Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-01-16

officers going forward from Honolulu;
and one of these was our old friend and
once light-hearted Billy Gray, now
nearly convalescent, but weak and, as
all could see, feverishly eager to get on
to Manila.
All this was explained to the senator.
1t was even suggested that there was
room for Mrs. Garrison on the Louis
lana. safe old tub, if she was slow;
but Mrs. Frank looked so pathetic and
resigned when this arrangement was
suggested that no one had the hardi-
hood to actually dwell upon it, and the
senator said it was shame to think of
it. With whom of her own sex could
she associate on that long, hot voyage
ahead of them? Why not transfer some
of the Red Cross nurses to the Louis
lana? Mrs. Garrison had no objections,
but they had; and the surgeon in
charge made prompt and vigorous pro-
test. He knew Mrs. Frank, and she
knew him and did not in the least de-
spair. She still had plan. There was
coy dinner one evening-just the
evening before the departure of the
Queen, and the gallant captain of the
ship, the veteran general, the quarter
master in charge of transportation, the
member of the senate military commit
tee, some charming girls-but none so
charming as Mrs. Garrison-were of
the, party. There was some sentiment
and much champagne, as a result of
which, at one a. NJ, the big-hearted sea
| monarch aforementioned swore by the
/ bones of his ancestors in the Shiny
grasp of Davy Jones that that sweet
little woman shouldn't have to go
a-begging for accommodations on his
ship. If the general would condescend
to move into his room, by thunder, he'd
sleep up In his foul-weather den next
the chart room, and Mrs. Garrison
God bless her!-could take the gener-
ais room, and be queen of the ship
queen of the Queen-queen of queens
by Jupiter! and here's her health with
| all honor! A soldier, of course, could
be no less gallant than sailor, espe-
cially as the captains room was a bit
better than the "Boudoir," and had an
ice chest and contents that the veteran
campaigner was hidden to consider his
own. The agreement was clinched that
very night before the party broke up;
and little Mrs. Frank shed tears of
gratitude upon the generals coat
sleeve and threw kiss after kiss to the
handsome sailor as she hung over the
balusters of the broad veranda and
waved them away in their swift-run-
ming cabs, and then danced off to her
room and threw herself on the bed aft
er mad pirouette about the spacious
apartment, and laughed and laughed
until real tears trickled IRON her eyes,
and then gave orders to be called at
seven o'clock. She meant to be up and
aboard that ship with all her luggage
before sense and repentance could
come with the morning sun-before
either soldier or sailor could change
his mind.
To the amaze of the women already
aboard, to the grave annoyance of Col
Armstrong, to the joy of poor Billy
Gray, and the mischievous merriment
of several youngsters on the commits
stoned list, Mrs. Frank Garrison, the
latest arrival, became sole occupant of
the finest room on the ship; and it was
Il bower of lilies and tropical fruit and
flowers the breezy day she sailed away
from the bay of Honolulu.
| No time need be wasted in telling the
effect of this Assignment to quarters
Prolific source of squabble as is the
tcustom ashore it becomes intensified
Iafloat, and, when coupled with it came
4 shaking up and Encouragement of
seats at table, all hope of harmony van
Iished on the instant. The two brave
lyoung army girls still retained their
seats at the captains table; but two
most estimable young women, Red
Cross nurses, We're dropped therefrom
land transferred to that of the second
officer on the port side, much to the
comfort of a rather large percentage
of their sisterhood who had regarded
their previous elevation with feelings
lof not unmiNed qualification. Then
officers who had been seated with the
generals staff had to vacate in favor of
Mrs. Frank and DIR. Prober and Lieut..
Billy Gray, whose father and the chief
were longtime chums, and the Red
Cross nurses who had been at the first
officers table fell back to that of the
third. 1t was every bit as good as the
Iother. but it didn't sound so, and they
couldn't see it; and there We're faces
sour as the product of the ships baker
when that evening all hands went down
to dinner, and the silence maintained,
or the ominously subdued tone of the
talk, at the other tables was in marked
contrast with the hilarity that pre-
vailed where sat the gray-haired, ruddy-
checked old chief and the laughing
coterie that listened to the fun that fell
from the lips of Witchie Garrison.
Armstrong, silent and somber, at the
captains right, looking forward from
time to time, saw only one face at the
| generals table that was not lighted up
with merriment; it was the face of the
boy he envied, if envy of this kind ever
entered into his heart, and he wondered
as he looked at Billy's curly head what
could have come over that glad young
life to leave so deep shadow on his
handsome face.
| One night, just one week later, Arm
strong's eyes were opened. More than
once in the meanwhile he had invited
the young officers confidence, and Billy,
who three months earlier had been all
gratitude and frankness, protested
there was nothing on his mind. He had
| been very i'll, that was all. AS to