Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-09-06

bronzed c%ountenance lighted by a
pair of very brilliant eyes.
All" said a pleasant voice, $50
this is my shipmate," and the
stranger swung his legs over the
side Of the berth and dropped
lightly to the floor. Again Dan had
the impression Of the bright eyes
upon him.
1T looks that way" he said.
And then a sudden conjunction
seized him. II didn't mean to be
a pig and take the lower berth.
You r quite welcome to it,"
ION, no, no." protested the
other. "The choice is always to
the first conner. That is the rule
of the sea-"
Dan noticed that, though he
spoke English well, it was with the
clipped accent which betrayed the
Frenchman.
Then | choose the upper one,"
he said laughing.
The other shrugged his shout
ders.
II can but thank YOU" he
said. After all, you are younger
than |. My name is Andre Chev-
rial, very much at your service"
and he held out his hand.
If he had announced himself to
be a prince of the blood, Dan
would not have been surprised, for
there was that in his bearing
which bespoke the finished gentle
man, and a magnetism in his man
ner to which Dan was already
yielding.
Mine is Webster-Dan Web
%ster,' he said, and took the out
stretched hanb warmly.
NJ. Chevrial looked a little puz-
zled.
THE name seems somehow ia
milar,' he said; "but [ cannot
quite place it."
Dan laughed.
My father made the mistake of
naming me after the great Daniel
100 years after" he explained.
ON, so that is it! Daniel
Daniel Webster. A statesman.
was he not?"
Zone of our greatest"
Though it did not need that to
tell me you n an American. You
OF America have an atmosphere all
your own. Shall we go on deck
and have a cigarct?"
SO presently Dan found himself
seated besire NJ. Chevrial, talking
very comfortably. The French,
man, to Dams surprise, pro-
claimed himself to be nothing
more important than a wine lob
Der who visited America every
autumn to dispose Of his wares
but, whatever his business, he was
certainly a most entertaining com
panion. And then, suddenly, Dan
quite forgot him, for coming tow
ard them down the deck was the
dark eyed girl, arm in arm with a
man whose burning eyes strangely
belled his snowy hair. Dan sat
staring at them, scarcely able to
credit such stupendous good for
tune, and, as they passed, the girl
looked at him, smiled and nodded.
NJ. Chevrial, whom no detail of
this little scene had escaped
lighted another cigaret.
"A very striking looking young
lady, he said. "The gentleman
take it, is her father"
Yes, l think so,' said Dan. "T
met her for a moment on the beach
at Cherbourg this morn,ng, and
she mentioned that she was with
her father"
Ali" commented Chevrial,
And now tell me more about this
journalism of yours, of which we
hear so much. Is it really freeg Is
1T not true that most of your pa
pers r controlled by wealthy
syndlcates, who use them for their
own purposesi"
This was a red flag to the bull,
and Dan plunged into a defense Of
American Journalism, citing in
stances and proofs, telling Of in
|cidents in his own experiences
showing that most editors really
have consciences by which they
are guided, and a high conception
OF their duty to the public.
There I exceptions, of
course Dan went on, carried
away by his subject; there are
scoundrels in the newspaper bust
ness, just as in all businesses but
1t; is one Of the beautifI.Aaws Of
compensation that, just as soon as
g newspaper goes wrong, its influ-
1ence begins to slip away from it