Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-25
CONTINUED FROM LAST sunday

SiohotohOoS' hS
~ drew away from the rail and
searched the decks for his school
teacher, but could not find her
Doubtless she WAS preening up for
the jaunt ashore.
The daughter OF man who had
died in poverty-the single rift in the
fog which enveloped her. ! must con-
fess that William laid sly IL innocent
little traps, all of which she walked
around serenly. That all was not well
with her he had been assured fire.
quently. The ruminative somberness
which at times overcast her counte-
nance-at moments when she thought
she was MISUNDERSTANDING Will
liam that she was unhappy. H..
There were no rings on her fingers,
but William knew that married wom-
en- no longer wore their wedding
rings year in and year out as in his
mothers day. Was she running away
from something?
Once he had tiptoed around to his
chair-it was at the hour when she
generally dozed--to find her staring
wide-eyed at little chamois bag such
as women carried their jewels iM At
the sight OF him she gave a little gasp
and thrust the bag into the bosom
OF her dress. She smiled almost at
once; but William would have pre-
fePred a frown. Was there anything
in that chamois bag she was afraid
he might see? The haste with which
she had striven to hide it was not
normal.
no n,,1u t.rn fN,- t,xrn Il
ought to have no mysteries.
Diminishing these unpleasant cogita
lions, william strolIed around to the
starboard side. Leaning over the rail
were his two ancients. For once they
were not arguing. AS there was space
in between them, William shouldered
in, smiling as usual. He was not
above hectoring Greenwood. a flicker
Of the old-time gamin in his heart.
In his way William was growing
fond Of them both, for he could APP
preciate that these two lonely old men
were heroes in their quiet. undemon-
strative manner. One had gone into
the very heart of China, in the days
when such an exploit necessitated the
taking Of ones life in the hand. And
for what? To verify a bit of Sanskrit.
whatever that was! And the other
had crossed the Himalayas into Tibet
for the prayer scroll and death mask
IS of a Lama! William was stll in the
dark as to what benefit, If any. hu-
manity derived from such adventures;
but he could readily grasp that these
two played a great game where the
skirts of death could always be heard
rustling.
This is the life" he said.
"You like the sea-"
"Sure ! do. But amt she the cheer
full old liar, though? Look at her
noW-mild as a cat with platter OF
cream. But when she gets her back
up. believe me-"
Know anything about it?" asked
Greenwood. the crochety one. For.
while william was not above hector
ing him, he on his part was not above
laying traps for Williams ignorance.
"Only what ] can see on top"
"Then what is down below does not
interest you?"
ut wouldn't IL was anywhere near
it." cOuntered William, Shrewdly
seeming a trap.
Inc Ola 1eI1OW shrugged, Dul MS
companion smiled. And straightway
he began to uncover the seas floor to
William. His descriptions were sim
pie and untechnical. He liked this
freckle-faced boy. with his boundless
vitality, his fresh enthusiasm, his UNI
falling cheerfulness.
"All new stuff 10 me-" William ad-
mitted. But I thought that you dug
up tombs and the like?"
II do; but to all men of science
there is nothing more fascinating
than the floor of the sea. 1t is be-
cause there are thousand myster-
les down there none of us shall ever
solve. What would interest you most
TO see in the world""
"Why, I'd like to take peek at
all the battlefields first; and then
after that. i shouldn't mind going
back to- Babylon and digging for
Shalmanesers bat bag"
You might at least learn some
thing" said old grumpy.
mo doubt he would. Arthur. You
mustn't forget that once you were his
age"
Eyes. yes. Henrik: but long before
his age ! was always about with my
hammer"
"And. believe me, that little ham.
mer don't seem to be among the miss.