The Ne'er-Do-Well

by Rex Beach

  IV

  NEW ACQUAINTANCES

  The sound of a bugle, which Kirk interpreted as an invitation tobreakfast, reminded him that he was famished, and he lost no time ingoing below. Upon his appearance the steward made it plain to him insome subtle manner that the occupant of Suite A needed nothing beyondthe mere possession of those magnificent quarters to insure the mostconsiderate treatment. Kirk was placed at the captain's table, wherehis hunger was soon appeased, and his outlook grew more cheerful withthe complete restoration of bodily comfort. Feeling somewhat lessdissatisfied with his surroundings, he began to study the faces of hisfellow-passengers.

  "Getting your sea legs, Mr. Locke?" inquired the man at his right.

  "My name is Anthony."

  "I beg your pardon! The passenger list said--"

  "That was a mistake."

  "My name is Stein. May I ask where you are bound for?"

  "I think the place is Panama."

  "Going to work on the canal?"

  "What canal? Oh, of course! Now I remember hearing something about aPanama Canal. Is that where it is?"

  "That's the place," Stein replied, dryly.

  "I'm not going to work. I don't work--don't know how."

  "I see. Pleasure trip?"

  "Purely a pleasure trip. I'm having a great time. By-the-way, thiscanal affair is something new, isn't it?"

  "It was begun about thirty years ago." Mr. Stein regarded the speakerwith puzzled inquiry, as if undecided in what spirit to take him.

  "What's the idea? Why don't they finish it up?"

  "I thought you were an American," returned the other, politely. "Youhave no accent."

  "I am an American. I'm the fellow who was born in Albany, New York. Ifyou look on the map you'll find the town has a little ring around it."

  "And really don't you know anything about the Panama Canal?"

  "Oh, I've heard it mentioned."

  "Well, you won't hear anything else mentioned down here; it's the oneand only subject of conversation. Nobody thinks or talks or dreamsabout anything except the canal. Everybody works on it or else worksfor somebody who does. For instance, that white-haired man at the otherend of the table is Colonel Bland, one of the commissioners. The manover there with the black beard is one of the engineers at Gatun."

  Stein, who seemed a gossipy person, ran on glibly for a time, pointingout the passengers of note and giving brief details about them.Suddenly he laid his hand on Anthony's arm, and said:

  "See this fellow coming down the stairs?" Anthony beheld a slender,bald-headed man of youthful appearance. "That is Stephen Cortlandt.You've heard of the Cortlandts?"

  "Sure! One of them pitched for the Cubs."

  "I mean the Cortlandts of Washington. They're swell people, societyfolks and all that--" He broke off to bow effusively to the late comer,who seated himself opposite; then he introduced Kirk.

  Mr. Cortlandt impressed Anthony as a cold-blooded, highly schooledperson, absolutely devoid of sentiment. His face was stony, his eyeswere cool, even his linen partook of his own unruffled calm. He seemedby no means effeminate, yet he was one of those immaculate beings uponwhom one can scarcely imagine a speck of dust or a bead ofperspiration. His hair--what was left of it--was parted to a nicety,his clothes were faultless, and he had an air of quiet assurance.

  "By-the-way, we're getting up a pool on the ship's run," Stein told hisnew acquaintance. "Would you like to join?"

  "Yes, indeed. I'm for anything in the line of chance."

  "Very well. I'll see you in the smoking-room later. It will cost youonly five dollars."

  Kirk suddenly recalled his financial condition and hastened to say, atrifle lamely:

  "Come to think about it, I believe I'll stay out. I never gamble."Chancing to glance up at the moment, he found Mr. Cortlandt's eyesfixed upon him with a peculiarly amused look, and a few minutes laterhe followed Mr. Stein to the deck above.

  Once in his own stateroom, the young man began a thorough exploration,realizing more keenly than before that without baggage or money hisplight might prove distressing. But, look as he would, he could find notrace of either, and an inadvertent glance in the mirror betrayed thefurther fact that his linen was long since past a presentable stage.Another despairing search showed that even his watch was gone and thathis only asset, evidently overlooked by the hilarious Higgins and hisco-partner in crime, was a modest three-stone finger ring. He wasregarding this speculatively when the purser knocked, then entered athis call.

  "I've just heard that there's a mistake about your ticket," thenew-comer began. "It is made out to 'Mr. Jefferson Locke,' but thedoctor says you insist your name is something else."

  "That's right. My name is Anthony."

  "Then how did I get this ticket?"

  "I'm sure I don't know."

  "Have you any baggage?"

  "I don't know."

  "What is your destination?"

  "I don't know. You'll pardon my limited vocabulary?"

  "Are you joking?"

  "Do I look as if I were?"

  "But I don't understand."

  "Neither do I. But I must have some luggage--a fellow wouldn't make atrip like this without baggage, would he?"

  "I should think not. I'll look it up for you if you wish. But aboutthis ticket--"

  "My dear man, don't bother me with that. I have worries enough as itis. What I want now is a clean shirt and collar."

  "Yes, but this ticket says--"

  "Please! Look at my linen. I'll create a scandal this way."

  "Mr. Locke--"

  "Anthony."

  "Very well, Mr. Anthony. I must straighten out this ticket affair.Really, I must."

  "All right, straighten away."

  "If you are not Mr. Locke, it is no good."

  "Hurrah! Put me off."

  "You don't understand--the ticket is good, but--See here, there'ssomething mighty strange about this. You say your name isn't Locke, youhave no baggage, you even thought this ship was a hotel--"

  "I did. It was a great disappointment. And now I want a shirt." Anthonybegan to laugh. "Funny, isn't it?"

  "You will have to buy another ticket," said the purser, with dignity.

  "A bright idea!" Kirk smiled grimly; then, turning his pockets wrongside out, continued lightly: "You look me over and if you can find theprice of a ticket I'll give you half."

  "Then you have lost your money as well as your baggage and youridentity?"

  "So it would seem."

  "Impossible!"

  It was plain that the officer was growing angry, so Kirk made haste tosay:

  "Now let's be friends, at least. By-the-way--pardon the personal natureof the question--but--what size shirt do you wear?"

  "Seventeen."

  "Saved! Let me have about six, will you?"

  "Certainly NOT," returned the other. "I need all I have."

  "Miser! Then you must help me find some one my size."

  The purser, however, seemed in no mood to go shirt-hunting, and backedout of the door, saying: "I'll have a look for your baggage,Mr.--Anthony, and I'll see the captain about this ticket, also. I don'tknow whether you're making fun of me or not, but--I'll look you uplater."

  He departed, shaking his head as if this were a form of insanity he hadnever before encountered. A moment later Kirk followed him and made around of the deck, staring at each man he met and mentally estimatingthe girth of his neck; but it seemed that the male passengers of theSanta Cruz were all of medium size, and he saw no one whose appearanceheld out the slightest hope. He did observe one fellow whose neckseemed as large as his own, but the man looked surly and not toocleanly, and Kirk was not yet desperate enough to bring himself to thepoint of approaching such a fellow for such a favor. He thought ofappealing directly to the captain, but promptly remembered that he wasa small, wiry man whose wardrobe could by no possible chance afford himrelief. At last he made his way toward the smoking-room, determined toenlist the help of his new acquaintance, Stei
n.

  Midway aft, he paused. A girl had emerged from the deck-house ahead ofhim, whose appearance was sufficiently striking to divert him,momentarily at least, from his quest. She was well above the usualheight, quite slender, yet of an exquisite rounded fulness, while hersnug-fitting tailor-made gown showed the marks of a Redfern or aPaquin. He noted, also, that her stride was springy and athletic andher head well carried. Feeling that friendly approval with which onerecognizes a member of his own kind, Kirk let his eyes follow her, thenretraced his way around the deck in the hope of meeting her face toface.

  A woman frequently betrays her beauty by the poise of her head, by theturn of her neck, or the lines of her figure, just as truly as by afull glimpse of her features. Hence it was that Anthony felt a certainpleasurable expectancy as he crossed in front of the deck-house,realizing that she was approaching. But when they had met and passed hewent his way vaguely disappointed. Instead of a girl, as the firstsight of her youthful figure had led him to expect, he had seen a womanof perhaps forty. There was little in her countenance to reveal her ageexcept a certain settled look that does not go with girlhood, and,while no one could have thought her plain, she was certainly not sohandsome as he had imagined from a distance. Yet the face wasattractive. The eyes were wide-set, gray, and very clear, the mouthlarge enough to be expressive. Her hair shone in the morning sun with adelicate bronze lustre like that of a turkey's wing. It did not add tothe young man's comfort to realize that her one straight, casual glancein passing had taken him in from his soiled collar to his somewhatextreme patent leathers with the tan tops and pearl buttons.

  Being very young himself and of limited social experience, he classedall women as either young or old--there was no middle ground. So hedismissed her from his thoughts and continued his search for a numberseventeen shirt, and collar to match. But he did not fare well. Hefound Mr. Stein in the smoking-room, but discovered that his size wasfifteen and a half; and there was no one else to whom he could apply.

  For a second time Stein importuned him to buy a chance on the ship'srun, and, failing in this, suggested that they have a drink together.Had not Kirk realized in time his inability to reciprocate he wouldhave accepted eagerly, for his recent dissipation had left himcuriously weak and nervous. At the cost of an effort, however, herefused. It was a rare experience for him to refuse anything, being,like many indolent youths, an accomplished guest. In fact, he wasusually as ready to accept favors as he was carelessly generous when hehappened to be in funds. The technique of receiving comes to somepeople naturally; others cannot assume an obligation without givingoffence. Kirk was one of the former. Yet now he felt a sudden, strangehesitancy and a self-consciousness that made graceful acquiescenceimpossible. He continued firm, therefore, even when Stein gibed at himgood-humoredly:

  "I suppose it's against your principles to drink, as well as to gamble?"

  "Exactly."

  "That's good, after the way you came aboard."

  "How did I come aboard?"

  "Oh, I didn't see you, but I heard about it."

  Kirk flushed uncomfortably, muttering: "The acoustics of this ship aregreat. A man can't fall asleep but what somebody hears it."

  Stein laughed: "Don't get sore; all ships are alike--we have to talkabout something. Sorry I can't help you with the shirt question. Deucedcareless of them to lose your luggage."

  "Yes! It makes one feel about as comfortable as a man with a broken armand the prickly heat. Something's got to be done about it, that's all."He glared enviously at the well-dressed men about the room.

  Over in a corner, propped against the leather upholstery, was Mr.Cortlandt, as pale, as reserved, and as saturnine as at breakfast. Hewas sipping Scotch-and-soda, and in all the time that Anthony remainedhe did not speak to a soul save the waiter, did not shift his positionsave to beckon for another drink. Something about his sour,introspective aloofness displeased the onlooker, who shortly returnedto the deck.

  The day was warming up, and on the sunny side of the ship the steamerchairs were filling. Two old men were casting quoits; a noisy quartettewas playing shuffle-board. After idling back and forth for a time, Kirkselected a chair and stretched himself out; but he was scarcely seatedbefore the deck steward approached him and said:

  "Do you wish this chair for the voyage, sir?"

  "Yes, I think so."

  "I'll put your name on it."

  "Anthony, Suite A, third floor, front."

  "Very well, sir." The man wrote out a card and fitted it to the back ofthe chair, saying, "One dollar, if you please."

  "What?"

  "The price of the chair is one dollar."

  "I haven't got a dollar."

  The steward laughed as if to humor his passenger. "I'm afraid then youcan't have the chair."

  "So I must stand up all the way to Panama, eh?"

  "You are joking, sir. I'll have to pay it myself, if you don't."

  "That's right--make me as uncomfortable as possible. By-the-way, whatsize collar do you wear?"

  "Sixteen."

  Kirk sighed. "Send the purser to me, will you? I'll fix up the chairmatter with him."

  While he was talking he heard the rustle of skirts close by and saw thewoman he had met earlier seating herself next to him. With her was aFrench maid bearing a rug in her hands. It annoyed the young man torealize that out of all the chairs on deck he had selected the onenearest hers, and he would have changed his position had he not beentoo indolent. As it was, he lay idly listening to her words ofdirection to the maid; but as she spoke in French, he was undecidedwhether she was telling her companion that bad weather was imminent, orthat the laundry needed counting--his mind, it seemed, ran to laundry.

  Then the purser appeared. "Did you send for me?" he inquired.

  "Yes. There was a strange man around just now, and he wanted a dollarfor this chair."

  "Well?"

  "I want to establish a line of credit."

  The purser grunted.

  "And say!" Kirk ran on, seriously. "I've been all over your littleship, but the passengers are boys' size. I can't wear this collar anylonger."

  "And I can't find any baggage of yours."

  "Then there isn't any. I never really expected there was. Come now, bea good fellow. This is my 'case shirt."

  "If you really wish some clothes, I'll see what I can find among thestewards."

  "No, no," Kirk hastily interposed, "I can't wear a shirt with soupstains on it. Let me have one of yours--we're twin brothers."

  "I have no more than I need," said the purser, coldly. He opened acigarette case, at which Anthony gazed longingly. It seemed ages sincehe had had a smoke; but the other seemed disinclined for smallcourtesies.

  "I've seen the captain about that ticket matter," he went on, "and hesays you must buy another."

  Kirk shook his head languidly. "Once more I tell you there is nothingdoing."

  The officer broke out with some heat: "If you are joking, you'vecarried this thing far enough. If you are really strapped, as you sayyou are, how does it happen that you are occupying the best suite onthe ship?"

  "It is a long story."

  "Humph! You will have to give up those quarters and go forward."

  "Why? You have your money for that ticket?"

  "Yes, but you're not Mr. Locke."

  Kirk smiled meditatively. "How do you know?" he queried.

  "Good heavens! You've told me so a dozen--"

  "Ah! Then you have nothing except my word. Well, sir, now that I cometo think it over, I believe my name is Locke, after all." He grinned."Anyhow, I love my little room and I think I'll keep it. Please don'tbe peevish. I want you to do me a favor." He removed the ring from hisfinger, and, handing it to the Purser, said "I want you to get me twodiamonds' and a ruby's worth of shirts and collars; and also a safetyrazor. My mind has stopped working, but my whiskers continue to grow."

  The officer managed to say with dignity: "You wish to raise money onthis, I presume? Very well, I'll see what c
an be done for you, Mr.Locke." As he turned away, Kirk became conscious that the woman in thenext chair had let her book fall and was watching him with amusedcuriosity. Feeling a sudden desire to confide in some one, he turnedhis eyes upon her with such a natural, boyish smile that she could nottake offence, and began quite as if he had known her for some time:

  "These people are money-mad, aren't they? Worst bunch of gold-diggers Iever saw." Surprised, she half raised her book, but Kirk ran on:"Anybody would think I was trying to find a missing will instead of ashirt. That purser is the only man on the ship my size, and hedistrusts me."

  The woman murmured something unintelligible. "I hope you don't mind myspeaking to you," he added. "I'm awfully lonesome. My name is Anthony,Kirk Anthony."

  Evidently the occupant of the next chair was not a football enthusiast,for, although she bowed her acknowledgment, her face showed that thename carried no significance.

  "I understood you to tell the purser your name was Locke," said she, ina very low-pitched, well-modulated voice. "I couldn't help overhearing."

  "But it isn't really, it's Anthony. I'm the undignified heir to thestocks and bonds of an old party by that name who lives in Albany."

  "Darwin K. Anthony?" questioned she, quickly. "Is he your father?" Herface lighted with a flash of genuine interest.

  Kirk nodded. "He's my prodigal father and I'm the fatted son. Do youknow the governor?"

  "Yes, slightly."

  "Well, what do you think of that? He's a great old party, isn't he?" Hechuckled irrepressibly. "Did you ever hear him swear?"

  The woman shook her head with a smile. "I hardly know him well enoughfor that."

  "Oh, he's a free performer; he swears naturally; can't help it.Everybody knows he doesn't mean anything. It's funny, isn't it, withall his credit, that I can't get a shirt until I put up a diamond ring?He could buy a railroad with half that security."

  "You are joking, are you not?"

  "No indeed. I never needed a shirt so badly in my life. You see, Ididn't intend to take this trip; I didn't even know I had sailed. WhenI woke up I thought this was a hotel. I've got no more baggage than arobin."

  "Really?" The woman by now had closed her book and was giving him herfull attention, responding to some respectful quality in his tone thatrobbed his frankness of offence. "How did it happen?"

  "Well, to be perfectly honest, I got drunk--just plain drunk. I didn'tthink so at the time, understand, for I'd never been the least bit thatway before. Hope I don't shock you?"

  His new acquaintance shrugged her shoulders. "I have seen something ofthe world; I'm not easily shocked."

  "Well, I was perfectly sober the last I remember, and then I woke up onthe Santa Cruz. I'd never even heard the name before."

  "And hadn't you intended taking an ocean trip?"

  "Good Lord, no! I had just bought a new French car and was going todrive it up to New Haven yesterday. It's standing out on Forty-fifthStreet now, if somebody hasn't stolen it. Gee! I can see the news-boyscutting their monograms in those tires."

  "How remarkable!"

  "You see, it was a big night--football game, supper, and all that. Iremember everything up to a certain point, then--curtain! I was 'out'for twelve hours, and SICK!--that's the funny part; I'm still sick." Heshook his head as if at a loss what to make of this phenomenon. Henoted how the woman's countenance lighted at even a passing interest,as he continued: "What I can't understand is this: It took all my moneyto pay for the supper, and yet I wake up with a first-class ticket toPanama and in possession of one of the best suites on the ship. It's aproblem play."

  "You say you were sick afterward?"

  "WAS I?" Kirk turned his eyes upon the speaker, mournfully. "My headisn't right yet."

  "You were drugged," said the woman.

  "By Jove!" He straightened up in his chair. "Knockouts!"

  "Exactly. Some one drugged you and bought a ticket--"

  "Wait! I'm beginning to see. It was Locke. That's how I got his name.This is his ticket. Oh! There's going to be something doing when I getback."

  "What?"

  "I don't know yet, but I'm going to sit right here and brood upon somefitting revenge. After that chap gets out of the hospital--"

  "You did not impress me as a college student," said the stranger.

  "I'm not. I graduated four years ago. I barely made it, but I did getthrough."

  "And you have never been to the tropics?"

  "Not since I had my last row with the governor. Have you?"

  "Many times. It will prove an interesting trip for you. At least youhave that consolation."

  "What is it like?"

  Evidently the artless effrontery of the young man had not offended, forhis neighbor talked freely, and in a short time the two were conversingas easily as old acquaintances. This was due, perhaps, to the fact thathe had appealed to her with the same frankness he would have usedtoward a man and, thus far at least, had quite ignored her sex. She wassufficiently quick to appreciate the footing thus established, andallowed herself to meet him half-way. Had he presumed in the slightest,she would have chilled him instantly; but, as it was, she seemed tofeel the innate courtesy back of his boldness, seeing in him only abig, unaffected boy who needed an outlet for his feelings. In the sameway, had a fine St. Bernard dog thrust a friendly head beneath her handshe would have petted it.

  When at last she rose, after an hour that had swiftly sped, she wasgratified at the look of concern that came into his eyes. She looked athim with genuine approval as he bowed and said:

  "Thank you for the pointers about Panama. I hope I may have thepleasure of talking to you again."

  When she had disappeared he murmured, admiringly:

  "Jove! She's a corker! And she's not so old, after all. I wonder whoshe--" He leaned over and read the card on the back of her steamerchair. "Mrs. Stephen Cortlandt, Suite B," it was lettered.Straightening up, he grumbled with genuine disappointment: "Just myblamed luck! She's MARRIED."