The Bismarck tribune., 1931-12-08

She looked like slim boy in her
rumpled silk pajamas as she ran to
the portfolio and peered out. Bates
had vanished from his post long
since. Far of on the horizon line
was something that might be either
clouds or land, but in between was
sea, a calm expanse with only here
and there q whitecap to break the
blue-green. hirror.like surface.
There was an occasional roll Of
the ship as it was caught by half
sea. and a slight culver Of the deck
as the powerful engines drove them
through the Atlantic at Is knots. It
was such glorious morning, and
she felt so invigorated. by her
nights sleep that the events OF the
night before retreated to the back
Of her mind like a bad dream.
Anything was possible-any nice
thing. that is-on a day like this.
Even Dirk might have relented and
forgiven her. She hummed Happy
Days" as she splashed in the show.
er. then gave herself q drubbing
with a towel. filled the air with an
extravagant cloud OF bath.powder,
and set about dressing with q light
heart. She donned q plain white
linen frock, white shoes, a little
blue coat with brass buttons and 4
blue beret.
"And am l hungry" she ex.
claimed. as she strapped on her
wrist watch. noting with surprise
that it was almost II o'clock.
There was no one on deck. 80 she
went below to the dining salon.
Apparently she was not the only
late sleeper. Sea air had played its
tricks on the rest, as we'll. She was
hardly prepared. though. for the
scene that met her eyes.
he Iona sat stiftly in his chair.
at the foot Of the table. stabbing
at his grapefruit with q vicious
spoon. At his left Louise sat list.
lessly. looking. Mary thought. . lit
tie greenish about the mouth as
though something eaten the night
before and the roll Of the boat were
not agreeing. quite. Bruce, his face
like q thunder.cloud. sat on Louise's
right. and in the masters chair at
the head Of the table Mr.. Jupiter
applied himself steadily and not too
silently to Z generous plate Of
scrambled eggs and bacon.
Hello. everybody" Mary called
out brightly. 'and z pleasant morn
ing!" Her good humor brought no
response.
De Iona and Bruce barely nod.
ded. The Countess did NOT even
look up. Mary slipped into a seat
at Mr.. Jupiter's left-the remaining
chair was Captain Hendricks. but
the doughty captain breakfasted at
no such effete hour.
"A glass Of orange Juice, Frank,
some thin brown toast and q soft
boiled egg-three minutes. just
She beamed At the old steward.
De Iona pushed back his chair
with q loud scrape.
You will excuse me, please" he
said. bowling sarcastically. II shall
take a walk around the deck"
He was taking II fairly we'll. at
that. Mary decided. after a critical
glance. She was curious to know
what explanation had been given
him for this sudden sea-trip; surely
he must have been dumbfounded
to awaken and ind himself shang.
haied in any such high.handed
fashion.
Whatever it was. It was plain that
he had lost his taste for red-haired
young women with promises IN
their eyes and no intention Of keep.
Ing them. Well. let him 90. He
would not be unohserved. wherever
he went. even though the excellent
Bates was in his cabin. getting a
little long.deferred sleep. He was
a prisoner with every man ou :ae
yacht his Taller. Did he know Il
yet! Mary could not tell.