Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-06-21
CHAPTER XIV.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER XIE.-CoNTINUED.
No time need be wasted in telling the
effect of this ''assignment to quarters"
Prolific a source of squabble as is the
custom ashore it becomes intensified
afoat and, when coupled with it came
a shaking up and Encouragement of
seats at table, all hope of harmony van
ished on the instant. The two brave
young army girls still retained their
seats at the captains table; but two
most estimable young women, Red
Cross nurses, were dropped therefrom
and transferred to that of the second
officer on the port side, much to the
comfort of rather large percentage
of their sisterhood who had regarded
their previous elevation with feelings
of not unmixed qualification. Then
officers who had been seated with the
generals staff had to vacate in favor of
Mrs. Frank and DR.. Prober and Lieut..
Billy Gray, whose father and the chief
were longtime chums, and the Red
Gross nurses who had been at the first
officers table fell back to that of the
third. 1t was every bit as good as the
other, but it didn't sound so, and they
couldn't see it; and there were 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 merrment; it was the face of the
10Y he envied, if envy of this kind ever
entered into his heart, and he wondered
as ne looked at BilIy's curly head what
could have come over that glad young
life 10 leave so deep shadow on his
handsome face.
One night, just one week later, Arm
8trong's eyes were opened. More than
once iu the meanwhile he had invited
the young officers confidence, and Billy,
who three months earlier had been all
gratitude anSsa franlness, protested
there was nothing on his mind. He had
been very i'll, that was all. As to
Canker's charges they were simply rot
He hadn't the faintest inkIing what had
become of the purlOined letters any
more than he had of the whereabouts
of his Delta Sig friend, young Morton
now officially proclaimed a deserter
But Armstrong heard more tales OF
Witches devotions to him in his i'll
ness, and the slow conyalesccncc that
.eusued, noted how the boys eyes fol
lowed her about the deck. and how
many a time he would seek her side
even when other men were reading
walking or chatting with her. Arm
strong looked with wonderment thai
was close allied to incredulity and pain
Was it possible that this blithe lad, who
had won such a warm interest in the
z1eart of such a girl as Amy Lawrence
could be forgetful of her, faithless tt
her, and fascinated now by this selfsl
and shallow butterfly? 1t was incred
fbIe!
But was it? The days had grown hot
Ter, the nights closer, and the air be
tween decks was sitting when the Sc;
rolled high and closed the ports. OFF
GERS had taken to snoozing up on decl
In steamer chairs. BY an unwritteI
faw the port side of the promenade
deck was given up to them after II a
night; but the women folk had the ruI
of the starboard side at any hour wheI
the crew were not washing down decks
Armstrong had been far forward abou
two o'clock one breathless night to Sc
for himself the condition of things il
the hospital under the forecastle. Tn
main deck was crowded with sleepin!
forms of soldiers who found it impos
sible to stand the heat below; so on hi
return, instead of continuing along tn
gangway, he decided to climb the irol
ladder from the main to the promenad
deck. 1t would land him at the forward
end of the starboard side. There h
could smoke a cigar in peace and quiet
1t was high time everybody was asleep
But as his head and eyes reached tn
level of the deck he became suddenl
aware of a couple huddled close to
.gether in the shelter of a canva
screen, and under the steps leading
al Jft to the bridge. He knew Gray