Evening star., 1932-11-06

HE red-headed girl in the dark green
dress that missed by fraction of
shade matching her bright hazel
eyes made certain that all her bag
! gage was in room $3.50, showed her
beret little more to an angle on the
sleek, shining waves, added a touch of powder
to an already perfect complexion, and left her
cabin for the big adventure.
It was Carolyn Lees first trip abroad and
she had long since decided that it would be the
big event of her life. The boat was still docked
at pier 18 and would not be leaving until mid
night but Carolyn had come aboard early
Intentionally.
It had been at Elsie Reynolds bon voyage
party for her that the idea had originated.
and the more thought she had given it. the
more she had approved. The tiny Reynold
apartment had been crowded with the five
bridge set-ups Elsie had insisted upon having.
("That many more gifts for Carolyn" had
been Mrs. Reynolds explanatory The 20
girls squeezed into the tight little living
room, and the shrill conversation at table
number one overlapped the feminine chatter
at table number two so to speak.
"You want to make the most Of your first
night on ship" June Wilson had called across
the room to Carolyn Because the eldest Wilson
daughter had been to Europe three years before,
the girls took her statement as literally as the
printed information on the steamship COM
pany's pamphlets. In the questioning lul that
followed June explained Importantly:
After the first night those travelling tourist
must stay in their own quarters. That is, unless
they taken as guests by first-class pas
SengerS"
CAROLYN had listened intently. She had
- planned and saved for this trip for the
last three years-ever since her twentieth Sum-
mer in fact, when Jimmy Wark, vacationing
in Europe had sent her snapshot of moon
nod In,
her the determination to spend herself, a
moonlight night on that very same river Her
vocal instructor Alta Prtchard, had urged
the advantage of few months training in
Vienna, and had increased her desire to see
Europe by constantly describing to her the
Berlin musicales, the Vienna concerts the
charm of Budapest and the excitement OF
Paris Carolyn's eyes had glowed at Junes
words.
"But-the first night? What do you mean?"
she had asked.
Find their promenade and lounge Go on
the deck that's reserved for the first-class
passengers. You say the boat sails at mid
night? Well, about l they'll serve tea up
there. Be sure to stay at least that long. And
in between the time you step on board and
l In the morning you ought to get well ac-
quainted with attractive male who can,
thereafter, take you into frst-class quarters
the rest of the trip. If you use little clever
ness and selectivity those first few hours you
ought to be able to travel the balance Of the
way st-class-except, Of course, for eating
and sleeping"
Carolyn thought of June's suggestion as,
scofing at elevators as too slow, she hurried up
the steps, her trim feet tapping their quick
eager way to the upper decks. People smiled
at her, to each other and to themselves, as the
vivacious and attractive girl made her way to
the lounge on floor "a 1t was good to see
some one so young and vivid and happy.
She sank into the first red leather chair that
stood comfortably near the door. Her excite
ment-shaken knees would carry her no further.
Carolyn's bright eyes looked over the room, but
saw nothing that she had expected. 1t might
have been the tourist lounge except for a little