Army and Navy Weekly — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1060 a beautiful girl of seventeen with dark, sparkling eyes, stepped down to the deck, accompanied by another girl of her own age. When she espied the young cadet she blushed slightly, and held out her hand with a winning smile. ‘This is indeed a pleasure, Miss Win- dom,’’ he said, with even more earnest- ness than the remark warranted. “To me, Mr. Faraday,’’ the fair young gilr replied, laughingly. ‘‘I have been longing for the time when I could return your visit of—of—whien was it, Elna?”’ “Such a-long, long ‘tune ago,’” Te- sponded her companion, miischievously. ‘*It was day before yesterday.”’ Only day before yesterday,’’ laughed Juanita Wiadom, with a shy glance at Clif, who looked extreinely self-conscious under the battery of such eyes. ‘‘Why, it seems months since vou called at the house. And the dreadful adventure you had at the upper plaza when that horrid driver tried to rob you, and throw you down the cliff. It was in the papers yesterday. You must tell me all about tt, Mr Faraday.’ ‘*T will be delighted——”’ “Haw!” The little group turned at the sound. The Englishman, monocle screwed tight- ly in his eye, was making a profound bow to Juanita. “Aw! delighted, Miss Windom. De- lighted to see vou on board, don’t ye know. Beautiful—aw!— day; lovely weather, lovely girls, and you — aw!— the fairest of them all.’ ‘SHaw }>? The exclamation did not come from the Briton, and he looked at Clif, finding that youth apparently engaged in the innocent occupation of arranging the strap of lis cap. : Juanita and her friend repressed their laughter with difficulty. “Aw! it must have been an _ echo; don’t ye know. Fawncy hearing one’s own voice when you didn’t speak. Deuced good joke, eh?’ And the Englishman burst into a hearty laugh. But there was something in it that did not rung true to Clif. By skilful manoeuvering Clif succeeded in bringing Juanita’s friend and J. Ches- ARMY AND NAVY hire-Cheshire Cate, together, then he boldly walked off with the fair beauty of Lisbon. ‘There is a splendid view of the river from the other side of the deck, Miss Windom,’’ he said, leading the way past the mainmast. I fancied you did not care to remain with that gentleman,’’ he added, frankly, when they were alone. “And anyway, I wished to tell you all- about my adventure of the day before yesterday.”’ ‘And I am eager to hear it,’’ replied the girl. She continued gravely: ‘‘As for Mr. Cate, 1 dio nok 3hee*-"hnn. There is something about the man that tepels me. He is a business acquaintance of father, and I met him while he was dining at our home.’’ ‘CA business acquaintance,’’ smiled Clif. ‘‘One would never connect business with—aw!—J. Cheshire-Cheshire Cate, don’t ye know.”’ Juanita laughed. “Tt is not what you would call business exactly,’’? she replied. ‘‘Father is inter- ested in pearls. It is a hobby and he has spent a long time and a great deal of money in collecting them. of the largest collections in the world, I believe. This Mr. Cate is trying to com- plete a certain necklace, and he came all the way from London to see if father has one of the required size. He has, but I do not think he will part with 1t.’’ ‘“So that is the story of Mr. Cate, eh?’ said Clif. pleasant subject.”’ “Tell me about your adventure with ig She was interrupted by a commotion at the gangway. barge, glittering with brass and polished wood, dashed alongside, and an officer fairly covered with gcld lace ascended to the deck. He has one He was met by the executive officer. and conducted to the cabin. utes later he reappeared and was rowed ashore. Then orderlies ran here and there, off- cers hurried below, and a general air of excitement prevailed. ‘Something is in the wind,’’ said Clif, ‘OTMhat officer brought an important mes- ‘“Well, we’ll talk on a more A splendidly equipped A few min- CONMCOOOLKSaCO