aracter.
Piracy is probably a more profitable line of business than discovery.
Discoverers benefit mankind at great sacrifice and expense, and die
before they can receive the royal thanks. A pirate's business is all
done over the counter on a strictly cash basis."

They were silent for a moment, continuing their tramp. Pair weather was
peopling the decks. Dick Claiborne was engrossed with a vivacious
California girl, and Shirley saw him only at meals; but he and Armitage
held night sessions in the smoking-room, with increased liking on both
sides.

"Armitage isn't a bad sort," Dick admitted to Shirley. "He's either an
awful liar, or he's seen a lot of the world."

"Of course, he has to travel to sell his glassware," observed Shirley.
"I'm surprised at your seeming intimacy with a mere 'peddler,'--and you
an officer in the finest cavalry in the world."

"Well, if he's a peddler he's a high-class one--probably the junior
member of the firm that owns the works."

Armitage saw something of all the Claibornes every day in the pleasant
intimacy of ship life, and Hilton Claiborne found the young man an
interesting talker. Judge Claiborne is, as every one knows, the
best-posted American of his time in diplomatic history; and when they
were together Armitage suggested topics that were well calculated to
awaken the old lawyer's interest.

"The glass-blower's a deep one, all right," remarked Dick to Shirley. "He
jollies me occasionally, just to show there's no hard feeling; then he
jollies the governor; and when I saw our mother footing it on his arm
this afternoon I almost fell in a faint. I wish you'd hold on to him
tight till we're docked. My little friend from California is crazy about
him--and I haven't dared tell her he's only a drummer; such a fling would
be unchivalrous of me--"

"It would, Richard. Be a generous foe--whether--whether you can afford to
be or not!"

"My sister--my own sister says this to me! This is quite the unkindest.
I'm going to offer myself to the daughter of the redwoods at once."

Shirley and Armitage talked--as people will on ship-board--of everything
under the sun. Shirley's enthusiasms were in themselves interesting; but
she was informed in the world's larger affairs, as became the daughter of
a man who was an authority in such matters, and found it pleasant to
discuss them with Armitage. He felt the poetic quality in her; it was
that which had first appealed to him; but he did not know