Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-10-12
Chapter NI-Continued.

proper apparatus. The only method
that could be adopted was to impro-
wise Il coil from canvas sewed into q
tube. The exterior was vanished and
wrapped in wet cloths to assist the
condensation of the steam; hence, ev-
cry kettle and pot being requisitiOned
for this paramount need, cocoa could
be supplied to the women alone, while
the taste Of the water even thus dis
Euised was nauseating. No more po-
tatOes could be boiled. Raw, they were
almost UNBEATABLE. And potatoes hap
pened to be the food most plentiful.
The genuine fresh water, reduced to
n minimum in the cistern, was only a
little better in condition unless it was
filtered, and Brand decided that 1t
ought to be retained for the exclusive
use of those seriously i'll. Patients
were multiplying SO rapidly that the
hospital was crowded. and all fresh
cases as they occurred perforce re-
NAMED where they were.
Neither Constance nor Enid felt the
time hang heavily on her hands. Both
were too busy, though the new Ordi-
nance regarding the food supply trans
ferred their attention from active cook
ing to the replenishlng of utensils,
which must be kept full Of salt water
at boiling point.
Pyne was an invaluable assistant.
In the adjustment of refractory can
vas tubes over hot spouts, In the ma
nipulation Of the condensing plant so
that 1t might act efficiently, In the
trimming of lamps and the stocking of
the solitary coal fire he insisted on
taking to himself the lions share Of
the work.
He always had a pleasant quip or
funny story to brighten their talk.
"YOu can conquer trouble with a
grin" he said. Worry doesn't cut Ice"
Enid, Of course. chaffed him about
his American accent, which, she pro-
tested, she would acquire after a
weeks practice.
1T is so quaint to our ears" she
went on. Il never before grasped the
reason why Mark Twain makes me
laugh. All he does is to act as pho
nograph. Every American is a born
humOrist."
there's something in that" admit
ted Pyne. I'VE do try to disinter q
joke. Say, have you girls ever heard
how an English professor explained
the Yankee drawl?"
"Now they cried.
'He said 1t represented the effort Of
an uneducated man to make q speech.
Every time his vocabulary gave out he
lifted his voice to show lie wasn't half
through with his IDEAS"
"Oh," said Constance, that is neither
kind nor true, surely"
"Well," agreed Pyne slowly, "that Is
the view a friend of mine took Of the
remark. So he asked the professor If
he had a nice agreeable sort of defini-
ton, all ready for use, of the way Eng
lishmen clipped their syllables. The
other fellow allowed that he hadn't
pondered on it. I guess said my
friend, it represents the effort of an
educated ass to talk English"
Though the laugh was against them,
they were forced to Singer approval.
Il Think" said Constance, that our
chief national falling is pomposity, and
your story hits it off exactly. In one of
our small Cornish towns we have q
stout little mayor who made money in
cheese and bacon. He went to see the
Paris exhibition, and an Exeter man,
meeting him unexpectedly at the foot
Of the Eiffel tower, hailed him with
delight. Hello, Mr.. Mayor he began.
'Hush,' said the mayor, glancing
around mysteriously, I'm ERE incog.'"
None who heard these light hearted
young people yelling with merriment
would imagine that they had just dined
of a piece Of hard baked bread made
without yeast and washed down with
water tasting Of tar and turpentine.
Now, Miss Enid, your turnw cried
Pyne.
Her eyes danced mischievously.
Unfortunately, by the accident Of
birth, I am deprived Of the sense Of
humor," she said.
ut seems to be in the family all
right" he hazarded, looking at Con-
stance.
"Alas," said Enid, Il am an Ameri-
can"
I'll smile now, il that Is ALL" said
Pyne.
But, please, am not joking a little
DIT. When you go ashore you will prob
ably hear all about me, so 1 may as
well take the wind out Of the sails Of
gossip. l am mere waif who came
sailing in out Of the west one day In q
little boat which must have come from
the new world, as no one appeared to
have lost either me or 1t In the old.
Dad picked us both up and adopted
me-"
Pyne did not know whether to take
her seriously or not until he sought
confirmation in a pair Of tranquil eyes,
which he gazed into at every opportu-
nifty.
1T is quite true. said Constance