The Raymer enterprise., 1920-03-18

not be possible TO so disguise my.
self US to become unnoticeable? |
sprang up to stare at my features In
the small mirror hanging over the
washstand. The face which confront.
ed me In surprise was almost a
strange one even to my eyes. Instead
OF the smart young soldier. smoothly
shayen. with closely trimmed hair, apd
rather carefully attired. as | had ap-
peared on board the Warrior, the glass
reflected bearded face. the skin Wis.
ibly roughened and reddened by e1-
posure, the hair ragged and uncombed.
Even TO my view there remained
scarcely q familiar feature-the lack
OF razor and shears. the exposure to
sun and water. the days OF sickness
md neglect. had all helped to trans
form me Into totally different
appearing person from what had for
merly been; the officer md gentleman
had. by the mystery Of environment.
been changed into the outward sem.
blanee OF river roustabout. Nor WIS
this all. The new character was EN-
phasized by the clothes | wore-far
too large to ft; also the texture and
color, not to mention the dirt and
grease, speaking loudly Of rough
life and the vicissltudes OF poverty.
The metamorphosis was complete; so
complete that laughed aloud. assured
by That one glance that the gambler,
confident that | was dead, would never
by any possibility recognize me In this
gulse, o. while habIlItated In such
nondes:zipt garments.
But the girl-Renel And SO this
was now | had appeared to her. No
wonder she questioned me; doubted
my first explanation. had up.
preached her confident that my ap-
pearance as a gentleman would awak-
en- her trust; had felt myself to be
a most presentable young man, In
whom she must instantly repose faith
Yet this had not been true ut all
Instead | came to her with the out
ward bearing OF worthless vaga-
bond, a stubble-bearded outcast. And
yet she had trusted me; would trust
me again. More: she could never be
deceived. or fail to recognize my pres
ence aboard II she had the freedom OF
the deck. Kirby might be deceived.
but not Rene. II could only plan to
meet with her first alone. the peril OF
her recognition would not be extreme,
But | must also figure upon the
olher woman. Who could she bel Not
Elolse Beaucaire surely, for the mate
had only mentioned oue OF the two as
being sufficiently white TO be notice.
able That one would surely be Rene,
and II was scarcely probable that
Elolse, with no drop Of negro blood in
her veins. could appear colored Per.
haps this second woman was Della,
the quadroon mother. But II SO how
did she chance to fall alone into Klr-
bys clutches? Was she aboard the
keelhoat, locked below In the cabin,
when II rammed into us7 II she had
been captured at Shrunk's camp dur.
Ing their murderous raid, what had
become Of her companon2 Where was
Eloise Beaucalre7 The harder
sought to straighten out this mystery
the more Involved 1t became.
With every additional glance at the
face reflected by the mirror my conf.
dence strengthened In the ability TO
encounter Kirby and pass unrecog-
nlzed. Convinced as he undoubtedly
was OF my death In the black waters Of
the river he could not possibly imag-
Inc my presence aboard the Advep.
turef. while my personal appearance
was so utterly changed as 10 suggest
to his mind no thought OF familiarity.
The conditions We're all In my favor.
! was smiling grlmly at this coneelt.
well pleased ut the chance thus nf.
forded me, when the stateroom door
was suddenly flung open and the hairy
face OF the mate thrust within.
u reckon yer better tote them wet
duds down ter the boiler room" he
said grufily, "an' then git sum grub.
Likely 'nough yer wouldn't mind
eatin' a bit. Be yer river man?r
I've never worked on a steamboat,
II that Is what you mean"
No; well. ! reckoned not. but the
captain he thought maybe yer had. |
toll him yer didn't talk like no steamer
hand. Howsumever. we're almighty
short o. help aboard. an maybe yer'd
like job ter help pay yer way?"
My fingers involuntarily closed on
some loose goldpieces in my pocket.
but a sudden thought halted me. Why
not1 In what better way could |
escape discovery As an employee
OF the boat would 90 about the decks
unsuspected and unnoticed. Kirby
would never give me a second thought
or glance. while the opportunity thus
Afforded Of speaking to Rene and be-
Ing OF service to her would be immeas-
urably Increased. | withdrew my
hand. swiftly deciding my course Of
action.
II suppose I might as well earn a
bit" admitted. hesitatingly. "only |
had about decided I'd enlist II the
war was still going on when we got up
| thosau