Evening star., 1927-05-07
casually mentioned the failure of his

CASUALLY
search.
Miss Stone is unpacking: ] just
saw her maid There's Lowbrdge." "
He pointed to padded corner of the
room where Give Lowbridge sat at his
ease, a cigarette between his lips, his
eyes on the carved ceiling. Their eyes
met. and with a lift of his eyebrows
and smile Give sprang up and came
toward him.
This is an unexpected pleasure,
Holbrook. When did you come on
board? / didn't see you at Southamp-
ton. You weren't by any chance the
crazy man who arrived by aeroplane
at Cherbourg?"
I was that lunatic," said Bill.
II was watching you disembark
be drowned. Well, what is the news
from London? 1t seems 10 years
since we left. Have you heard any
thing of Laffin?"
II saw him last night said Bill
grimly, "and in consequence spent
the night in a cold, cold prison cell,
with a soused pickpocket for COM
panion."
Gives face was grave, and when
Bill had finished his short narrative:
II find it difficult to believe that
Latin is such a blackguard,'' he said.
I'm many ways I'm glad to be out of
it al1--it doesn't bear thinking about
1t seems that the only person left
with any faith in the doctor is Ben
son."
Benson? Oh, you mean your but
ler?"
"IIe is my valet here" said Low
bridge with a smile. ''Yes, l brought
him; he was Unexpectedly 10th to
leave me-in fact, offered to pay his
own fare. In many ways / am glad,
because I am not the best of sailors"
Benson believes in him?''
Give shrugged his shoulders.
Benson is a man filled with adYni.
rable sentiments" he said. 1T is his
faith that no man is as black as he
is painted. My own view is that Ben
son never defended man less worthy
than the doctor"
He glanced curiously at Bil's cos.
tune. AS usual, the reporter was
somewhat oddly arrayed, and, con
scious Of his scrutiny, Bill laughed
you've got to get used to this kit
| Lord Lowbridge," he said, because
| I've brought no clothes and unless ]
dig something up from the barber ]
| will be disgrace to your party--if
We're a member of your party" he
| added hastily.
Give was amused.
I'm afraid / cannot help you in the
matter of clothes; you and | are not
| sized alike he said, and Bill looked
enviously at the fine figure of LORD
Lowbridge and felt again that little
twinge of jealousy that he had eX
perienced before.
/ Bullott, most surprisingly, came tC
his rescue in the matter of clothes
| He had brought dress suit, which
he did not intend wearing, SO he said
and Bill found that the suit fitted hin
perfectly. Moreover, Bullott had {
larger supply of linen than the re
porter would have thought possible.
Il shall be just eating around" sait
Bullott when Bill protested agains
robbing him of his clothes. And
anyway, regular meals interfere witt
my digestion"
While he was dressing a stewart
brought a message from Mr.. Ston'
asking Holbrook if he would join thei
party at dinner, and he was all tn
more grateful that he was presentabl
when he came down the stairs int
the wonderful white hall, that locke,
like anything but the dining saloon o
a ship, and was greeted by the smiling
eyes Of the most beautiful girl in tn
world. Bill had never seen her befor
in an evening gown and at sight o
her loveliness caught his breath. TIL
. Thames mouth and the receding coas
seemed very far away as she ind
Gated the vacant chair by her side.
How wonderful that you have com
!, after all, Mr.. Holbrookr' she sai6
And please, you're not going to tai
of DIR. Latin or of any of the horror
! from which we've escaped | want t
talk about ships and this dream shi
|. in particular"
She chatted throughout dinner abou
the people who were on board. Their
. was returning ambassador, thre
great literary geniuses, a star fror
, Hollywood who scintillated so brigh
! ly that she could not come into Dime
until 8 o'clock at night, when he
: snarkling splendors might be the be
: ter observed.
"And there are IS millionaires," sh
said impressively. mfr. Stone counte
them on the passenger list. Think {
it, Mr.. Holbrook--25 Doesn't it max
your mouth Water?"
I've yet TO meet the millionair
that ever impressed me-" said Bill
They're homely folk and / guess the
hate being what they are
He looked round the great salooi
J. From every table there came til
= simmer and CLINT of jewels, for til
d sea was calm and all chairs in til
. restaurant were occupied. Even til
! chronic neurasthenics, who feel i'll {
the sight Of a ship, had plucked u