Evening star., 1924-07-06

The senior lounged all day in the cap
tains chair. asleep or awake. we couldn't
tell which, and 1 doubt II he could.
Madame read bits Of her novel. con-
versed with US en- bloc. or flirted with
us-oh, in a perfectly nice way-seria-
tim. She took to singing to us, too
little French songs in the saloon after
dinner ooh. she sang them very badly, l
admit. There was no chance Of living
for them that way. But we liked it,
And the children larked about all over
the ship. generously included US in their
games. and made US forget, from time
to time, our troubles. Which were, be
it observed. the barren prospects Of the
family Of the Senor Cidaro.
We got lower and lower in our minds
as the time drew on for them to leave
US. Already the coast line we were fol-
lowing belonged to that cruel state that
had abolished senor's job; that had
turned adrift the faithful No, he
probably hadn't been faithful. And it
was inconceivable that he'd ever been
any good. Well, anyhow, another day or
two would see them going ashore to con-
front, helpless but confding. a coldly
hostile world. There appeared to be
nothing for us to do but to 60 our ways
and leave them to its mercies-such as
they were. We had exhausted words
upon the subject. We met one another
on deck with sighs and shakes Of the
head, and everybody knew what every
body else was thinking about. Except
ing always, Mr.. Brangwyn.
y x +
THE last evening of all-it was a
= fine, still moonlight night. too
was dreadtully forlorn. We avoided one
another as much as we could and. more
or less. the family. We ought, of course.
to have pitched in and been jolly, but
this was fairly beyond our powers. We
were already at anchor off the little
port where they were to disembark. and
all there was to wait for was daylight.
AS l strolled forward where there
weren't many Iights and one could see
Of the casuals leaning against the rail.
I'd better join them. l thought. I'd hard
~ spoken to her since dinner. She was
speaking as 1 came up, in that carrying
voice Of hers.
EFT alors-" She filled in a rather
long pause with a sigh and l stopped
where 1 was. "-Demain
The casual made a gesture toward
the heavens. I'll sera. toujours, la
lune," he said, in that perfectly rot
ten French he was-so proud of. III
sera-
l wheeled around and went all the
way aft to the smokeroom. No one
used the smokeroom very much. II
was upholstered in damp leather. and
it was about the size and shape Of a
compartment in a continental railway
carriage. But tonight l found Mr.
Brangwyn there, and / was rather
glad of it. He was an oasis in the
encircling gloom. He encouraged me
cigar.
I've got to turn out early tomor-
row morning and go ashore he said
He seemed a little bored by the pros
pect, but half amused, too His ex-
cellency wants me to come up to
lunch with him."
The President" 1 exclaimed. Has
he come down from thhe capital?'
NO." said Mr.. Brangwyn. I've got
to go up. He, says he's sending spe-
ciaL Ltrain that'1l leave about o'clock
and send me back in another in time
for dinner on board"
Stv N-- No.
tured. From the stories they tell,
sort of combination French apache and
American confidence man. l don't know
whether I'd care to lunch with him
or motif 1 happened to possess any
thing I thought he might happen tc
want"
AT least half the stories are prob.
ably more than half. true," Mr.
Brangwyn paused a moment before
passing further judgment. ''Wher
he robs it's generally on a large scale
and when he murders there are gen
orally mitigating circumstances-po-
litical necessity, and SO on. He's sc
much betterr than any of his neigh.
bors that relatively l consider him
honest. Really, you know, l like
him. And 1 think he likes me. I've
never asked him for anything, ano
he knows it's no use trying to hole
me up, as you Americans say. so we
get on famously. II ever 1 broke m,
rule for anybody in all this devilisf
hole of country, I'd break it fol
him and invite him to my house"
\ = \
LIE saw / was looking rather sur
L L prised at that. "Of course,
have to entertain a great DEAL" h.
explained. but 1 have a separate
house for that. A sort of privat,
club where all these thieves ant
rapscallions can come. / go dowI
there and dine with 'em, and so on
Make themselves at home-latchstrini
always out, and all that. But wher,
/ live keep for decent people, ant
I've never found any one yet that II
invite there. To Be svrs. Pvs lived herr
only twenty yearA"