The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-08

Betsy, let's run out into the Hudson
and see Peary's ship"
Betsy Cobb jumped at her brother 5
words and gazed with sudden intentness
out the window. She had come up to his
office for a few moments chat. and. as
she felt the blood pounding into her
cheeks and up to her hair. she wished
poignantly that she had stayed away. To
the Roosevelt. indeed
IT'S too cold. she objected. Stimulating
a shiver. wen freeze getting out
there"
'Bosh, Get on your gloves. 1t isn't
every day that one has chance 20 climb
over a vessel that's been within hailing
distance Of the north pole. I'll just cut
my appointments. What's the troubleT'
She had baked fatty at the gentle
urgency Of her brothers hand on her arm.
Il won't go!' she declared.
The doctor laughed good-humoredly.
What's up? Is some tickle admirer
who forgot for the first time to send you
a box OF candy FOR your birthday due out
there this afternoon? Come on. Il isn't
every day I can run of, and it's no
pleasure to go alone"
Betsy's head swan with a perspective
of a chain Of horrors opening up by her
acquiescence, but. on the other hand. her
brothers curiosity was not to be reused
too much. He had a most uncomfortable
habit of going TO the bottom of things
We'll" she said. reluctantly. 'I1i GO"
She laughed bit Historically. But I'd
rather be hanged"
Her brother remembered with some un-
easiness that Betsy had not been herself
OF late She was not so gay and fun-lov-
ing as usual, and he often caught her
incoming. That was what she was doing
back at the office just now. and it decided
him 10 run away with her for a while.
Betsy. don't you feel well?" he asked
as they scrambled of a cross-town car at
the ferry slip.
"Botheration. yes. What a silly ques-
tion"' But, though her words were care
less, she avoided his eyes and looked of
Gown the Hudson. You can't get across
this day" she announced with percep-
tible relief. THE ice is all caked up here
on the New York side SO that a launch
couldn't possibly get through"
Wen hire a ferry. then" said her
brother cheerfully. One thing was GER
tain-the Roosevelt had something vital
TO do with her state Of sulks. Good: he
would probe further.
rs there any way OF getting out TO
the Peary ship?" ne inquired of a police
man.
ice is pretty bad. No boats going out
Of here, but maybe If you walk I'D to
Forty-fourth street you can get on big
ger boat. They have been out once to-day.
Guess you'd better go across TO Jersey.
TNQTpE M
hire some one to take you out 10 mid
stream. The Peary boat is nearer the
Jersey shore anyhow" he called after the
notwithstanding physician, who had
seized his sisters arm as the ferry gong
sounded and was hustling her on board
Betsy looked furtively at the vessel,
lying low and gray. with her nose up
stream, as the ferry passed. There was
much deep interest amounting even TO
fascination in her glance. but she feigned
extreme Indifference. Several other paO-
pie were evidently on the same quest,
and as the ferry neared the Jersey shore
a cry of disappointment went up. Not
launch or rowboat in sight 1t looked
very much as though those who were not
good swimmers would have to content
themselves with ferry giimpses of the
famed ship, and cameras began swapping
industriously.
Again Betsy's manner became more
spontaneous.
You Will get out 10 the Roosevelt. will
you?" she twitted her brother, ioyouslv.
We'll. don't envy you the swim in this
temperature. Fortunately, I'm a girl.
and so exempt"
'Ho. I don't know. Plenty OF row.
boats around here somewhere. You'll
handle the oars all right YOu are the
most interchangeable croaker ever saw"
Following the directions of a 'longshore-
man, he guided Betsy's tagging footsteps
for five minutes across the bridge, down
interminable flights of stairs, across the
road TO the wood pile" and brought up
before a rotten log enmeshed in ice cakes
that led out 10 a row of decrepit old
canal boats lying out of commission
along the shore. a man appeared around