Stowaway-de-Luxe

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 388, 23 June 1928, Page 10

Stowaway-de-Luxe

Italian’s Salon Trip BUILT AND FURNISHED OWN CABIN The stowaway-de-luxc has ar- ] rived in America. He showed : j no sign of emaciation, and no j | evidence of having led a hunted \ j life. He stowed away first class. i ! Signor Basti is an artist—an in- ; terior decorator. Employed in that; j work on a new Italian ship, the Conte : j Grande, he conceived the idea of al- j tering a small passageway into a cosy j little alcove, hidden behind a series ] of charming but innocent panels, says I ! the special correspondent of the j i Melbourne “Herald.” | The alcove was electrically lighted, j | Through it ran a ventilation pipe, ' which had been tapped to give Signor ' ; Basti the fresh sea air. A bed, well j supplied with blankets and bed linen, j ; was installed. The latest magazines ; | reposed on a shelf. j Signor Basti could hear the strains j j of the ship’s orchestra, for his alcove adjoined the saloon. He had a good : supply of food stored, and the wines i 'of Italy were in a receptacle over the j ! hold. Signor Basti ventured forth fre- ; quently. and enjoyed to the utmost ! the privileges of the first class, miug- j : ling with the passengers. The crew | was a new one. and none knew him. His one mistake was in joining the : crew at their mess on the day the \ ; vessel came into port. One sailor ] grew suspicious, and notified an officer, who forced Signor Basti to dis- , close his retreat.