Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-25

IL was O joke-but she was madden
lngly serious about II. She bewildered
him. He confessed to himself that she
had him going" Laughing at him
beyond doubt, He gritted his teeth,
She picked up the menu and studied
II again. The silverware In the racks
played an anvil chorus, but 1t did not
distract her.
"Shirred eggs, william
Trask gasped. Eggs! He had man
aged O grapefruit-bute eggs.
mo eggs." he shouted at her.
She looked up with little frown-
What has happened to the eggs
she inquired.
Busted! All of EN-
"It is necessary to bust eggs be
fore they are shirred.'' she said
calmly. Bring me shirred eggs"
"Shirred eggs
He drew a deep breath and braced
himself for the Journey. AS he car
omed along the aisle. Trask was mer-
cifully unconscious that she was look
ing after him. Yet, instinCtively, ht
sensed something OF what was goins
on behind him, for ne muttered:
1.-THE little deviI.''
They mathematical him in the
kitchen when he presented his order.
1t was not good day for shirring
eggs. But Trask stood doggedly by his
guns. He was ready to thrash a cook.
II need; or to shirr the eggs himself
need; or to shirr the eggs himself.
which would have been worse.
He Castle walked amazingly on tn"
return trip. Even Keeler could moi
have achieved such n glittering Va
riety Of steps.
Thank you. Ny coffee and roll
William"
He groaned. Any fool OF waiter
should have remembered coffee and
rolls without being told. 1t meant ar
other journey.
The rolls would not stay on thu
plate. They skidded and scattered. He
went for more and the second lot were
, soon rolling merrily about with their
fellows on the floor of the saloon.
But he held stoutly TO the coffee. The
| third batch of rolls he jammed into his
pockets, while he carried the pla,e
! under, his arm.
She looked at the rolls and shook
her head.
II do not eat soft rolls. William
Bring the other kind
William"
II beg your pardon.
Hard rolls"
She said II after the manner of a.
Judge pronouncing sentence. He bowel
to the inevitable. He brought them
but he bowled over a newly arrived
passenger, which involved a delay in
cident to picking her up.
Sidney Sands finished her breakfast
in the same placid manner in which
| she began 1t. Trask was Keeling at
her elbow. but she gave no sign that
she was aware Of his presence.
The ship leaped and careened like
a mad thing. It seemed to he running
amok In an ocean gone berserK.
Sidney brought her appetite 60 the
| table and she gave it q square deal
| TfaSk could have boxed her ears-bu
he was proud of her. A girl who could
be whimsical in hurricane was clear
| ly no common person.
"Are finger bowls served this mort
ing, William"
He glared at her
"No-nor soupl" he barked into her
ear.
She averted her head quickly and
| pressed her handkerchief to her lips.
In second or two she recovered her
| self. looking up at him with solemn
eyes.
VERY we'll. William. Never mind
the finger bowl
| she opened a bag that lay in fe~
lap, fumbled in II for a minute and
then graciously offered him a coin.
He took it mechanically and looked
| at It.
It was a nickel
I've enjoyed my breakfast, VIII
| liam," she said sweetly.
He did not know whether to frown
or to grin. A nickel, That was a
browning impertinence
Shall l help you to the door,
ma ann" he asked.
mo. thank you. 1 can do very
nicely"
He had a mad desire to pick her
up. tuck her under his arm and carry
her out, as a spoiled child may be re-
moved from q parlor But she was
upon the impulse. She pirouetted her
way down the wildly fitting table. with
out even touching the chairs ar tables.
apparently anticipating every move
ment OF the ship.
"Confound her!" he growled. "She
ought to be spanked. But isn't she a
wonder. Wait till get out of this
uniform! I'll-f'l1--'
He left the thought unfinished. for
the Gulf Stream now entered uron
such an amazing series of contortions
that all he could do was to hold fast
to a column and wonder how soon
the end would come.
He regarded It as an act of Prov.
idence that his breakfast patrons were
few. Somehow he managed to finish
out the meal. OF course. he did more
damage than any other waiter in the
place; but that did not bother him at
all. He felt happy every time he
broke something: it suited his mood
A nickel! Huh,
Say" said Trask. as he leaned
weakly against the wall. "At what
hour do we hit Key West?"
Harrison. the head stewart. looked
at his substitute waiter in surprise.
KEY West?" he repeated. We're
not going to Key Vest
"What?'
"In a hurricane like this? Not on
your life. The old man wouldn't take
g. chance of trying TO make port In
this blow. We're standing out into
the Gulf, looking for plenty of sea
ROOM"
Trask was incredulous.
And we won't go to Key West at
all?"
Not on this trip. Wen do we'll if
we make Galveston. This is some
hurricane"
Trask whooped and threw his serv-
ing napkin into corner.
Harrison" he said, "this is where
I quit you. You've been a mighty
good sport, but I don't like your job
any more. You can call Henry back
Judging by the size OF the crowd this
morning, guess you'll have plenty
of walters for lunch and dinner
Good-by. old man. God bless you
I've won nv betfn
He made a dash for the servants
quarters. needless OF the bumps he
received.
0Y,,St ~x,att 4;iy ga t,1VA 80 1,on."