Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-05-04
The Beauty Of the Blue Train

able to assist the ladies upon their arri-
half formed notion that he might be
val. That hope was quickly crushed, for
as they descended from the OMNIBUS
Markham saw that the girl and her
companion were no longer alone. Help
ing them to descend from its high step,
and evidently no stranger to them, was
a man Of slightly more than his own
aga man whose face was vaguely but
disagreeably familiar to him. A man
beautifully groomed, ~strikingly hand
some, dark and debonair. with an elo-
quent, confident smile which showed the
whitest teeth and the blacklist, most
sparkling Of eyes.
An instructive jealousy swept Mark
ham. An instructive jealousy, and some
thing more. His jaws met sharply.
III.
Over INT over again Markham tried to
recall That he knew Of the man who
accompanied the two women. 1t evaded
him. Always, in that slow struggle with
memory, although the face stood clear,
the circumstance remained battling. AT
last, still preoccupied with his problem,
he left the hotel, and coming out into
the Rue Felix Faure. narrow, crowded,
peculiarly n attractively French. and
full Of intoxicating shops. he made his
way down to the port.
1t was as gay as ever, and as fascin-
ating. The water was gently rippled; the
sky was cloudless. Sunblinds, the white
sails, and ascending bare masts of the
yachts, and the big white casino-al
made the picture unforgetable. The big
palm trees in the Alees de la Liberte
we're not yet cut back; their bare
branches stood clear against the marvel
GUS blue sky of the Mediterranean win
ter. This flood of sunlight was electrify-
ing to one who had come from the shiv-
er cold, the rain, n the fogs of q Lon
don February. Smiling unconsciously and
breathing lightly Markham went In
search of Teddy Knowles yacht, the
Scorpion. His mind had gone back In
pity to those unhappy people who were
still winter-bound in England. He re-
called his own flight, the wet, bleak
streets Of London, the freezing channel
journey, the heated train. At last the
beauty of the dining car. He could
imagine that he still saw her.
1t was not she but Teddy Knowles who
suddenly greeted him. Teddy, the florid,
good natured fool whom everybody liked
and at whom everybody laughed. Short,
grayhaired, Teddy was n Of those who
idly follow the sunshine all the year
round He could not live without the sun,
and fortunately he had a purse long
enough to crafty his craving. He had
his yacht here, and he would have 1t
wherever there was warmth and color,
fashion and food, until another winter
brought him back to the south to re-
sumo the interminable cycle of his sunny
years. Always, as now, In lavish yachting
costume, he woul manage to look and
to be family ridiculous. Always, as now,
he would be welcome. At present. with a
big cigar between his lips, he strolled
along the jetty, gazing begnignantly
about him, glancing at all the girls,
staggering, and being pointed out drolly
with quiet smiles by those whom he
ogled. When he caught sight of Mark
ham, Teddy stopped, saluted gravely, and
ran forward to grasp his friends hand.
He had q rich, hoarse voice, indicating
years Of good eating and drinking, OF
good cigars.
my dear fellowl'' cried Teddy. II was
Just going around to your hotel. When
did you arrive? My boy, 1t does me good
to see you. I wish you could have stayed
with me on board. I do, really. I'm per-
fectly fed up with the people I've got
aboard-the Hopkinsons. How I ever
came to invite the people. D'you know
them. He's a reverend gentleman-pastor
of Mudcombe or somewhere-and the
perfect bore. The perfect bore. Pompous.
Pillar of the church n all that. But
you'll see. You'll meet them at dinner
I hope. Tonight. Eth? That's all right.
Good mani" He pressed Markham's arm.
This place Is SO crowded that one
daren't leave ones moorings. Never get
back again, you see. Hard luck. Sicken-
ing, isn't It'll Look here, come on board
for an aperatif. Do, old mani Here's the
old Scorpion Just handy. Really not?
Well, WE'LL You're looking fit. How's old
Englandp Smoky and dull? Eth? Eh?"
He chartered delightfully."-, waving his
cigar towards the Scorpion, which lay
close at land. She was a clipper, not
very roomy, but built for speed. Her
white paint glittered in the sunlight, as
did her brass work. Shit looked very love-
ly upon that smiling water-lovely and
tantalizing. Markham could imagine the
JOY OF being IN board Of her with the
sea flowing by, the decks gently slanting,
the fresh breeze blowing.
She's a beautiful ship" he murmured
approximately. And she's in a beautiful
place. When I left London it was raining.
1t was also cold. I feel we're very lucky
to be here, Teddy. You especially, with
the Scorpion"
Lucky? Not a bit of it. I'm lucky be-
cause you've come. But, otherwise, I'm
the unluckiest devil. Wait till you've
heard Hopkinson prose. Friends and
dearly beloved brethren. ; Fancy
having sermons ABOARD a clipper. What?
Damnl' He stopped. There's that swine
Notify. Thorough outsider. Absolutel
Who's he got in tow? My word, they're
a couple Of good lockers. Eth? Just in
front. Just ahead. This dark chap. Wen
have to speak to him. Well have to, l
say. Not for himself, but for his COM
pany. / think SO. eh? You agree?"
Teddy moved forward and Markham
slowly followed. His doubts had cleared.
The mystery man was identified. Notify
-of course. A chap who had been
accused a France of cheating at cards.
He'd been transferred, because his gall
'lantry was unquestioned; but he was a
crook. Markham did not know the man,
had never spoken to him; but he knew
now that the disagreeable impression
which he had felt earlier was we'll
founded. Notify; he remembered the
trouble. A young subaltern had come al
most sobbing to Markham's quarters, de-
scribing his own losses, describing the
, row. Slowly the details began to return
TO his mind. And Notify was with the
beauty and her friend. He was strolling
between them, as debonair as ever. his
teeth showing in that flashing smile, his
quick eyes alert in observation Of all
around him. Notify. a crook, with the
adventuress-and with the beauty, in
whose clear eyes there were only honesty
and frankness which bespoke the fitness
OF her character, in whose charming
/ y%4 49,