Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14

collected from strange tribes throughout
'he seven seas Forward. an open pas
sage guarded only by silently swinging
doors led to the stewards pantry, ana
various storerooms beyond, while beside this
opening broad, ,brassraied stairway led
easily to the upper deck. Sunlight touched
the edge of the companionway and hickered
down through haf-opened skylight above,
yielding cheerfulness to the scene, yet in
r,ting to the open air. | would meet those
with whom | was destined to companion Oh
this voyage across summer seas
/ paused in the shelter of the companion,
feeling now more decidedly the movement
of the vessel and realizing that we were
| encountering strong head wind with
fairly heavy sea. This but contributed to
my enjoyment of the scene. and at first
my whole attention was concentrated on
the wide expanse of green water white
capped and shimmering beneath the suns
rays. To the right extended the beautinll
Long Island shore, plainly visible
could perceive all the houses of village
while on the other hand the broad expanse
of the Sound appeared deserted except for
single distant sail Showing white against
the water.
Before me, the spotlessly clean deck of
the Esmeralda extended almost to the butt
of the foremast, the emergency boom
strapped tightly out of the way and pro-
teCteu DN tdTpdulIl, every lOpt chu
fully coiled, three white boats locked in
the davts at either side, their canvas covers
buttoned down firmly. The white paint
shone in the sunshine and the brasswork
glittered dazzlingly, The vessel was. IN.
| deed a picture of rare beauty as she raced
bravely forward, rising buoyantly to the
waves the wind singing through the taut
rigging aloft. My eyes followed the grace
, full sweep Of the low, open rail to the
very peak of the forecastle, where group
| of sailors in uniforms of white duck, were
| gathered beside the windlass. Above them,
| his hand on the butt of the bowsprit, STOOD
| a s.;itary figure the lookout, as clearly
| out.sled against the blue or the SKY as
| though chiseled from marble.
| The deck, amidships. was clear, not even
| so much as a closed hatch disfiguring the
level surface. Beyond was the bridge. with
| it's rails of cleaning brass and below. an
| open door facing aft, revealed the chare
| house.
| I could see enough of its interior from
| where / stood to discern table ana sew
| eral chairs, with the outlines OF map
hanging against the further wall. Above
! arose the wheelhouse while on the narrow
bridge two officers, uniformed in dark.oiue'
with white caps, moved back and forth' OF
| stood motionless, binoculars to their eyes,
MYSTERY EXPLAINED
|
| this mystery was sooon explained as l
| stepped to one side and glanced ait Inc
| cabin projection was not high. yet SUM-
| GENTLY so to break the force of the head
| wind. and besides was far enough ad-
| yanced to give ample deck space at 'ne
stern. Here an awning had been erec'eo'
| and beneath it's shelter were gathered the
| vessels guests All visible were men ana
| their occupation, as we'll as their careless
| ness of Dress assured me instantly there
| we're no women aboard. The trip, as nat
| urally inferred, was to be strictly INFORMAL
| an outing of good fellows. l recognized ou,
| three in the group-Carrington, rediaced
| and wbite-haired. q cigar gripped in his
| teeth. giving some instructions to the stew
| ard Fosdick tall slim, thin-lipped, a law
| yer we'll known to corporations VINO desired
| to keep Just within legal restrictions, SAT
| at a table, his hand lingering halt-niied
glass. while he talked to the men opposite
ond McConn. fat. good -natured, born to his
fathers millions, who amused himsel py
| the pretense of being broker, interrupting
| the game of cards in which he was engaged
with three others to tell the latest story Oh
| the street. Personally. l cared little Tor
| either Of these men. yet mad known poth,
in a way. for some time. The others, 1uas
| ing from outward appearances, had peen
| oornitad from about the same class-busi'
| noss acnuaintances of Darlington, no doubt ;
| nen whose friendship he might need, and
who would naturally appreciate hisA cour
| tesy: perchance a copper pool was planned
| and this pleasant opportunity taken 10 get
them all together. This. was, indeed, quite
,n;,Ia and might account for my invi-
| tation as we'll for Darlington was aware
| "a Idle money The vague suspicion
| nausod me TO smile as l went forward
| arsating those whom i knew, and being
duIv presented to the others
Jolly GOOD FELLOWS
yho,ever they might have been in a
| s,nass yay. and for that / cared abso-
,Mtn,,, nothing, they proved themselves q
| nost communicable bunch or fellows 10
roeet two of them mentioning pleasantiy
i that they had known my father, and one
s., somewhat younger man named SHAW
o,.in,ing TO have chummed with me the
\, ,aar haSore at a banquet In Chicago. hos
All, cIun9 10 me like a long-lost brother
sa .,,,a me next the rail. our, conversation
drTfting toward the prospect OF war III
Eurone a number of others soon became
Interested and gathered about us IN
rro,n Fosdick cynically sneered at tne
soIp matter. arguing that 1t was merely
WIZ ,.,snaner sensation: that CIVILIZATION
aSyanced altogether too f3r to ever
| ,arr,it of another great war cohtehueo
ptbarwise. feeling assured that human ma,
ture had not vitality changed wShin u,s s
space Of few years, ana s ."ao aonhe, .he "''''
was still far from the Gnu :.
others Joined in the .siscussionGshaw
IA St schwab. the latter. evidently OF German
anu s.v hecoming rather bitter In review
ing the causes Of the trouo'e'
- The memory Of that first meal n the SINUS nus
..nt,, ~ the Esnieralda remains mos
.tsasa ~ recollection. = Whatever ahinosty
i pa hesn sngendered on deck seemed te
wsn,.h instantly as we took our place,
ssn .t 49, hospitabie table. The cabin hat
sy soSS' SSsksrsd. ~ and. the .oft !ight Of