Evening star., 1926-12-14

They have dancing down there every
day, Mr.. Trumbull. I heard about it..
I saw them yesterday. It's a great
recreation, sir
| Keeler sighed reminiscently and
was answered by an understanding
| nod.
II could see no harm in it," he
| went on. Particularly, sir. after
you'd told the lady about the bullets
! in your legs. We all have our little
faults, Mr.. Trumbull.
Trask blushed.
$50 went down after I'd changed
my clothes. You see, Mr.. Trumbull,
down there it's different from up here.
The first cabin people seem to he
working under a pull all the time, sir.
They don't let go. They're exclu-
sIve, Now, down IN the second cabin
they run things the other way.
tGverybody's having a good time.
They play games and they dance and
they just take things as they come.
It's the way 1 like, sir. There's no
trouble to get acquainted down there.
They take you at your face value,
sir"
rs that the way they took your"
inquired Trask, reinspecting keeier's
raiment.
"Yes, sir; at face value" said
Keeler, a little proudly. 'Anybody's s
wclcome--provided he's gentleman,
Mr.. Trumbull."
And this lady who dances only a
degree better than yourself? Did she
take you at face value?'
Miss Sands?'
IL SEQ that the. name comes rather
readily" observed Trask, grinning.
II danced with her three times, sir.
Lot r,f; lod
She did me the honor, Mr.. Trumbull,
to say that I danced very WELL"
''She didn't go far enough pro
tested Trask. "She ought to have said
that you danced like bare-legged
Russian"
keeler flushed again, but acknowl-
edged the compliment.
rs she also accompanied by
dragonY" asked Trask.
She seems, sir, to be travelling quite
alone. AT least, / met nobody with
her. But down in the second cabin,
Mr.. Trumbull. such things are all
right"
Don't be a snob, Keeler. OF course,
they're all right / wish to heaven
there were no dragons In the first
cabin. Well, go on"
why, that's about all, sir. I found
that my time was up. so I hurried
back. I'm sorry you were here ahead
Of me. ! hadn't figured to say any
thing about the matter. SIR"
so observe. But it happened that
Miss Kent wheeled ME over SO that /
could watch the dancing"
And she saw me?" asked Keeler
breathlessly.
81 don't believe she recognized you"
II certainly hope not"
What difference would 1t maker"
il wouldn't wish to embarrass
you, SIR
Trask threw away the cigarette with
an impatient gesture.
"Keeler," he said. there are times
when you make me positively dis
gusted with your hypocrisy. l don't
like your funereal pose. 1 like you
better when you are dancing with
Miss Sands. In fact, believe should
| like to dance with her myself"
Keeler was startled.
But that's impossible, sir"
while I'm in a chair--yes. But il
ever get out of this thing you can't
tell what will happen. You like the
second cabin. do you?"
ITS certainly the life." murmured
Keeler fervently. And now may
| have moment to change. sir?"
go ahead and change. Make
graveyard of yourself, il you want to-"
Keeler disappeared into the next
room, while Trask relapsed into pro-
found thought. He was not concern.
! ing himself with the problem Of his
perplexing nurse. His mind was who'll.
ly on the affairs Of the second cabin.
! There was life there-life, light and
| laughter. He had seen with his own
eyes. He had scanned the lower deck
| closely for grouchy old gentlemen, but
saw none. Not even an Aunt Mehet-
abel showed herself in the merry COM
pany. OF course, there was no god
dess there; she belonged to the first
cabin. But there are times when a
man needs a change. Just as Keeler
! said--even a change from a goddess.
Lucille Kent. In her sweet, solicitous
way, captivated him. It was pleasant
! to be ministered to. IT was f1attering
! to be pushed about the deck by the
prettiest girl aboard, to have her read
! to him, to watch her look anxiously
/ into his eyes and ask IL he were per-
| fectly comfortable. There was not a
! shadow OF disloyalty in his mind; yet
he was a little hurt and surprised to
find himself wondering whether he
would care to be fused over all his
life.
A reasonable, even considerable,
amount Of sympathy occurred to him
as a welcome innovation. Yet sym.
rathv raised to the nth degree
might