The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-02-18
The UNTOLD
HALF.
By ARTHUR ROLToNWOOD.


gy morning IN December when the
Admiral Dart came wheeling up the
haFbor swung Into her berth at the
Yellow STIR docks with the aid Of a
couple Of tugs for tho tide was run.
ming strongly-shot out her gansplank
and diaemharked the four passengers
she carried
HhC also diaembarkod Bobby Shack.
lett, but Bobby shacklott did not
come 10 tho wharf BY way Of the
sAngplank. while the fusay little
donkey engines IN the sheds were
pufing vallantly and swinging briskIy
out Of tho Admiral Darts hold tho
many bunehea Of green bananas Bob,
BY Bhacklett. very thin, very pale and
very much unwashcd. came up from
The stoke room, took long breath OF
The misty air, ahiyered d blt--for his
clothes were painfully thin and shah,
by-and then climbed over the rail
and dropped unostcntatlously to the
wharf
A couple OF carriages bearing the
steamers late passengers whlskcd
pAst him, Three umbllng drays went
hnmplng past one OF the drivers
ahoutlng lmpoiltely to Bobby 10 get TO
somewhere out or tho way,
Bobby grinned. II was not a pleas.
ant grin, flo was thinking Of his
Homecoming as ho had planned II and
A. Il had actually turned out, and
comparisons, which are always oiious
things, were particularly 10 In this
case
He thrust his hand into the pocket
Of his ragged trousers, drew out few
pieces Of silver, grinned once more,
shivercd again and made his way 20
the street.
A solitary hanson was drawn up 10
tho curb. waiting for n chance fare.
Bobby stepped over 70 Il, The eabhy
surveyed him Scowllngly, but Bobby.
quite ohliylous apparently 70 the dubi.
oua Rlaneea cast in his direction. climb
"a calmly In,
lie gavn an address ON q certain con.
serva,ive street uptown. The driver
stared nj him. Bobby smiled.
Don't blame me, old chap" he said
noting the others hesitation. "nut l
want to 60 there, strange as Il may
seem and Incompatible A. Il may be
with my present appearance. what's
the row. Afraid | won't be good for
the tarei Here you 20"
He passed up the handful OF silver
through the trap, Now, then, drive
on" he commanded.
The whlplnsh sang through the air;
the Ehambling horse lurchcd into a
trot; the hanson rocked, and away
they went through tho dingy, noisy
streets,
They drew up finally before an I'm
posing house on the conservative nn.
town street, Bobby climbed from the
hanson, and while the latter turned
and went Gathering away hc shut his
teeth grimly aud mounted the brown
Isone steps With o light OF determine
ion In hts eyes,
N In response 20 his vigorous tug al
the bell the door was opened by a
statuesque butler, whose dignity stood
out obtrusIvely all over him, He look
cd at TIE figure on the s,oop and closed
the door halfway,
"WNnr he said, and the manner In
which he said It plainly bado the Wis
itor begonc.
Y 'Is Miss wadsworth lnr' said Bob
by quietly,
"Hl think not, sir, In fact, HI an
fveYy sure she isn't" the butler replied
I A look came into Bobby's gray eye'
VA look that had made better mel
than the butler quail many times be
fore now,
81 rather think you are mistaken,
said he. I'm sure she in home, and
what is more, ! am sure she VIII b
lad to receive me, II you don't be
eve It, Just tell her, II you will, tina
general manager Of the Colona n
rcoast railway would like a wor
tn her I'd advise you to do as
v" .s. .sa
NE butler hesitated but secon
ger. The man on tho stoop wa
King at him with a most dlsconcer
determination In his bearing. Th
Ter, unwilling, 1t is true, opened Ii
{. 9i'f''AN@ IVY.
ten in. sir, said he "Hi win see
Are crackfed cheerfully In bl
lace at one end Of the warm, dar
Bobby drew chair close TO
sitting down, held out his stll
fingers to the grateful blaze, +.
the wide stairs creaked the bu
ith as much haste as his ublQr
ngnity allowed Voices sound'
There was little gasp, or
,lsh OF skirts, the patter Of lig
4 IDS hurrylng down the stairs
" arose from bis chair Just
Wadsworth, more radiant mo
ul, than ever, came running
i'm. N
,yp' she cried both her han
TO him. Bobby, III can't |
N att Is really you and that y
Il Tin glad-~oh, so glad cal
properlyp
had stlfrened. His face "
We.
= please sit down for q n