Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-05-07
) WHILE WAITING
|. FOR REPAIRS
-. By WILL BURR
Copyright. 1919. by 7. &. Mcclure

Inc ItTI! III .N'ibn. II Siliiil SuiiiliieI
resort lying next most pleasurable
stretch of lake. was operated solely
10y its owner. old Abe. as he was
called. The service had come Ia Ice
of such II unstable character that the
villagers had lost all confidence in il
as ii means of transportation.
However Marian AniS."y was not
IN inlahitant of the village. and so
She stepped confidently aboard the
boat. assisted 10y did Abe. As he
hustled about. he WIS softly chuckling
and repeating 10 himself. Two. Two"
The rear third Of Abc's stern
wheeler WAS pilot house and engine
room. The central portion WAS cabin.
and in front was what may Ice termed
deck. On this deck was seated the
other of Abes "two" passengers.
Alonzo Alien. of New York.
Allen didn't know. as Il matter OF
fact. where he was going. nor did he
care. He had seen the old man put
tering about the boat. and. on learn
ing that Il start would soon be made
for somewhere. he had listlessly taken
a seat for the trip.
With foot Of the squeaky whistle
the boat got under way. Marian. wish
ing To stand in the PROV. walked
through the cabin. But at sight of
her fellow passenger she turned pink
with embarrassment and quickly re-
treated and sat down ON the long.
carpet covered seat that was built
through the middle of the cabin.
Under the guidance of the jubilant
old man. the boat advanced in very
satisfactory manner-at least 10 him
until about half way across the lake.
Here the paddle wheel refused 10 con-
time revolving. and. after some
minutes of drifting. the boat was still.
AT this point thunder shower.
which had for time back been stead
lily approaching. broke over the lake.
Allen. not desiring drenching. rose
to his feet and went into the cabin.
In the darkening interior he saw no
one. and sat down Oh the middle of
the seat with a sigh. putting his elbows
on his knees and face in hands.
Marian was sitting but an arms
length from him. After an awkward
pause spent in cogitation. she coughed
lightly. Allen started To his feet di-
rectly. and. with u bow. said:
Il do beg your pardon. madam; l."
And then flash lighted the cabin for
an instant. and he plainly saw his com
panions face.
Il thought was alone" he added
simply. and awkwardly backing TO the
farther end of the seat he sat down.
There was some reason for these
seemingly strange actions. 1t was but
the previous evening that they had
quarreled. and at the end he had
fierccly taken back the ring she prof
fercd. and they had parted forever.
a: length. why are we stopping
here" asked Marian Of the boatman.
who sat at his post in perfect tran
quillty.
Jest screw loose. miss" the old
man replied Il figger ! know where
tits now. and well be goin' again in
a jiffy.'
And with that Old Abe. tools in
hand. climbed around 10 the all i'm
portant paddle wheel. After an ex-
asperating wait OF perhaps twenty
minutes. Marian peered out from the
door. and. seeing no one. called. MIR.
Ferryman.' She WAS now heartily
wishing she had stayed nj the house.
I'm awful sorry. miss" answered
the old man rather dolefully. but
I'm afraid it'll take teeniy bit longer.
You see. it's worse'n thought"
DO you have TO stop like this
often" asked Marian.
well. sometimes. But now last
week she didn't break down. Monday
nor Wednesday. all the hull way over
And. saying this. Old Abe rose TO his
full height. grinning with pride.
well. suppose il can't he helped.
then" submitted Marian. but she ap-
pearcd so very much annoyed that
Abe ut once leaned down and con
tinued his work with great show of
hustle.
The rain WAS not yet over. and Allen
was busiiy engaged staring very hard
Mt nothing whatever. Marian looked
ut her watch. II was past lunch time
and. ms she had felt too miserable 10
eat much breakfast. she commenced Ia
feel hungry. 4 sudden thought bright.
ened her conference.-the had with
her a box of candies which she had
purchased for her sisters children
She could get them another box. She
looked ut her watch again. Only q
few minutes more had passed. but hei
hunger had now become unbearable.
She loosed the string from the box
opened the paper. removed the cover
and ate n chocolate.
After she had eaten several of the
candies she glanced over mt Allen
Fastened TO the wall of the cabin op
posite him was an old landscape In q
dingy frame and he was gazing a
this with the concentration of n stole
"a landscape mentally exclaimed
Marian. as she recalled his dislike al