Evening star., 1933-04-17
LUXURY LINER
BY Gina Klaus
(OoPyNzoHT. 1888. " GINA xAus.)

second-class, because Wolzogen since
yesterday had become q completely
changed man. He was silently and
absent -mindedly stirring his tea; he did
not ask her to dance, as yesterday, nor
did he question her jealousy about her
previous love affairs. And, worst OF all,
he did not say word about the prom
ises he had made her yesterday. Be-
cause Of these promises she had been
late in returning to her cabin, and her
mother, with her stalwart hands, had
soundly slapped her face twice-and
this before the very eyes Of the grin
ming Mrs. Fabian What now about the
evening dress of pink chiffon
Have you fallen in love with Baron
ess Mergentheim?" she persisted. why
don't you say something? You look
like man bewitched."
Wolzogen was indeed bewitched. Not
by Friederike's beauty. however, but by
the few words Of information she, IN
He who talks about business with
women is fool, he thought. even II 1t
is a Stephanson. HE Is trying to es-
tablish a combine of American and
German shipping" Friederike had said.
Interpreted in business terms this
meant: He is buying large blocks OF
stock in German steamship companies.
But what companies? First Of all,
doubtless, of the line to which the Co
lumbia belonged That was probably
the reason, too, why he and his friend
Bartlett had chosen a German liner for
their return trip. All very simple and
! obvious. All one had to do was to close
your hand and one had thousands in
ones grasp. The thing to do was to
buy shares in Shipping, Ltd. and that
at once. before the Columbia entered
New York harbor, and before Stephan
son got to his Offices and carried
through his intentions.
These were the thoughts which had
bewitched Wolzogen so that he could
spare neither word nor a glance for
little Mill. But since he was not
fool he did not have the remotest
idea Of telling Mill about his business
plans. He merely answered all her
questions and reproaches over and over
again with mumbled Please don't be
silly girl" Finally, he got up ana
said:
Excuse me, I must leave you alone
for little while. I'll ask the profess
sional to have few dances with you"
But he forgot even that as soon as he
had left the table.
He had his connections with the
first class by way of Exl. the diamond
in small but very solid banking firm
in which Wolzogen was managing di-
rector. For that reason he knew that
Exl was travelling with huge letter Of
credit. That was perfectly natural. for
man who deals in precious stones
must always be ready to buy valuables
for cash at relatively cheap prices from
people who have suddenly got into diff
culties. His letter Of credit could be
put to better advantage
Wolzogen sent boy to find Exl and
waited for him in the smoking room
His idea was to sell to Exl the invalu-
able information he had received and
to get out of it the highest possibse
commission he could. He wanted at
least one-third of the shipping stock
which would be bought by wireless to-
morrow morning. He wanted the as
surance that Exl would not buy with
out his knowledge. He wanted to be In
on every order He felt he had to .
Then Exl arrived. slender, distm-
guished. his graying hair cleaning like
oxidized silver. They sat down in the
corner and began to talk things over.
They argued and bargained. Whenever
any one passed the two he heard the
words per cent" even though they
were only whispered.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow