The Firefly of France

he ways of steamers at most times, above all in these piping times of war, it was not until an hou

w underfoot and a blue tang and sparkle in the air. Dunny accompanied me in the taxicab, but was

I first met? It was night, blacker than Tophet, and raining, and you came ashore wet as a rag. You were the

yed poker all the way, and she read novels in her berth. And I heard every one say that I was an orp

on the ferry, when he urged on me a fat wa

e never needed Dunny's money,-his affection is another matter,-but he

a good ten years beyond his hale and hearty age. With every glance I stole at him a lum

t evening-or the hundredth part? After all, there'll be a chance to fight here before we're many

oked and glared out of the window, would hear of no

you, whatever that is, if you didn't want to do something for those fellows over there. I won't even say to be

ured him, almost prophetically. "I'll take car

u did, I shouldn't answer; I hate letters, always did. But you cable me once a fortnig

inal halt, and a hungry horde, falling on my i

" said my guardian. "I-I couldn't

m resting on my shoulder, and flung both o

houted cheerily as the driver threw in

s, swarthy-faced sons of Italy, apparently bound for the steerage. The great gray bulk of the Re d'Italia loo

aluting. "When we get outside the three-mile lim

re were in all but five first-class passengers, a piece of news that left me calm. Stodgy I may be,-it was odd how that term of Dunny's rankled,-but I confess that I find chance traveling acquaintances boring and avoid t

ged through two bags to find the cap I wanted, I longed for Peters, my faithful man, who could be backed to produce any desired thing at

ed astern, with every air of meaning business should the kaiser meddle with us en route. Down below, the Italians, talking, gesticulating, showing their wh

hour of his country's need,-rather harrowed my feelings by coming on board with a family party, gray-haired father, anxious mother, slim bride-like wife, and two brothers or cousins, all making pathetic pretense at good cheer. Soon after came a

to be a ghastly trip. By Jove, here comes

r back to me, enveloped in a coat of sealskin with a broad collar of darker fur, well gloved, smartly shod, crowned by a fur hat with a gold cockade, she made a delightful picture as sh

d up the deck. Then, snapping the bag shut, she turned and straightened, and

a coincidence my

mischief of it is you'll notice me about as much as you notice the ship's s

he might elect to acknowledge our encounter, I let my gaze impersonally meet hers. She star

cked her path, looking-was it appraisingly, expectantly?-into her eyes. There was a pause w

ied that he knew her or he had behaved in a confoundedly impertinent way. The latter hypothesi

your brothers? Where's the old friend of the family who dined with you last night? If chaps who have no right to walk the same earth with you get insolent, who is going to teach them their place

t was seven o'clock. I had been aboard more than two hours. An afternoo

the steamship company at a farewell feast. The little sharp-faced passenger was throned elsewhere in lonely splendor, but when I selected a fourth table, he jumped up, crossed over and installed himself as my vis-a-vis. Passing me the salt, which I d

fles. When the boys get to carrying them, old Francis Joseph's ghost'll weep. Pity, ain't it, we didn't get on board by noon?" he digressed sociably. "I could've found something to do ashore the four hours I've been twiddling my thumbs here, and I guess you could too. Harde

n which others ride may telescope and steamers may take one's acquaintances to watery graves, but to normal peo

own on this same route. We're five plumb idiots-that's what we are-five crazy lunatics! I'd never have come a step, not with wild horses dragging me if it hadn't been for Jim Furman being prett

vaingloriousl

idence?-close behind. The steward ushered her to a table; the man followed at her heels. I dare say I glared. I know

s saying, "but hav

im over. Her manner was haughty, her ruddy head

N

tching he

n Van Blarcom,

e him that sw

said indifferently. "I h

dded

knew you," and turning from her, he sa

. And the captain's name is Cecchi; get it? And I know your name, too, Mr. Bayne," he added with a grin. "The steward didn't know what

ny sort some time ago. Then lest he wring from me my age, birth

ntense dislike to the man calling himself Van Blarcom; that the girl, despite her haughtiness, had somehow given me an impression of uneasiness-of fear almost-as she saw him approach and hea

I was probably scenting mysteries where there were none. Nevertheless, I wondered-though I called myself a fool for it-if a

y d