The Delta independent., 1912-09-06
Copyrtght, lsil, By Ii. Z. Fly Co

the others made gestures which he
could not see. His enlightenment
came when Mallory snapped the towel
from his hands and glared into his
face 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
a fiercer: Whom, then?"
He was in a dangerous mood, and
Ashton came to the recue: "Oh, don't
mind Wellington. He's not sober
yet"
This inspired suggestion came like
a life-buoy to the hard-pressed Well.
1ngton. He seized 1t and spoke thick
ly: Don't mind me-I'm not shober
yet"
'Well, 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 furt
ously, with touch they had already
come to recognize as the English
mans. The porter had learned to rec
ognize it, too, and he always took
double the necessary time to answer
IT He was sauntering down the aisle
af tuh
Wedgewood's rumpled name shot out
from the curtains like a lions from a
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 himself
and added to Marjorie, who was Just
starting down the aisle: "I'll suttainly
be interested in that man .gittin'
where he's goin' to git to-" Noting
that she carried Snoozleums, he said:
Were comm into a station right
SOON" Without further discussion
she handed him the dog. and he hob
bled away.
When she reached the women's
door. she found Mrs. Wellington wait
ing with increasing evaporation:
Come, join the line at the box Of
1ice." she said.
Good morning. Who's in there?"
said Marjorie, and Mrs. Wellington,
not noting that Mrs. Whitcomb had
come out Of her berth and fallen into
line. answered sharply:
Il don't know. She's been there
forever. I'm sure it's that cat Of q
Mrs. Whitcomb."
Good morning, Mrs. Mallory"
snapped Mrs. Whitcomb.
Mrs. Wellington was rather proud
that the random shot landed, but Mar
1Orte 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 I WILL" said Marjorie.
May l hook you?" said Mrs. Whit.
comb.
you're awfully kind" said Mar.
5orie, 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 II
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 a complete
circle. and fingers piled hooks and
eyes in a veritable Ladies' Mutual Aid
Society.
BY now, Wedgewood was ready to
appear in a bathrobe about as gaudy
as the royal standard OF Great Brit.
ain. He stalked down the aisle, and
answered the male choruss CHEEKY
Good morning" with a ramlike
''Baw."
Ira Lathrop felt amiable even to-
ward the foreigner. and he observed:
"Glorious morning this morning"
II dare say" growled Wedgewood
ri don't go In much for mawnings-