Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-25
West Wind Drift
BY GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON
Copyright, 1890, BY George Bo,r Moo..tcheon
THIS STARTS THE STORY

w tbs mysteries OF the ocean. When
x. steamer Is ttcenty-four hours our
.sa " n stotpdpay 10 disooversd. "Cdp-
sair TRIGGER orders that he be brought
.o." Se,s I'm. and presently Officer Mott
Scnsars ,oifh the stor dtooy IN charge"
ASD HERE 1T CONTINUES
.prAIN TRIGGER beheld n we'll set
IN voaing man of medium height, with
s-.sSiv snaven chin and jaws, carefully
,.hsd hair. spotless white shirt and
pI,,or and--reveuled in o. quick glance
rscsntiy scrubbed hands. His brSwi
Norfolk Jacket was open, and he carried
4 brand new. though somewnat shape-
~ had ceased tanning himself with II
=. ,be moment Of entering the captains
s..aerce The keen. good.looktng face
p,aa warm and moist as the result OF
most violent soaping. He wore cordu-
roy riding breeches, caya,ry boots tha'
,"hing Mt the hands Of an energetic and
inng,,,Iv directed bootblack. broad
,.o,hcr belt from which only half an
1sa reouIred to see that a holster had
ssen detached with a becoming regard
sor ncatness. His hair was thick and
AFRAID, met the stern gaze OF the cap
tain with directncss and respect; his lips
"a chin were firm In repose, but they
,n,sbt easily be the opposite IL relaxed
Ne akin was so tanned and wind bitten
Nat the whites Of his eyes were start
snclv defined and vivid. He was not q
.nsy inm yy,an--indeed, one would have been
t"s,,fed in suspectinR him Of being taller
.hon he really was because of the morc
~ ie.s dpceiying erectness with w1ich
Ss carried himself. As a matter OF tact
he was not more than feet 10 or loh'
Captain Trigger eyed him narrowly
for moment
what is your name?"
"A. A. Percivnl, sir
your full name, young man. NO IN.
w,oIs" The stowaway seemed to add
sn inch to his height before replying.
"Aleernon Adonis Percival, sir" he
,,,d very clear note of defiance in his
voice -..,
The captain looked at the first officer
and the first officer. after a brief stare
Al the speaker, looked at the captain.
"It's his right name, you can bet, sir.
saId Mr. Mott, with conviction. Nobody
would voluntarily give himself a name
like that"
"You never can tell about these
Americans. Mr.. Mott" sad the captain
warlly. They've got what they call a
keen sense OF humor, you know"
Mr.. Perclval smiled. His teeth were
very white and even.
plained. THAT ought to account for It.
er." he went on, a trifle defensively.
Cant. Trigger did not smile. Mr.
Mott however, looked distinctly sym
pathetic.
you say you are an American--a citi-
zen Of the United States?" demanded
the former
"Yes sir. My home is in Baltimore
"Baltlmore?" repeated Mr.. Mott quick
iya That's where Mr. Gray halls from
sir," he added, as a sort OF apology
to the captain for the exclamation.
The captains gaze settled on the stow
aways spotless white shirt and collar
Then he nodded his head slowly.
'Mr. Gray is the chief engineer" hi
explained, with mock courtesy.
yes, sir. I know" responded Percival
"He comes Of one Of the oldest and most
highly connected families in Baltimore
He informs me that his father"
Never mind I" snapped the captain
we need not discuss Mr.. Gray's ante.
cedents. How old are y6u?"
Thirty last Friday. sir"
"Married2"
mo, SIR
Parents living" 7' @'
"No, SIR"
"And now, what the devil do you
hiding yourself in the-by the way, Mr.
Mott, where was he hlding?"
Mr.. Mott: 'Tt doesn't seem to be
quite clear as yet, SIR"
Capt. Trigger: whats that7"
Mr.. Mott: II say. It sn't quite clear
We havo only his word for It. You see,
he wasn't discovered until he accosted
Mr., Shannon on the bridge and asked
Capt, Trigger: "On the bridge. Mr.
| MOTIF"
Mr. Mott: That Is to say. sir, Mr.
| Shannon was on the bridge and he was
below on the promenade deck He asked
Mr.. Shannon II he was the captain OF
| the boat"
Capt Trigger: He did, eh7 Well?
Mr. Mott: He was Informed that you
were at breakfast, sir---no one suspect
Ing him Of being a stowaway, of course
and then, 1t appears, he started out
TO look for you. That's how he fell in
with the chief engineer. Mr.. Gray in
forms ME that he applied for work, ad-
mltting that he was aboard without
leave, or passage, or funds-or anything
else, It would seem. But. as for where
he lay In hiding. there hasn't been any
thing definite arrived at as yet. sir. He
seems to have been hiding In q rather
Widespread sort Of way"
Mr. Percival, amiably: Permit me
TO explain. Capt. Trigger. You see. |
have been obliged to change staterooms
three times. Naturally, that might be
expected to create some little confusion
In my mind. began. in the second
CABIN Much to my surprise and cha
grin | found, too late, that the state
room I had chosen--at random, l may
say-was merely in the state of being
prepared for a lady and gentleman who
mad asked to be transferred from a less
desirable one had some dlfficulty in
getting out of It without attracting at
tentlon, l don't know what I should
nave done II the steward hadn't in
FORMED them that he could not move
their steamer trunk until morning. There
wouldn't have been room for both Of us
uhder the lower, SIR. II the gentleman
mad been alone shouldn't have minded
N tne least remaining under his berth,
but he"
Capt Trigger: How did you happen
70 get Into that room, young man? The
uoors are never unlocked when the
rooms are unoccuped."
MI Percival: You are mistaken,
or l found at least three stateroom
uoors unlocked that night and my
search was by no means extensive"
Sapt Trigger: This Is most extra
ofuinary, Mr. Motif true"
sir"
capt Trigger: go on, young man."
a. MT Perclval: II tried another room in
s, ue second cabin. but had to abandon II
Ss sso It had no regular occupant--it
was No, 20. remember - but along
SgIVut %'I.St midnight two men opened the door
s,n w.ln key and came In. They were
rewards. gathered that they were get
sn ns the room ready for some one else,
~ "nen they departed, very quietly, sir
sheaked out and decided to try for
aSWSEmmodations In the first cabin. l."
ut Mott; did you say Stewards"
tnem to be-"
Ispt. Trigger: You are either lying.
souns man. or plun1h crazy''