The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-14
The Passage ''PerrilluS."

l Copyright. 1902. by Daily Story Pub. Col l was just an he midst of a long column Of figures. when the telephone bell rang | Tor about the sixth time in fifteen min utes. Perkins, said irritably. an | swer that phone won't you. don nt let IL | ring all day" He looked somewhat sur | ing. while I started for the third column of figures. ,'Yes." No" ''Wait a min ute and III find out" I heard Perkins say to the qYestioner at the other end | of the line MT. Boyd turning to me, have you had any message from the Helene yet?"
 She's not due in Liverpool until this morning, we'll not hear before this af- ternoon or tonight. Have to allow for delays. besides. she is not a regular pas senger steamer.
 Perkins repeated my words to the phone and hung up the receiver. ''I hope that bell won't ring again today l said to | myself really was in no envia bie mood, our force was short about one-half | our regular number of men. consequently we did double our regular amount or work. and had only six hours sleep Tn | two days. had just finished superin- | tending the lading of ship. which was | to leave in half an hour. and was buslly arranging my work and fixing accounts, when l became conscious that someone was standing at the window
 | "Well"' I enqured without raising my | eyes. thinking it was one of the freight hands. Receiving no answer. l looked mp | and saw standing there. an old man with | an eager, expectant look on his wrinkied face. patiently waiting until should finish.
 | Can I do anything, for you, sir?' "Wilfm told me to come here thls mornin' and ask about the Helene; said you'd know as soon as they landed. | We will know, but have not heard iron | them yet, guess they have hardly hat l tfnna fhpNy m Ia nd until this morning you know.
 That's so, then they might have hat a stormy wage, perrillus the sea is. l That's right, might have been de layed little; come back again tomor | row.
 Thank ee guess l will | I watched him as he made his way slowly down the walk to the street. H' hesitated at the crossing looked anxious I ly up and down the crowded street a
 the stream of wagons which blocked th'
 way. and seemed afraid to cross. He wal
 too feeble to be here among this jostling
 hustling crowd. I put weights on m,
 papers, grasped my hat and walked quick
 ly down to where he was still hesitating
 Pretty crowded here. isn't it?' l said
 let me help you across?
 "Thankee young man. thank ee, LOOK Ing up gratefully. seems to me l can
 get along so well lately, guess I'm get
 tin old. guided him safely across ant
 hurried back to my work, after receiving
 has grateful ''rhankee, young man, Geo
 bless ye," again. But somehow l coul'
 not seem to get along well either. hi
 face haunted me. "I hope we will ge
 that message" l said to myself wonder
 ing who ''Wilrm" was. But the message
 did not come that day. nor the next, ant
 next. It was becoming serious now. tn
 Helene" was a week overdue. and n'
 message yet. Every day we were be
 sieged with inquiries, and each day th
 little man came to inquire for ''Wilf m.
 The morning of the 24th of Novembe
 was damp and cold, and so foggy tha
 it was almost impossible to distinguish
 an object on the other side of the street
 The Helene was now ten days overdue
 but just after came in the office, l re
 ceived cable from the captain of pas
 senger steamer, "Oceania," saying he hat
 just landed in Liverpool, bringing witt
 him the passengers and crew of the ''Hei
 ene," which was disabled in heaV,
 storm Everyone all right except tn
 captain who was seriously i'll. Entir | cargo of Helene" lost
 By 10 o'clock the crowd had agai
 assembled and I watched their face
 closely as told them the news, and won