The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-04-12
o.
VANCE

too young and g~ood-looking to travel
without at least a chaperon. These
transatlantic boats are all alive with
Adventures. Luckily, you now have
me-unless, perhaps, you're too high
spirited to utilize an old woman's in
terest?'
you're very kind" Miss Carteret
murmured-not altogether ~insineerely.
She was too intelligent to be blind to
the advantage of having so thorough
paced a Dowager Dragon to protect
and advise her. And she was any
thing but anxious to incur ill-will by
refusing an offer that, however for
ward, seemed unquestionably to be
dictated by the kindliest spirit.
"rm glad you think so-or have the
grace to say so, at least. So that's
settled. Now tell me more about your
self. Is this your first crossingT
sIt's my first trip home"
Plainly no help for it with this per-
sistently friendly body ~catechizing her,
she might as well now as later stand
and deliver some account of herself.
your first trip home? That means
you've been over a long timer"
"AIl my life," the girl admitted. Il
was born In London, and when was
very young my parents returned to
America, leaving me behind because
they expected to be gone only a little
time. Then my mother died in New
York; and my father went into busi-
ness there, and thought me better off
where I was, In the n of friends,
than with him."
"But surely" this in shocked expos
tulation, 'he came back TO see you y
"oh, indeed he did, often; that is.
considering the difficulties, the long
oyages and the fact that he-isn't
a rich man. But / haven't seen him
recently-not in several years"
"And now you're going to join himF
"Yes," Miss Carteret affirmed in a
voice that betrayed more doubt than
she suspected.
But before her astute inquisitoi
could take advantage of the weakness
her tone suggested there befell an in
terruption. 1t was nothing more ex.
traordinary than a knock on the state
room door; but it brought Miss Car
teret TO her feet with a start, again
pale and trembling.
"Oh !" she cried in alarm. "Oh, what
IS that?" Involuntarily she stepped
back as If to put as much space as
possible between herself and the door
Mrs. Beggarstaff watched her in
open wonder.
'It's only the stewardess. / rams
for her some time ago."
ooh, if that's ALL" Miss Carteret
sat down again.
zone moment, stewardess." Mrs
Beggarstaff looked back at the girl
"You don't object to my letting her in
"Oh, no, mol" Miss Carteret insisted
hastily. "Please don't mind me. Tn
very nervous-haven't been-well.
was startled-that is ALL"
$50 l see" said Mrs. Beggarstaf
with a quizzical accent. "Come inl'
The door opened, admitting a smil
ing, apple-cheeked, middle-aged Eng
lishwoman.
"Shut the door-therei So man.
people running up and down"
But when they were alone again
much to the relief of the girl, Mrs
Beggarstaff failed by any word t.
refer to her recent betrayal of alarm
something hardly to be explainet
other than by open confession-whicl
wouldn't in the least suit Miss Car
teret's book.
SNOW" said the elder woman placid
ly, folding a veil owe a most palpabl
wig, but still a most becoming one
snow I'll hurry on deck and see abou
our chairs, and then interview the sec
ond steward about seats at table.
know most of these people, steward
and all, and generally manage to ge
just about what / want" Mrs. Beg
garstaff added with grim ~self-conceit
ST presume you've no objection to sit
ting beside me? Not that you won
see all you want of me-and more
probably-right here"
"Please," the girl begged, laughing
"IIu be delighted with whatever al
engagements you're kind enough {
make"
"very good, then. And for dinner
IL you please, put on your pretties
frock. Peter Traits aboard, and he
a dear-well worth dressing up for.
The bang of the door as Mrs. Bes
garstaff went out might have been
signal; Immediately the girl beeam
conscious that the ship was In mo
tion-vibrant and sonorous with tn
drone of its turbines.
The voyage of the Alsatia waS o.
gun, and-nothing had happened. Sn
had eluded pursuit, was freei