Evening star., 1926-12-13
THE GIRL In THE SECOND CABIN
BY T.. j. RATH.
(Copv7iOht. 1895. By G. Hotcayd Wott.)

scene so cheerful that it did not seem
such thing could exist aboard a ship
that contained the dragon and Keeler
and other liabilities
The second cabin folk-and he could
not see that they looked different
from first cabin folk-were dancing.
Most of them were dancing exception
ally we'll. A surprising number of
them were young. They did not seem
to be repining over the fact that they
were not first class" If it had ever
occurred to them, they had forgot
ten it.
They danced, laughed, and danced
again. The music--it was evidently
volunteer-was good enough for any
body to dance to, Trask decided. He
wanted to dance himself. Even Miss
Kent had forgotten her heroes. Her
foot was tapping with the rhythm of
the music.
One couple particularly attracted
the notice of Trask. The girl was
small and slim, with a great mass of
chestnut hair piled up on her head
and no hat to hide its magnificence.
He had glimpse of her face, half
averted from him, and decided she
was pretty in an alert, piquant way
She seemed to be the spirit of youth.
She danced not so much as she
fioated Trask believed she could
have whirled across a floor of tissue
paper without so much as putting
her toe through it.
"She dances We'll" he said, looking
up at Miss Kent.
"Wonderfully."
The girls partner formed a curious
contrast. He was ungainly in
physique, heavily set and with an ap-
pearance of clumsineSs. But he was
far from clumsy. The girl was scarce
ly lighter on her feet than he. And
he knew a marvellous array of steps,
through which he guided her with the
ease and certainty of a dansant grad
uate.
His clothing was conspicuous--a
broad check suit. the coat cut closely
at the waist and belted, the trousers
terminating in two-inch cuffs at the
bottom. Between the cuffs and pair
of highly polished tan shoes Trask oc
casionally had a flash of pale gray
socks. The tip of a silk handkerchief
fiuttered from a. coat pocket.
To and fro across the lower deck
they danced, turning, swaying, exc
cutting beWildering evolutions. A few
couples dropped out to watch them;
others made way, as though this pair
possessed the floor by superior right.
Trask sighed.
The music stopped and the girl
stepped back from her partner, made
him a laughing curtsey, turned and
ran down the deck. The man drew
the handkerchief from his pocket and
mopped his forehead. He seemed to
recall something suddenly, for he
looked at a watch, then turned
nlY lrr Cir f3nn
Keeler,
The man in the wheel chair leaped
to his feet, uttered an exclamation,
and leaned over the rail. A sharp cry
of alarm sounded almost simulta-
neously and he felt his arm gripped
tightly.
"Mr. Trumbull, Your wounds!"
The face of Miss Kent was pale and
horror stricken.
Trask turned to to her. remembered
and sank heavily into his chair.
you've hurt yourself?' she cried,
bending over him.
"No--I-er-- You see get taken
that way sometimes. Sort Of nervous
symptom. It's all right. thanks"
But you startled me So" she
gasped. WAS anything wrong?"
Not a thing, really. Sorry / fright
ened you. Just nerves. Would you
mind wheeling me as far as my state
room, Miss Kent?"
Trask sat in the stateroom, grfmly
waiting. The mystery of Keeler sat
heavily upon him. Keeler as a sort
of sublimated hospital orderly re-
cruited into the ranks of the nursing
profession he could conceive. Keeler
as sad and somber person with a
pair Of formidable fists. he was also
beginning to grasp. But Keeler as a
dancing man was beyond his most
extravagant conception.
And in those clothes!
The door opened and Keeler stepped
in briskly. He stopped short in his
tracks and gasped as he behcld his pa
tient Trask surveyed him with Il
careful eye.
II beg pardon sir; thought you
were still on deck stammered
kccler.
TraSk continued his scrutiny, un-
mindful of the embarrassment there
10y oCcasioncd. lie studied Keller from
the crown of his round head TO the
tips OF his yellow shoes. with a minute
inspection OF tho checked suit.
icontonsd N rom0rrOws apAA