Evening journal., 1910-03-23
A Bright Girl
By DORA GOODRICH
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

enough to sail anywhere in any wa
ters, and in this yacht he made his
home. He contributed quite q number
Of inventions to assist scientists in
making deep sea soundings and inves-
tigating ocean currents and at the
time referred to in this story was en-
deavoring to simplify sea signals.
Abercrombie sailed to the Philip
pines among other places. where he
was welcomed by the United States
officials, especially the officers of the
army Among the families of the Off
GERS he met Miss Leila Turnlee, ths
daughter of Colonel Turnlee, conf
mander Of the -th infantry. Miss
Turnlee understood his device readily.
Now, the way Abercrombie knew
that Miss Turnlee understood his con-
trivances was because she always said
"Yes" and Indeed" and "How clever"
exactly at the right time, and when he
asked; do you follow me?" she always
replied, Perfectly"
Mrs. Turnlee was much pleased that
her daughter had a mind capable of
receiving the explanations Of Aber-
crombie's inventions by Abercrombie
himself, not that she cared anything
for the inventions, but she hoped her
daughters vigar of intellect would
lead Abercrombie to become interest
ed and possibly that a fine catch would
fall to the family. The good lady had
dragged half a dozen children over
In H.
ton of America during her younger
days and had known what it was to
get settled in quarters to be immedi-
ately ordered to some other station
or turned out by a ranking officer.
Abercrombie's yacht was preferable
to an adobe hut or log apartment even
when fixed. In other words, Mrs.
Turnlee desired that her daughter
should marry elsewhere than in the
army.
At dinner one evening at Colonel
Turnlees quarters Abercrombie was
explaining to the family his new sys-
TEN of sea signals. Colonel Turnlee,
who was a West Pointer and should
have understood anything in the sig
nal line, knew but little of what his
guest said. Mrs. Turnlee understood
never a word. Miss Leila did not need
to ask a single question. 1t all seemed
to go straight to her brain and find
lodgment there.
Upon my word" exclaimed Aber-
crombie. "How did you good people
come to ave a daughter so much
brighter than yourselvesf"
Leila has always attended the best
schools" said the fond mother point
edly. Besides, she has scientific
tastes"
Il have never met" Abercrombie de-
clared enthusiastically, zone who has
taken in everything 1 have said so
readily"
"she inherited it from her grand
father, Admiral Turnlee," the mother
pursued. "He wrote a book on coral
reefs and another on volcanic forma-
tions. Children always take from
their grandparents rather than their
own fathers"
Colonel Turnlee, who was cracking
nuts, did not notice his wife's asper-
sions on his own generation.
'Do you think, Miss Turnlee," said
Abercrombie, that If were to send
you a message by my code from my
yacht out in the bay you would under
stand it?"
Il think I would" replied the girl
demurely-"that is. if it were not too
long"
every well. Look out for one to-
morrow afternoon"
"How shall I reply? I have no sig
nails"
''You can write or, better, tele-
graph"
Miss Leila made no reply to this.
Possibly she was timid at being pvt
to the test, fearing that she might fail
/ don't know how she felt about it. /
only throw this out as a suggestion
Her mother had confidence that she
would understand the signal perfectly
and furnish Abercrombie with fresh
evidence Of the brilliancy Of her In,
tellect. The colonel went on cracking
and munching nuts, but said nothing
When the dinner broke up he had e
go over TO see the commanding gen
eral. and Mrs. Turnlee received a visii
from the majors wife. This left Aber
crombie and Miss Leila alone together
for the rest Of the evening. Aber
crombie in order to give her a bettel
chance to pass the test TO come of
next day coached her a bit, asking
her a few leading questions concern
ing II. He discovered that she did moi
know as much about the code as hl
had thought she did. He left bel
doubling that she would be able t.
telegraph him a correct answer to-hil
message.
The next day at 8 there were evi
dences on the Theta Of a desire Il
communicate with some one. Aber
crombie himself was holding up LITTLE
flags and running them down again
His message was. ''You are a very
bright girl" When the signaling wal
over Abercrombie waited Tor her tele
gram. 1t did not come. but later Colo
mel Turniee's orderly brought a note
II read:
Your fattering offer OF your heart AM
hand comes so Unexpectedly that shoull
have time. But my own heart says nov
I'D always Yes"
Aho-.ro.,,bto -ood A.. ,,,s..~fw-, ..-ftl