Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-03-16
Ccontinued from last week.

Taylor was still at his lecture on the
needs of our American merchant ma
rine when Pickering passed hurriedly.
crossed the track and began speaking
earnestly to the girl in gray.
The American flag should command
the seas. What we need is not more
battleshfps but more freight car
riers-" Taylor was saying.
But ! was watching Olivia Gladys
Armstrong. In a long skirt, with her
hair caught up under gray toque that
matched her coat perfectly, she was
not my Olivia of the tam o'-shanter
who had pursued the rabbit; nor yet
the umsophisticated school girl, who
had suffered my idiotic babble: nor,
again, the dreamy rapt organist of the
chapel She was grown woman with
at least 20 summers to her credit, and
there was about her an air of knowing
the world, and of not being at all
person one would make foolish speech.
es to. She spoke to Pickering gravely
Once she smiled dolefully and shook
her head, and | vaguely strove to re-
member where ! had seen that look
in her eyes before Her gold beads,
which had once carried in my pocket.
were cIasped tight about the close col.
lar of her dress; and / was glad, very
glad that had ever touched anything
that belonged to her.
Who was Olivia Gladys Armstrong
and what was Arthur Pickering's bust
ness with her? And what was it she
had said to me that evening when |
had found her playing on the chapel
organ? So much happened that day
that | had almost forgotten. and In.
deed, had tried to forget that made
fool of myself for the edification OF
an amusing little school girl. Then
you prefer to ignore the first time |
ever saw YOU she had said but II |
had thought Of 1t at all it had been
with righteous self-contempt. Or, / |
may have fattered my vanity with the |
reflection that she had eyed me-her |
hero, perhaps-with wistful admira. |
ton across the wall.
Meanwhile the Chicago express
roared into Annandale and the private |
car was attached. Taylor watched |
the trainmen with the cool interest of |
b man for whom the proceeding had |
no novelty. while he continued to d. |
late upon the nations commercial op- /
portanities. | turned perfagce and /
walked with HIM back toward the sta.
zion. where Mrs. Taylor and her sister
were talking to the conductor.
Pickering came running across the
platform With several kilograms in his
hand
Tn awfully sorry, Glenarm. that
our stops so short, and Piekering's
face wore worried look as he ad.
dressed me. his eyes on The conductor.
How far do you go?" asked.
California. We have large interests
out there and have to attend some
stockholders meetings In Colorado in
January -
IAN, YOs business men! You bust
ness men!" / said reproachfully
wished to call him blackguard then
and there. and it was on my tongue to
do so, but concluded that to wait
until he had shown his hand fully
was the better game.
The ladies' entered the car and i
shGok hands with Taylor, who threat
ened to send me his pamphlet on The
Needs OF American Shipping when he
got back TO New York
It's too bad she wouldn't go with
us Poor girl! this must be dreary
hole for her." he said to Pickering,
who helped him upon the platform OF
the car with what seemed to be I'M
necessary precipitation.
You little know u.s." declared, for /
Pickering's benefit. Life In AMMAN |
dale is nothing If not exciting. The |
people here are indifferent marksmen !
or there'd be murders galore"
''Mr. Gleharm is a good deal OF a
wag," explained Pickering, hastily !
swinging himself aboard as the train !
started.
Yes; it's my humor that keeps me
aliye," responded, and taking off my
hat | saluted Arthur Pickering with
my broadcast salaam.