The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-03

'i"u piiue IKE tnat, IL would take
more than a quarrel to send me to
another BERTH"
Tue others made gestures which he
could n see. His enlightenment
came when Mallory snapped the towel
from his hands and glared into his
race with all the righteous wrath OF a
man hearing his domestic affairs pub
licly discussed.
Were you alluding to me, Mr..
wellington" he demanded. hotly.
Little Jimmie almost perished with
apoplexy: "You, you?" he mumbled.
why, OF course not. You're not the
only bridegroom on the train"
Mallory tossed him the towel again:
"You meant Mr.. Lathrop them"
Me! Not much!" roared the in.
dignant Lathrop.
Mallory returned to Wellington with
fercer: Whom. then?"
He was In dangerous mood. and
Ashton came to the recue: "Oh. don't
mind Wellington. He's not sober
yet"
This inspired suggestion came like
life-buoy to the hard-pressed Well.
irgton. He seized it and spoke thick.
y: Don't mind me@'m not shober
yet"
We'll, It's a good thing you're not"
was Mallory's final growl as he began
his own toilet.
The porter's bell began to ring furi.
ously, with touch they had already
come to recognize as the English
mans. The porter had learned to rec
ognize 1t, too, and he always took
double the necessary time TO answer
II. He was sauntering down the aisle
at his most leisurely gait when
Wedgewood's rumpled name shot out
from the curtains like lions from
Jungle, and he beloved: "Pawtah!
Pawtah!"
Still on the train," said the porter.
You may give me my portman-
teau."
"Yassah." He dragged 1t from the
upper berth. and set 1t inside Wedge.
woods berth without special care as
to Its destination. Does you desire
anything else. sir?"
Yes. your Absence" said Wedge
wood.
THE same to you and many OF
them," the porter muttered to himsen.
and added to Marjorie. who was Just
starting down the aisle: I'll suttainIy
he interested in that man gittin'
where he's gOin' to git to-" Noting
that she carried Snoozleums, he said:
We're comm into a station right
toon." Without further discussion
she handed him the dog. and he hob
bled away.
When she reached the womens
door, she found Mrs. Wellington wait.
Ing with increasing exasperation:
Come, join the line at the box OF.
1ice." she said.
Good morning. Who's in there?"
naid Marjorie, and Mrs. Wellington,
not noting that Mrs. Whitcomb had
come out Of her berth and fallen into
Mne. answered sharply:
Il don't know. She's been tb -,
forever. I'm sure it's that cat OF a
Mrs. Whitcomb"
Good morning, Mrs. Mallory"
snapped Mrs. Whitcomb.
Mrs. Wellington was rather proud
that the random shot landed, but Mar.
1orie felt most uneasy between the
two tigresses: Good morning, Mrs.
Whitcomb." she said. There was a
disagreeable silence, broken finally by
Mrs. Wellington's: "Oh, Mrs. Mallory.
would you be angelic enough to hook
my gown"
"Of course l WILL" said Marjorie.
May I hook your" said Mrs. Whit.
comb.
You're awfully kind" said Mar
jorie. presenting her shoulders to
Mrs. Whitcomb, who asked with mali
cious sweetness: why didn't your
husband do this for you this morn.
ing?"
Il don't remember" Marjorie
stammered, and Mrs. Wellington
tossed over-shoulder an apothegm:
Hes no husband till he's hook-bro-
ken"
Just then Mrs. Fosdick came out OF
her stateroom. Seeing Mrs. Whit
combs waist agape, she went at It
with a brief, Good morning, every
body. Permit me-"
Mrs. Wellington twisted her head to
say Good morning" and to ask, Are
you hooked. Mrs FOsdick?"
mot yet" pouted Mrs. Fosdick.
Turn round and back up" said
Mrs. Wellington. After some maneu-
vering. the women formed q complete
circle. and fingers piled hooks and
eyes In a veritable ladies' Mutual Aid
Society.
BY now. Wedgewood was ready to
appear in bathrobe about as gaudy
as the royal standard of Great Brit
ain. He stalked down the aisle, and
answered the male chOrus's CHEEKY