Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-21

~ DrOSTGSS, JuSO FlSlDlC JihOuSAl
N a kink in the blind of dining
car attendant with noisy bell.
Food for reflections all very
we'll in its way" he concluded, but it's
no use to an empty stomach How does
the notion of square meal strike you?"
Dighton grinned.
"Uncommonly we'll. 1 haven't had a
bite since lunch"
They passed out into the corridor and
embarked on a sWaying, uncomfortable
Journey following upon the heels of
thin line of fellow travellers, similarly
bound.
Mute understanding between Marney
and the chief dining car attendant pro-
cured for them a corner table, to winch
drifted the wool buyer from Yorkshire
and one of Marney's vamps, bound Tor
the italian Riviera.
The lady in question proved to be a
dazzling blonde, though whether by
nature or choice Dighton was not quite
decided. BY way of passing the time,
and in want of something better upon
which to lavish her charms. she had
attached herself quite early in the jour-
ney to the broad-spoken Mr.. Blythe.
That the attachment was of purely
temporary nature was evident from the
restless movement of her eyes and her
quite open attempts to interest the two
men opposite.
A gentle pressure of her foot on
Marney's shoe produced a protest that
was as unexpected as it was blunt.
Baby drawled the American, I'm
an old-timer-and 1 suffer from cornS!
You can try the friend on my right
if you like. He may not have corna,
but he's no fool"
The woman to whom this remark
was addressed was by no Weans dis
concerted.
Did 1 touch you?" she inquired in
all innocence. Really had no idea.
These tables are so small, you know"
She spoke in English, with pro-
nounced accent that was not without
its charm.
80 you are an American, m'sieur?"
you've said It'll" returned Marney
and relapsed into silence.
Baked in her first attack on man
who, judged by his gold teeth if by
nothing else, appeared to be a person
of substance, Mile. Rollin fell back
upon her first hope. Picking UP the
little half-bottles Of wine one by one
she screwed up her lips at the labels:
You DO not want to drink this cheap
stuff, Ell, cheri?"
Blythe shrugged his shoulders.
What d'you want me to buy?-
champagne"
why certainly. Why not?'
There being no answer to this riddle,
the Yorkshlreman hailed the wine
steward.
what about you, sir?" he shot at
Marney.
"Cognac's my liquor" came the re-
spouse, land T never touch bubbly."
The other turned to Dighton.
Mines Pommard, thanks all the
same"
Mile. Rollin concentrated two-gun
battery of singularly effective eyes upon
her immediate vis-a-vis.
Don't you like champagne, either?
You do not know what is good for
you. msieur. Pommard for lunch
perhaps, but in the evening"
She broke off to signify her approval
of the brand the attendant was recon-
mending. without doubt there was
mute understanding here, too!
The express made brief halt at a
station-the only stop before Dion.
Marney consulted his watch-a large
gun metal chronometer secured by
leather guard that looked suspiciously
like a converted bootlace
"She's on time" he said to Dighton.
Don't suppose they'll take many on
here"
The other, rather to avoid watching
the effect of Mile. Rollin and cham
payne combined upon the susceptible
Yorkshireman than for any other rea-
son, was staring at the vista which.
began at the backs of these two and
extended to the far end of the COM
partment. A double row of small tables,
each with its separate shaded lamp;
bearded Frenchmen with an abundance
of protruding shirt cuff, blond, self
conscious Englishmen, noticeable ma
jority OF women of the same race, q
German or two and a modest sprinkling
of Italians He had located Mile. Roll
Inns mpanion-plumper and a trifle
shorter in notwithstanding herself
limpet-like to one of these latter. The
object of her attentions was plying one
of the toothpicks supplied in little
transparent paper envelopes in a man
ner that suggested that the encounter
with this bird of passage had not
thrilled him. Nor had he sprung a bot
tie of champagne.
Marney had his things moved into
Dighton's compartment after dinner.
Birds of feather are supposed tc
flock together he reminded the
baggage had been completed, but folks
in our line of business don't often get
the chance. In general manner of
speaking far from flockihg together
they avoid one another like the plague |
1t behooves us, therefore, to make the
most of an opportunity such as this
No use offering you cigar, suppose?"
NO" said Dighton. I'm as strict |
about my smokes as you are about |
drinks"
And they left it at that
They tossed for berths, and Digh- |
ton lost, Marrey choosing the lower |
bunk.
You've got to keep your eyes skim
ned for women of Mile. Rollins type"
he said as they undreSsed. They
meet too many people, and you never |
know whom they've met last. Collar |
studs, by the way, are problems in this |
sort of travelling. I usually stow mine |
in trousers pocket"
He had queer way of uttering his /
thoughts as they came to him, with
out the least attempt at relevancy.
II don't know what sort of figure
Blythe cuts in the wool trade" he
pursued, "but it doesn't take Sleuth to I
reveal that he's an almighty fool where
women are concerned. Sympathy's
wrong line with girls of the Rollin
persuasion. They don't want it and i
they don't deserve it. The Continentals
know how to deal with them far better
than ourselves. Take that Italian guy.
The way he handled his girl made
Blythe look like a baby. Blythe1l be
showing her family portraits by the
morning and telling her all about his
mother in Bradford! You see my point,
don't you, Dighton?"
The other nodded.
You mean that the Lizard will have