Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-07
DAILY SHORT STORY
A GREAT ANNOYANCE.


Point Comfort and come down on the
talked over times they had spent to-
gether as boys and mutually agreed
that in the future they would not again
lose sight of each other
What can we do to bring ourselves
together occasionally" asked Chan
der
Don't know" replied Bruce. Per
haps something will turn up"
BY the next mail after their separa-
ton Chandler received a letter from
his friend, in which. among other
things. he said: We are much worried
about Joe's health. | recommend a
trip to the south, but at present nei-
Their my wife nor / can go. Indeed we
must leave here for the north within a
few days
TO this Chandler replied that he had
chartered a schooner and with Il few
friends was going for cruise to Flor
ida. He would be very glad TO take
Joe along. He would sail from Nir-
ginia Beach on the following afternoon.
To this n reply came in the shape of
a telegram that Joe would arrive at
Norfolk the next day by the morning
boat in charge of the captain. Chan
dler, who was busy getting stores
aboard, sent one Of his crew TO the
boat TO meet the boy, with orders to
bring him by rail To the beach.
All was ready on the schooner. and
Chandler WAS impatiently waiting the
arrival of the boat with Joe. Present
" ha Slu tho hnaf nd IN his
establishment, in the stern sat girl.
She was apparently about eighteen
years old.
What in the name of Conscience
began Chandler and stopped.
The boat came alongside, and the girl
stepped on the gangway, ran up the
stairs and met Chandler on the deck
with a pleasant smile. If she was an
invalid, she was not conscious of the
fact
I'm Joe" she said
joe exclaimed the astOnished
man.
why, yes. Wasn't it all arranged
between you and father"
My dear young lady, there has been
a mistake. l supposed you were boy.
You'll have 10 go back. We are all men
on board this schooner"
Joe began to cry. How can / get
back? I've no one to take me-
"Confound it, muttered the host.
What are we going to do? l must sail
at once or break into all my plans. Be
sides, / have no one to send with you.
Did your father suppose there We're to
be ladies in the party?"
Perhaps Please don't send me back
l don't mind the absence of other ladies
If you don't"
There's no help for it," said Chan
dler. Get up the anchor, men,
Chambers friends were three plain
men of business who were interested
with him i'll riprap contract and he
was going with them to Florida to lay
plans for the work. He put them in
forward rooms and gave up his own
cabin TO Miss Josephine Chandler, tax
ing one amidships himself.
Now, it IS Il very different cruise a
lot of men will make cOoped up in q
small vessel having Il woman aboard
from what it would be without her
Every man looked annoyed. The mo-
ment Miss Josephine knew that she
would be permitted TO remain she was
braced by the novelty of the situation
and was in high spirits. She seemed
either unconscious that she was I'M
welcome or didn't mind if she was.
Instead of maintaining n dignified
reserve she was all over the ship, ask
ing questions about the compass, the
anchor. the captain, the ropes, and at
one time when no one was very near
her she ran up the ratlines, chattering
and laughing like Il monkey. The
schooner was rolling considerably, and
before she could be got down she lost
her grip and was overheard. The
steersman brought the ship about
Chandler plunged in and held the girl
above water till they were dragged on
board. she laughing as if she consid- |
cred the affair very funny.
But gradually Joe came to be consid- J
cred something unique Bittersweet |
perhaps is the Best word TO explain |
how she was regarded. She was al |
ways in the way. but somehow the |
men liked u have her in the way,
though none of them would admit it. |
They would heap no end of abuse upon |
her when out of earshOt, but obey her |
Chandler. from feeling disgruntled at |
her presence he first came to tolerate /
her, and by the time they reached the |
Florida coast he would have considered |
the vessel "A desolate abode without her /
The investigation that had brought |
the party south was over. and the |
schoOner's prov was turned northward |
but Miss Josephine. happening TO come
on deck at the time and being told |
that they were going home, put down |
her foot. declaring that she should not
go home. Chandler. instead of ignoring
her wishes, consulted with his friends.
but they declined 10 interfere. The re-
suit was that the schooner now was
turned about and sailed for New Or
leans. On reaching that port Chandler
left the schooner with his charge and.
fortunately meeting with a married
Fadv <roirlcv north /