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

stood together by the rail, a little
distance away. One of them was
the man with the white hair. The
other was evidently a tourist, from
his costume, and though he was
clean shaven, some instinct caused
Dan to classify him as a German
He glanced back at Chevrial at
last, but the latter was gazing
dreamily out over the water and
Sitting a little yawn with his
hand.
your pardon, M. Webster" he
said. "But | arose very early this
morning, in order to catch my
train, and l am tired. I think that
shall lie down for a few moments
before dinner. Au revoir."
Dan sat on by himself for a little
while; then it suddenly occurred
to him that, if he looked about, he
might find the dark eyed girl alone
somewhere. He leaped to his feet
and began the search. She was
not on the promenade deck, nor
In the library. and he had about
decided that she had returned to
her stateroom, when it occurred to
him that she might be on the boat
deck. SO he climbed the narrow
stair and emerged upon that lofty
eyrie. No, she could not be here
it was too windy; then, as he
glanced around, he saw, through
the deepening twilight, a dark fig
ure sitting on a bench in the lee of
one of the boats.
Could it be she? He hesitated
to approach near enough to be
sure; but at last he mustered up
courage to stroll past. And then,
in an instant, his cap was off and
his hand extended.
81 can't tell you how glad l am
that you are on the boat" he be-
gan. "May / sit DOWN."
"Certainly,' and she moved a
little, locking up at him, smiling.
II am glad, too"
care you? It's nice of you to
say so, anyway. A voyage is so
dull if there is no one to talk to.
OF course, there is always some
one to talk to-but | don't mean
that kind of talk. [ mean plumb
ing the depths-you know, that
sort Of thing"
"You think I can plumb the
depthsY"
"You certainly plumbed mine
this morning. Not that l have any
great depths" he added, laugh
ing; "but your line touched bot
tom, and gave me a new feeling
which | think was good for me.
Now, since we re going to know
each other, | want to introduce
myself. My name is Webster
named after the real Daniel, but
called Dan so that future histor-
lans can distinguish between us
and | earn a precarious living by
chasing news for a New York pa
per-"
And my name,' she responded
instantly, els Kasia Ward; and |
have earned a precarious living in
many ways-I have worked in fac
tory, | have sold papers, have
even cleaned the Streets"
"Cleaned the st~reets?" he re-
peated incredulodsly.
"Oh, that was not in America"
she said. "It was at Warsaw. In
Poland, just as in many other
countries Of Europe, the streets
are cleaned by the women and
children: The men, you see, T
needed for the army"
There was a bitter irony in her
voice which drew him closer.
II have seen women and chill
dren working in the fields; in Hol-
land | saw them helping tow the
boats and working in the brick
yards. That was bad enough. But
l never have seen them cleaning
the streets"
"Did you go to Munich o.
"No.'
"You would have seen them do
ing it there-as they do it all over
Germany. Had you gone to Chem
nita, you would have seen them
carrying the hod."
She fell silent, and Dan leaned
back, strangely moved. How
young he was; how little he knew!
Here was this girl, certainly not
more than 20, who had lived more,
felt more, thought more than he
had ever done; who had ideals.
*4&
Miss Vard,'' he said finally,
in a low voice, permit me to tell
you something. | am just an aver
age fellow with an average brain,
who has gone about all his life