Evening star., 1919-05-11
IRISH

NlIllam GrOganS s two hStS were here
for the asking. In a sense it was
primordial, the ancient male idea, the
warning ffof all other males.
Il did not quite get the name," said
Camden.
"Grogan-William Grogan." said
William. a sardonic grin pulling at
the corners of his mouth.
II mean the young lady's name"
oh" William eyed the racing foam
below speculatively. Miss Jones; not
very hard to remember"
You can't remember anything you
don't hear distinctly. Will you have
cigarette" asked the man Camden,
Offering his case.
Il roll Durham once in a while,
but no dope for mine. Say, l wonder
If there's any professional gamblers
on board? Signs are hanging up in
the smokeroom."
professionals on a trip like this?
Good Lord. no! They'd starve to
death. They ply generally between
New York. Liverpool and Cher
bours."
well, that's too bad thought OF
course there'd be few sharks in this
school of mackerel. I've been building
for weeks on seeing the gambler held
up by some handsome outsider and
the foolish young man, travelling with
the firms money, paid back his losses.
Shucks."
81 don't believe YOU stand in much
danger" Camden narrowed his eyes
as the smoke from his cigarette vol
leyed past his cheek.
'They couldn't take peek at
nickel of mine. This little old letter
of credit" said William, slapping his
coat pocket, "is for expenses only. ]
play game of pinochle once in a
while: but beyond that. nothing do
ing. There's no something for moth
ing on my program. Work and cards
don't mix"
'True enough. l like to gamble for
small stakes. just enough to make
the game interesting. But there1l be
no chance on board the Ajax. There
is, however. a lot of sport in double
canfleld You can knock half day
galley-west with pack of cards
Drop into the smokeroom tonight
and I'll teach you game or two Of
solitaire"
"Thatll be fine. So long as I don't
have to dig in my jeans, any kind Of
a game for mine"
"All right. then; any time after
dinner. Good morning"
William did not leave the rail at
once. He was puzzled. Anything which
did not appear to come in the natuNl1
order of events made him suspicious.
He knew instinctively that he was
not OF the sort of men the Camden
caliher picked out for acquaintance
ship. not even on ship like the Ajax.
What was he really fishing for? Why
should this matinee idol bother to ask
William Grogan what the school
teachers name was when all he had
to do was to look at the dining room
chart" The puzzle was not solvable.
Pumping me, all right. But / know
all about pumps: and a lot you'll get
up through my pipes. Percival."
Nevertheless. he sought his chair,
vaguely perturbed: and it took him
some time to get back into the final
pages of Cellini. He had laid the
book aside and was in a half-dream
when he heard the foot-Nst of the
other chair rattle. He jumped to his
feet
Good morning" he greeted.
Good morning. No. thanks; don't
bother with the rugs. You're a good
sailor, too. it seems. Isn't it wonder
full the sky. the sea. and the wind?
So you've finished Messer Cellini?
Isn't that a tremendous chronicle?
Think of being personal friend OF
Michelangelo and his cotempora-
ries."
Say. If he was alive. we wouldn't
need to worry about white hopes. He
wouldn't spill the beans over a pound
or two in weight"
"Beans?"
Jaw. there GO into the rough neck
stuff again! I've got so used to talk
ing that way l can't help it,"
Perhaps you don't try hard
enough
Say. supposng you start in and
tell me where get off on the straight
talk?"
"You mean correct you? That's a
pretty large order. Suppose you make
1t point not to use slang whenever
you talk to me-"
"Ali right But I'll have to let down
easy. You see, couldn't make myself
~;x 4