The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-12-30
Seleet Stnrp.
ALIAS AND IDENTIFICATION
T. Sherwood Boyd in Galveston News.

"Jim," asked Bascom sharply, "wha
size collar do you wear?
Sixteen responded Paddock prompt
ly, wondering what was coming next.
Bascom touched the bell. "Get thes
things" he said, handing paper to tn
boy who responded; then he turned to Pad
dock. 81 have just sent for some line
and things for you. You sail for Londo
in half an hour.
"Did you tell the boy to get box
cigars p asked Paddock calmly. II
was used to Bascom's ways and nothin!
surprised him.
II forgot those" admitted Bascom
"but you can get some on the way to tn
boat. Now, here is what | want you t.
do
Paddock crossed the room to the othe
desk, and in ten minutes was in possession
of full instructions. 1t meant the inspec
ton and possible purchase Of patent helo
by London inventor.
Bascom had reason to believe that the
device had been offered others in his line
They would probably reply by the next
steamer. Meanwhile his man would be
on the ground. That was Bascom's way.
Twenty minutes later Paddock stood on
the steamer deck watching the crowd on
the dock waving frantic farewells to the
seagoers. He turned and went into the
smoking room. The scene reminded him
that there was no one to wave him good
by. Bascom was probably in the midst Of
that G. & B. deal; the clerks, or most OF
them, were going out to lunch. There
was no one else who cared.
He had come to town with the intention
of getting ahead as rapidly as possible.
That meant hard work, and he had cult
waited no friends because he lacked the
time. This was the first occasion since he
had begun to work that he was sorry there
was no girl on that pierhead waving fare
we'll to him. For the first time since his
school days he realized that he was very
much alone
He was not woman hater or a confirm
ed bachelor; it was simpl y that he had
plunged into business with his heart and
soul, with eyes blinded and ears deafened
to all else. In six years he had become
confidential clerk to the head of the lesser
rank of millionaires-men who counted
their millions by tens instead of by hun
dreds-but he was absolutely alone.
The bugle call to lunch saved him fur
Their bitter reflection, and he went off to
seek the purser. He had just had time
to arrange for his passage as he came
aboard and there was some little delay be-
fore he was assigned place, but at last he
was given a card bearing his seat and table
number, and he went off, under the guild
ance of the head steward, to find it.
1t was an end seat at one of the side
tables, and as he sat down his glance met
the gaze of one of the prettiest girls Pad
dock thought he had ever seen.
Paddock thought more Of the brown
eyes than he did of the menu, and he ate
an Indifferent lunch. 1t was not hunger
that led him to find his place at the din
ner table at the first call All the after
noon he had paced the decks, but he had
not seen his table companion and he was
anxious to find out whether she was sick
She looked far from i'll when she pres
emily sank into her seat and Paddock de-
cided that he had been mistaken when he
voted neat tweed travelling dress the
most becoming garment woman could
wear. 1t was dinner gown now that he
fancied.
Once away from the table the girl dis
appeared as completely as if the sea had
swallowed her. Paddock cursed the stu
pidity which led him to wait for more
direct opening for conversation and worked
himself up to such Il pitch that by the time
the moon rose, silvering the sea, he shunn-
ed his fellowmen and climbed to the boat
deck, where, his experience told him, he
was likely to find greater solitude.
Only one steamer chair was visible on
the deck, and as he strolled past he saw,
with a start, that it was his companion at
the table
''Rather chilly up here" he comment
ed, as he raised his hat, wondering whether
the speech sounded as inane to her as it
did to his own ears.
ats little early in the season for the
top deck" she smiled, ''but | like to be
up here, alone with the sea.
GIN that case"-he began. She caught
his meaning and raised OBTAINING hand.
81 do not mean you" she cried 81
beg that you believe me. | meant the
crowd, don't you know?-the people who
tramp up and down, stumbling into the
chairs, OF sit and gossip and wonder who
everybody is and all that sort of thing. ="
~ think [ know what you mean, he
said; "the people to whom the sea trip is
so new that they like to pretend they are
old travellers
''That's it exactly" she cried. 81
could not put into words just what meant,
but you have said it for me- Sit here and
talk to me, she commanded, as she curled
up in the chair and left the footrest for
him
Paddock balanced himself on the rather
insecure seat and almost before he knew it
they were chatting like old friends.
He had none of the parlor tricks, but in
Bascom's service he had travelled much,
both in America and abroad, and he could
talk intelligently and Interestingly of what
he had seen. The girl was good listener
and they were surprised when the head
steward came along on the 10 o'clock
rounds.
Miss Henry greeted Paddock as an old
friend when she came to breakfast in the
morning, and in spite of the roughness of
the sea he was not disappointed when he
climbed to the boat deck an hour later.
There she was, ensconced in her rug, and
it scarcely needed the invitation in her
eyes to draw him to her side.
That was but the beginning of many
pleasant hours. The young woman was
a splendid sailor, and in spite of the rough
voyage she was on deck every day. Long
before Southampton was reached proposal
trembled upon the lips and he refrained
only because she told him that she was to
meet her father in London, and he felt
that it would be better to wait until then.
d.