THE ARMY OFFICES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9384, 2 March 1909, Page 7

THE ARMY OFFICES.

Here is the latest steamer story, told by a veteran traveller. During the last spring rush to Europe a friend of mine, a shy young man, had an adventure. My friend; the first night out, played bridge in the smoking room till about 11, and then took a nightcap and retired. But a few minutes later he rushed back, pale and worried. ‘ Purser, ” he said—the purser had been one of the bridge players—“there’s a lady in my cabin. ‘ You’ve put mo in' with a lady.” “Impossible,” said the purser. “We don’t make errors like that on this ship. ” And he got out his passenger list. “Yon share your cabin with a Captain Maybury,” he said. “Go back and you’ll ” “Nothing can persuade me,” the otfyer interrupted, “to return to that room.” “Then I’ll go,” said the purser. And he did; But he soon returned, smiling and perplexed. “There’s a lady in there,” ,he said. “I’ll put you somewhere else for the night. Come and see me the first thing in the morning, and we’ll look into this.” Well, next morning my friend sought out the purser, and the purser sought out the state-room steward. “I don’t understand it,” [said the steward. “Captain Maybury’s the gentleman assigned to that there room. Here’s an unlocked portmanteau of his. Supoose we, open it?” They opened it, and their eyes fell on a medley of hairpins and feminine habiliments “By jingo!” said the purser, as he took up a book that lay beneath the costumes. “I see it all now. She sent her name in as Captain Maybury, but she never said she was in the Salvation Army.”