyes he
had ever seen. "Oh, l beg your par
dOn-this message Is for Mr.. Peter
Hale--NO. s." He saw that he had
mistaken the stateroOm No. Z for the
one across, and, with further apology,
he moved off and knocked on the door
opposite.
Peter was dressing for dinner. He
opened the door and the operator de-
liyered the message.
Peter read:
IF you have not as yet received the
sign of the double cross, come at once
upon your arrival in New York to the
Hotel Astra and there read your ia
TIERS will"
II thought I'd better deliver 1t N.Y.
SELF" the operator remarked, "eSpeci-
ally as it seemed so Queer-that part
about the double cross"
! "Well, you know as much about it
rs l do" the young man replied. ats
/ as much a puzzle to me as 1t Is to
! yOu-thanks all the same"
The operator went back, but he did
not notice as he passed that the door
| Of No. Z was slightly ajar and that
the same pair of blue eyes that had
so startled him was looking across
! the passage.
I Peter read the message and re-read
tit meant nothing.
The more he puzzled the more he
despaired of finding a solution and
he flung the paper on the table with
a petulance expressive Of his per-
turbed state of mind.
| He argued with masculine brevity
that the best way to forget the whole
affair was to eat. and proceeding on
that theory he started for the dining
room to partake of the feast provided
by the rash Mr.. Cruger.
1t is the little things that set the
big ones in motion. If Peter had not
forgotten his handkerchief he might
have landed in New York, still won
dering what the double cross meant
but he did forget it, and without both
ering to sit down, rushed back to his
staterOom.
As he burst through the door he
came face to face with the most beau
tfful girl it had ever been his good
fortune to see--and he had seen hun
dreds in all the capitals Of the world
Peter held his breath and gazed--the
girl was too embarrassed to lift hel
eyes.
"Pm sure" he said, with a bow
"that whatever reason prompted yor
to honor me with a visit is a goOt
reason"
The girl lifted her face. Never hat
Peter seen such eyes before. He fell
peculiar thrill running down hi
throat. Undoubtedly she was the idea
of his dreams.
Perhaps some of his admiration wa
betrayed in his glance, for the cir
frankly held out the message she hat
picked up from the table.
you've caught me-yOu see, over
heard the operator telling about thu
double cross, and it sounded so inter
esting. I thought I'd look, for my
SELF"
81 see," said Peter, who didn't SCI
at all.
He reached out for the message
and in doing so took her hand as we'll
"And may ask your name" askeC
the gallant young man.
She smiled at him. "Y0u may"
sand it isl"
"Ah, that would be telling, wouldn'
it?"
Fair exchange is NO robbery" re
piled Peter; "you know mlne," ant
with his free hand he pointed to tn,
address on the marconigram.
: There was a twinkle In her eyes o.
] she deserted the subject to ask ,
4 question on her own account.
e Are we going to hold hands for
e eyerT"
! The question pleased Peter-"Noth
: ing would suit me better"
1 "Will you do me a fayor?" she askeC
!, and Peter nodded.
: please pick up my handkerchief.
! The young man released her hant
: and stopped; in second his eaptiy,
5 had escaped.
Peter looked at the handkerchie
pensiyely. Il WONDER" he said aloud
J whether hahdkerchiefs we're mean
-='rr ----------