The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-02-26

% you think Of the French
pine. They're in,mense"
That's the regular question
and the enthusiastic answer.
when Americans meet over here.
What IL the French attitude
toward Americauss Confidence.
calm confidence: q confidence a.
superior ~ that which they have
In themselves. And u isn't mis-
placed. Wen make good That's
cur PET passion
On the steamer. coming over,
some Of the helpful souls con
ecived and executed counter ir.
Sisant to the apprehended danger
aone. and n member Of the medical
staff OF the L. 3. army. whom We
shall call Lieutenant BIZ. was ap-
pointed chairman of the committee
u ono on costumes and properties.
from which time forth he was is-
omDfocsly called Props" He was
summoned Immediately after the
lAbretts committee had heid It's pre-
Hminary session. and his first and
enly question was characteristic.
Wen be smiled. producing pen
eli and paper. give me a list OF what
YIN want
Thsy did. They laid II before him.
then loftity left him alone In his
stup~faction. With reckless disre
gard Of wartime restrictions. they
had planned a grand. giitterins al
legoricai masque. combined with
magnificent male ballet: and all they
wanted was costumes for Neptune.
two golden-tressed he-mermaids, sew
erai other principals. and IA beauti-
full wavelets OF the Atlantic ocean!
Lieutenant Bill Gets Busy
Some five minutes later Lieuten-
ant Bill came briskiy out OF that
iittr. salon, and confidently inter
viewed the six lady passengers OF
the ship. He finished thoso inter
views a sadder and a wiser man.
such ladies' as were aboard in
these strenuous times were on no
frivolous errands. and they had not
individually or collectively, enough
broad. blue ribbon to make a fllet
for the hair. bow. a streamer. and
a wide bilIow for even one beautiful
wave of the Atlantic ocean. LET alone
IL. Thought on the part OF Props
He went TO the second steward. VINO
sent him to the first steward. who
sent him to the linen steward. who
. raas. him to the purser.
The purser listened attenuveiy.
razfng awhile on the unfaitering de-
termination Of Lieutenant Bill. and
mentioned the only ray OF hope
Among the flags which were used
for signals and salutes. there might
possibly be some blue bunting. but
the only man who could give him
permission 10 use that. IL there were
any. was the skipper.
Where is the skipper asked
Lieutenant Bill.
"Huhr' The purser laughed. and
shrugged his shoulders. The cap
tain is on the bridge"
II was a beautifully clear and
starlit night. and the sea was calmly
giittering its diamonds from
horizon TO horizon: an ideal night
for submarines. had any chanced TO
cross our path; and we had just
entered the so-calIed danger zone
Out on the darkened deck, where
no smokers smoked and no CLEAN or
crack Of light was allowed 20 be visl
bic from within. went Lieutenant
Bill, and considered. ZIP there in the
drnness was the bridge. with the
head OF the skipper motioniessly sill
ha4etted against the midnight sky.
Skipper Aroused
To port and starboard, smidships
and fore and aft were the gun
crews, in their queer night uniforms
Ike gobllns out Of some weird fan.
,asy, and all motionless In their cat.
like watchfulness Equally motion
less stood Lieutenant Bill at the bot
torn OF. the narrow companionway.
until at last duty drove him on
slowly he climbed the steps. on a
sudden, like the crack Of gun
there came from out q the cool at
nosphere up above the iraacible
voice OF the nerve.strained skipper
WHO In blazes il that?"
Lieutenant william So-an.so." re-
turned Props deferentially, standing
still in his tracks.
'Lieutenant WHAT ragped the
E.pper.
"Onc OF the passengers. sir"
what In blazes do you want7"
We'll. captain" explained Lieuten.
ant Bill. drawing a long breath. as
he braced himself for the effort.
"we'rs getting up a little entertain
0nat. and II you could let us have