Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-08-05


a straight run OUT"
Prince Won Diss staggered into the
smoke room. He seemed smaller than
ever in his nautical blue serge, and he
was perhaps not quite such good
sailor as the others. He was certainly
looking little pinched.
"Mr. Slattery," he said IN a loud and
important tone, 81 have been talking
to your navigator. Isn't It almost
time we altered our course? We have
been out of sight of land for an hour
and more"
"I expect Capt Martin knows what
he's about" Grant observed, coolly.
Come and try this whisky, Prince, or
would you prefer brandy and soda?''
Il never drink spirits" was the
prompt reply. Wine, if you have
any"
Il have some Clicquot-a very eZ-
cellent year"
ct will drink some Cucquot," Prince
Won Diss decided.
They all sat down again while the
steward produced an ice pail. There
was a disposition on Blunn's part 70
forget that they had been drinking
whisky and soda. Grant managed TO
slip away. He reached the deck and
sat down by Gertrude's side.
Really" she observed, with her
eyes fixed upon the horizon, I'VE might
almost be taking that sea voyage
He smiled.
"A marvelously favorable wind"
Are they all right" she asked.
dropping her voice a little.
Perfectly contented, SO far. They've
begun on champagne now after whisky
and soda. I'm hoping that they may
| feel like nap before dinner.
Champagne she murmured. That's
Otto, I'm sure. He never drinks any
thing else. I don't think, though,
she went on, that you'll ever get him
| When do you think the trouble will
| Gomez"
Not until after dinner" Grant as-
sured her. ''I shall set the course a
| little differently before then. AS soon
| as it is necessary to get steam UP 7
| shall be sent for down to the engine
ROOM
Really, life might have been very
| amusing" she sighed, If only
1T will be amusing enough pres
emily" he interrupted. Il can see
| that your husband is already in rather
| an uncertain mood-ready to make
trouble at the slightest provocation.''
Our friend the baron, I should
| think, will remain perfectly philoso-
| phical. especially if he has already
| touched the fifty thousand pounds
| 1SL Il uuS uSC4clt Gu 1t Inc i11OEL
| colorless person I have ever met"
Cornelius Blum came out Of the
smoking room and walked toward
them. His expression was inclined to
! be thoughtful. He stood for a mo-
ment watching their course. Then he
| looked at the sun.
You'll have a long beat back" he
| remarked TO Grant.
'I shall steam back the latter told
| him. We're sailing now-for one
thing, because it's so much pleasanter,
| and the women enjoy 1t So"
I'm not nautical man." Blum
! confessed, but / presume IL would be
! impossible to get back under canvas"
with this wind it would take us at
| least "a hours" Grant acknowledged.
| Il don't think we should make it then.
| Nowadays every yacht of any size has
auxiliary power of a sort"
I'VE would wish TO avoid even the
| appearance OF interfering with your
arrangements" Blum said, but you
| will not forget that our friend, Baron
| thunderstorm, is a delegate. That
| means he must leave for Nice at 9
| o'clock tomorrow morning"
| He'll be back before midnight"
1T is rather a pity Lord Yeovil was
not able TO join US. We should have
| felt quite safe with him here"
He and Lymane are hard at it, get
ting things ready for tomorrow" Grant
| explained. ut isn't very often he
misses a day on the sea. What about
a rubber Of bridge before dinner? III
| order a table"
He strolled away. Blum turned to-
ward Gertrude. He looked at her for
a moment thoughtfully.
Has anything about this cruise
struck you as being in any way pecu-
| liar?' he asked.
why, no." she replied. 1T all
seems very pleasant. Mr.. Slattery is
a wonderful host"
"Marvelousr' he assented. Still, T
don't quite see why he's standing such
a long way out or why he was so par
ticularly anxious TO have thunderstorm
as a guest. thunderstorm is not an at
tractive man
LAS matter of fact. it was I who
suggested him." she admitted. "And
having once mentioned his name, I
suppose Mr.. Slattery was trying to be
| civil"
'It was you who suggested him.
Blum repeated thoughtfully. "Ah,
well, we shall see expect I'm being
very foolish. We shall soon know
II don't know about being foolish,
but you're very mysterious" Gertrude
said, with slightly uplifted eyebrows.
ut is because I am on the scent of
a mystery" he replied. "A crude nys-
terry, a clumsy affair, without a doubt
but still a mystery. We shall see.''
1t was a significant fact to Cornelius
| Blum that cocktails were introduced
before the accustomed time and
pressed upon every one to the limits
| of hospitality. Grant, himself, who
was, as a rule, exceedingly mod
crate, set an example by drinking
! one every time thew came around
and when they descended into the
saloon for dinner, there We're mag
NUNS of champagne upon the table
| When we get on deck after din
ner," he announced, I'VE shall be
headed for the land and under
steam"
AT what time do you propose to
get rid of us?" Gertrude asked
I'm time for final fiutter at the
Casino, if you're keen about it," he
assured her.
The SERVES of dinner proceeded.
The wine circulated, conversation,
which had languished at ffrSt, soon
| became gay, even uproariouS. Cor
nelius Blum alone seemed to be
scarcely in his usual spirits. He
| lokoed often out of the portfolio:
more than once he glanced at the
clock.
What about the course, now?" he
asked. his host once.
1--WE are round by this time" Grant
answered. You'll hear the engines
directly"
Another half hour passed, however,
and the engines remained silent.
Then one of the junior officers came
in and whispered in Grants ear. He
laid down his table napkin.
NAV / be excused for a minute ?"