Marble Hill press., 1920-11-11

dhul Stuart Ncpstttt neck Cutne
out OF his collar with the suddenness
OF turtle swapping at a hy: he drew
himself up beside the top berth until
his face was on level with his unbid.
den guests upon whom he bent look
Of mingled emotions
"who the devil are your he de-
manded.
Il regret have no card. hut even II
| had II would be no kindness 10 infilci
upon an American gentleman th. cog.
nomcn my parents honorcd me with.
for IL Il long and many .jolnted. Ike a
peanut. and embodles the names OF all
the saints In the calendar Moreover.
Just nj present am travelling Under
an alias am known Us Mr. Andrew
Bowers"
And your occupationr' Webster
managed TO articulate.
Valet De chambrc 20 that prince OF
gentlemen. Mr.. John S. Webster" the
other replied with u mlschieyous CLEAN
In his dark eyes.
Mr., Webster sat down Imply on the
settee. lie was undecided whether TO
roar with laughter or shrick with rage.
while he struggled for decision An.
drew Bowers blew smoke rings at the
ceiling.
Haven't seen you beforei- Web
ster qucricd presently.
Il wouldn't be surprised. drove
you down TO the steamer In n taxi half
m hour ago. You will recall that the
taxi driver carried your luggage
aboard"
Webster sazed around the stateroom.
Where have you hidden your liveryT'
he demanded.
Il wrapped Il In newspaper: then.
seeking n moment when the deck out.
side WAS deserted. stepped forth In
my beg your pardon, your-pg JamAs
and tossed Il overheard"
"But apparently you did aot bring
aboard with you suit OF clothes TO
take the place Of your llycryT
quite Fundamentally so. Mr.
Webster Perhaps you Will accept my
desperate need as an excuse for bor-
rowing your paJamaS. notice you
have another suit Of them. Fortunate
man"
Andrew Bowers wns a man of per.
hapS thirty years. Eve feet ten inches
tall. and apparently In excellen, health.
He might have weighed hundred aud
seventy pounds and he was undenlably
handsome.
While Webster was wondering
whether his companion was merely
h!gh-class tramp or an abSconding
bank cashier, Il knock sounded on the
stater0Om door. He opened Il and the
purser stood in the entrance.
Ticket, please he announced.
Webster surrendered both tickets,
receiving In turn two seat checks for
the dining saloon. and the purser
passed on 10 the next cabin.
Andrew Bowers smiled small. pre-
scIent smile. but said nothing. and
presently John Stuart Webster broke
the silence. WELL" he ordered, sing
the song or tell the story"
II noticed you surrendered my ticket
to the purser," the young man an.
swered irrelevantly, "and am glad OF
that. | take 1t as prima facie evidence
that you have made up your mind TO
accept my company"
You're too internally cool and cock
sure. my friend" Webster warned him
testify. II pride myself on n sense Of
humor and | dearly love a Joke Until
it's carried too far, but be .dvised In
time. young man, and don't try to play
horse with me. My acceptance or non
acceptance Of you is subject for fu-
ture discussion, since at present we
have some fiduciary matters before us.
You owe me fifty dollars for your tick
ct, Andrew Bowers, and In view OF the
fact that I never saw you before to-
day. suppose we start the voyage By
squaring the account"
Andrew Bowers sat up In the berth
and let his legs drape over the side.
Mr.. Webster" he began seriously. ~.
prior to the arrival OF the purser to col
lect the tickets, you had handed my
ticket to me. saying: Here is your
ticket, Mr.. Bowers. Be kind enough
to reimburse me to the extent OF fifty
dollars should have been compelled
to admit then, as I do now, that |
haven't fifty dollars. Fortunately for
me, however, you surrendered the tick |
ct to the purser before acqualnting
yourself with the state of my for
tunes; the voyage has commenced and |
whether you like It or not. my dear sir. |
I am your guest from now until we
reach San Buenaventura. Rather an
interesting situation, don't you think?"
John Stuart Webster was of Scotch |
ancestry. He had hereditary re-
gard for baubees. He was business |
man. Prodigal spender though he was
and generous to fault, the fact re-
malned that he always made It point
to get value received. and he was prod
igal with his own money: he preferred
that the privilege Of prodigality with
the Websterian funds should remain
an inalienable prerogatiye Of the sole
member Of the Webster fau-