Page 2 (1/2)

Isaac Bell’s fiancée was in the ht the last boat train fro Edward VII’s funeral procession for Picture World News Reels Cine-negatives fro the route had been iht — only nine hours after old “King Teddy” had been buried — five hundred and twenty feet of “topical fil director was enjoying a hot bath in her First Class roo the Mauretania’s promenade deck

“No one doubts the ardor of your courtship,” Archie said with a wink so suggestive it would have earned any other man a fist in the eye “And who but the blind could fail to notice the colossal eement? Yet friends observe that it’s been a while since you announced… cold feet?”

“Not mine,” said Bell “Nor Marion’s,” he added hastily “We’re both so busy we haven’t time to nail down a date”

“Now’s your chance Four and a half days on the high seas She can’t escape” Archie gestured with his cigar up at the Mauretania’s darkened bridge and asked casually, as if he and his wife had not conjured up this conversation the day they booked passage, “What do you say we ask the captain to marry you?”

“Miles ahead of you, Archie”

“What do you mean?”

A big grin lighted Bell’s face with a row of strong, even teeth that practically flashed in the dark “I’ve already spoken with Captain Turner”

“We’re on!” Archie grabbed Bell’s hand and shook it vigorously “I’ot a boatload of wedding guests I snuck a look at thehalf the ‘Four Hundred’ and a fair slice of Burke’s Peerage”

Bell’s grin set in a determined smile “Now all I have to do is corral Marion”

Archie, as recuperating fro to bed Bell could feel hih a heavy door that led into a companionway

“I’ll walk doith you”

“Waste of good tobacco,” said Archie, holding tight to the banister “Finish your cigar I’ll make it under my own steam”

Bell listened until Archie had safely descended Then he stepped back out on deck, where he lingered, his ears cocked to the dark sea

He leaned over the rail Sixty feet below, the water swirled in the lights of the pilot boat lu smoke and stea black cliff of the Mauretania’s riveted hull The pilot who had guided the mammoth steamer out of the river and over the sandbar descended a rope-and-wood Jacob’s ladder It was neatly done, and in anotherher deck lights and disappearing astern, the larger gaining speed

Bell was still peering speculatively into the night when h