Evening star., 1933-04-16
INSTALLMENT XXI.

ALF an hour later Fr1eder1ke
was decorating the most beau
tiful luxury cabin on c deck.
i i for Boris with huge cluster
of yellow roses.
Stephanson had been immensely
happy when he had finally discovered
her innocent secret.
I'VE shall put him into q marvellous
sanatorium at Miami over there. He will
be cured in six weeks and then VIII
take him personally in hand. I Will
make him my private secretary or my
chief press representative and will let
him have q share in some Of my busi-
ness ventures and he will get rich and
turn out the father Of six children and
become a genuine American"
When Friederike knocked at Thomas
door it was $50. half an hour after
his regular consultation hours. It was
therefore exactly the time when
Thomas had definitely expected . visit
from Sybil. She had not come. His
reason told him that she would not
come at all, but his nerves went to
pieces when there was . knock at the
door and not Sybil but Friederike en-
tered.
did I frighten you? Were you
asleep? Do I look like ghost?" she
asked in surprise.
It took Thomas some time before he
pulled himself together and really un-
derstood that she was asking him to
bring Boris from the third class and
install him in luxury cabin.
But, my dear doctor, you yourself
said it would be good for him to have
an attractive. comfortable room, good
company, fresh air"
Yes, he had said that, And now
Friederike had replied that she had
neither time nor money. and now :. g.
Stephanson has already opened his
purse. He felt certain amount Of
anger at the venality Of so magnifi-
Gently beautiful creature. They are
all like that" he thought, "every one
of them. 1t merely depends upon the
situation"
Boris looked at the whole proceeding
quite without interest, as though 1t had
nothing to do with him.
1T doesn't matter in the least where
peg out" he said, with a heavy, stum-
bling tongue, not without irritation to-
ward Thomas, who gave him much less
morphine than he needed to make life
be arabic.
He was in the company of old
Marius. Wolzogen was also there. He
had come short time ago to take
Mill Lensch for tea and Milli had
Immediately gone to her cabin to make
up her face. Thomas meantime had
beckoned unobtrusively to the male
nurse and took him aside. He In
structed him to take Baron Mergen-
theim's luggage to his new cabin.
Little Mill Lensch returned. She
sat down quiet as q mouse. somewhat
embarrassed by Friederike's appear
ance. and at such a distance that she
could barely hear what was said. There
was a lady who looked like the fulfill
ment of all her dreams. She tried to
initiate Friederike's bearing-the way
she crossed her legs and the way she
carelessly let her right hand rest On
her knee. No one paid any attention
to her, not even Wolzogen.
Wolzogen's only idea was in some
way or other to make an impression
ON this beautiful woman. He had in
formation about the first class and had
already heard Of Baroness Mergen-
theim. With colossal tactlessness he
began to talk about Stephanson. He
! called him one of the most important
| figures" in modern life. He counted up
all the companies Stephanson had or
ganized and all the trusts he con-
! trolled, and, meanwhile, he asked quite
in an aside, do you happen to know
what business brought him to Europe
this time?"
It was only Friederike's complete
! naivete which made it possible for her
serve. She replied at once, Il imagine
he is trying to establish q combine Of
American and European shipping"
She considered for a moment wheth-
er this extraordinarily sober statement
really expressed what Stephanson had
told her In such glowing poetic en-
thusiasm.
"Yes. frst of all he is after German
shipping" she said emphatically.
When Thomas returned Boris did
not say good-by to anybody, not even
to old Marius. In complete apathy he
let them lift him up and lead him
away. Thomas and Friederike almost
had to carry him. On the upper deck
row Of Cabling people before they
finally discovered an empty deck chair.
Old Frederick the Great" came
along and greeted the Earon and made
his apologies to Friederike because he
had been unable properly to fulfill his
duties as a host. The captain stayed
| 10 minutes and, without saying much,
managed to create q comfortable and
easy atmosphere. As he left he took
Thomas along.
I've something to talk over with
you, doctor"
He took Thomas to his cabin. He
filled his pipe slowly, talked about
Boris and Friederike and said that he
wished them the best of luck with their
rich Uncle" Stephanson and
then, without transition. he suddenly
plunged into the painful matter he
| had to discuss with Thomas.
II was sitting here, drinking my
coffee with the two, when . certain
lady telephoned me-you know who she
Is. Well. we have to discuss her. My
dear doctor. you may believe me. I
should have preferred to have arrived
in New York without having found out
that you joined this ship for your
wife's sake, or to have heard any of
the gossip as to why you did this.
It Is no concern Of mine. But if .
lady sends for me and tells me in my
capacity as q captain that she does
not feel safe on board this ship-and
demands my protection-well, that is
really all I have to say" he concluded.
He took long pull at his pipe. hoping
that Thomas would leave He found
it impossible to look at the doctor,