San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-09

Drawing the silk curtain from the
port hole, Helen looked out on the
black wind-ruffled sea.
There was no moon, but the sky be-
tween the clouds was family powdered
with stars.
How much more fearsome the ocean
seemed at night. How menacing that
great black unknown. And last night
in all that wild storm! =.
What desperation must have goaded
Mrs. Carlson to that awful plunge:
Where had she stood? Was it from
this deck, or the boat deck above!
Nothing was missing from her state
room-not even her steamer coat. She
must have leaped into the icy waters
in the evening gown and chiffon wrap
she had worn at dinner.
Hello, you up yet" Warren
banged in. "They say now we'll dock
before eight" tossing his steamer cap
on the rack over his berth. Sign out
there-breakfast at six-thirty."
Dear, can think of nothing but
Mrs. Carlson" shudderingly, turning
from the portfolio. What a tragic
home coming for him J"
pretty tough" hanging his coat on
the back of the door.
There's nothing you can dog now
taking down her hair before the mir
rored cabinet. "You haven't seen
him."
won't see anybody Still locked
in his stateroom." Winding his watch,
he slipped it into the wall-pocket by
III heard that one of the passengers
saw her leaning over the rail. When
he came up, she hurried away"
"Huh, you can hear anything" put
ting his shoes outside the door. More
gossip floating around this boat! Lot
of old clucks with nothing else to do"
Listen! Isn't that her dog crying
again?"
Turning back to the open portfolio.
Helen heard faint yelp from the dog
kennels on the boat deck, just over
their Deck A stateroom.
"Dear, he's cried all day! Couldn't
l bring him down here for the night?"
Don't allow dogs in the state
rooms" thrusting his wallet under his
pillow. "And you couldn't get him
anyway. They keep those kennels
locked"
"But one bar is loose. He's so little,
I can slip him through. And don't
care whether they allow it or not! 1
can't let him cry all night"
"Now you're not going up there this
time of night. That dogs all right.
Don't have to worry about dogs on a
Cunard boat: They know how to take
care of EN-"
Again Helen listened at the port
hole. No sound now except the swish
of the waves. Reluctantly she slipped
off her dinner gown.
Half an hour later, lying in the
darkened room, with Warren sleeping
audibly in the berth opposite, she
heard again that faint piteous whine.
Why had not Mr.. Carlson taken him
to his stateroom? Then she remem-
bered that it was on the other side,
and he had not left it since the
tragedy.
What he must be suffering now
His renorsei * a.. -
From the first day of the voyage
he had flirted outrageously with that
French actress. He had even dined in
her de luxe suite. leaving his wife to
go down to the dining salon alone--a
delectable scandal for all the avid Cos
sipers on board.
That they had been married only
six months, and were returning from
their bridal trip, made his neglect the
more conspicuous. And her alteration
for him had been all too evident.
Every day she had sat in her deck
chair, watching him walk up and down
with the vivid Mile. Vaulet.
What had he seen in this French
woman?' Was it her exotic perfume.
her bizarre clothes? His wife, though
rather plain, had been charmingly
feminine.
Again that pitiful barking!
Warren was asleep. Why could she
not bring the dog down? 1t could lie
on that steamer rug at the foot of her
bed.
She was up now, noiselessly getting
into her clothes. Her long coat
thrown over her negligee, she stole out,
down the now dimly-lit corridor, and
out on the wind-swept deck.
1t was after midnight, and the great
Aquitania seemed deserted. SILVER
ingly, Helen shrang from going up on
the top deck alone.
Another mournful whine overcame
her reluctance Holding tight to the
rail, she climbed up the companion
way.
NOW WIFI tut bhs
above her, she felt less afraid. There
was a protecting familiarity in the
Great Dipper and the North Star.
Threading her way past shadowy
tunnels, she was soon at the kennels.
STOPPING by the third cage, she raised
the sheltering canvas.
Instantly the crying ceased, and a
moist eager nose was thrust through
the bars.
''Yes, I'll take you out! Poor little
doggie, you were so lonely. No, wait,
i haven't key. I'll have to get you
through these bars"
An approaching step! A cautious,
stealthy step.
Terrified, Helen turned to find a
dark figure moving toward the ken
nels. Then beneath the wind-blown
coat she caught the reassuring glimpse
of stewardess' white uniform.
Il came up to get this little dog"
as the startled stewardess drew back.
Hes been crying all day. Will you
help me take him out-this bars
loose"