The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-03
CHAPTER Viii.
A Mixed Pickle.

| CHAPTER Viii.
A Mixed Pickle.
Mrs. Whitcomb had almost blushe ed
when she had murmured to Lieuten.
ant Hudson:
Il should think the young couple
would have preferred a stateroom."
And Mr.. Hudson had fiinched q lit
tie as he explained:
| Yes. Of course. We tried to get II.
but 1t was gone"
1t was during the excitement over
the decoration Of the bridal section.
that the stateroOm-tenants slipped in
unobserved.
First came a fluttering woman
whose youthful beauty had q certain
nue. OF experience, saddenine and
wisering. The porter brought her in
from the station-platform, led her TO
the stateroom's concave door and
passed in with her luggage. But she
fingered without, Peri at the gate
OF Paradise. When the porter re.
turned to bow her in. she shivered and
nesltated, and then demanded:
oh, porter, are you sure there's no.
body else in there?"
The porter chuckled, but humored
her panic.
i amt seen nobody. Shall I look
under the seat?"
10 MS dlsmay, she nodded her head
violently. He rolled his eyes In won
oerment, but returned to the state.
room, made pretense of examination
ana came back with face full of re.
assurance. Nom, they's nobody
tnere. Take a mighty small-size bur.
gar to squeeze unda that bald-er-
berth. Nom, nobody there"
"Ohw
The gasp was so equivocal that ha
made bold to ask:
is you pleased or disappointed ?"
Inc mysterious young woman was
TOO much agitated to rebuke the impu.
dence. She merely sighed: ooh. nor.
ter, I'm so anxious"
I'm not-now," he muttered. for
she handed him a coin.
Porter. have you seen anybody on
board that looks suspicious?"
Evvabody looks suspicious to ma
Missy. But what was you expecting
-especial?"
oh. porter, have you seen ANYBODY
that looks like a detective in dis.
guise?"
well. they's one man looks g II be
was disguised as balloon, but don't
believe he's no slooch-hound."
We'll, If you see anybody that looks
Ike detective and he asks for Mrs
Fosdick-"
Mrs. What-dick?"
Mrs. Fosdick! You tell him I'm not
on board" And she gave him another
coin.
"Yassum," said the porter. lineen
ing willingly on such fertile soil "rii
tell him Mrs. Fosdick done give me-
ner word she wasn't on bode."
Yes!-and II a woman should ask
you"
What kind OF woman?'
The h1deous kind that men call
handsome"
"Oh. amt they hideous, them hand.
some women?"
We'll, II such a woman asks for
Mrs. Fosdick-she's my husbands
first wife-but of course that doesn't
interest you"
"No'm-yes'm.'
IF she comes-tell her-teIl her
oh, what shall We tell her?"
The porter rubbed his thick skull:
Lemme see--We might say you'll
tell you what Well tell her: we'll tell
her you took the train for New York:
and If she runs mighty fast she can
just about ketch it,"
rine, fine!" And she rewarded
his genius with another coin. And,
porter He had not budged. "por-
ter. II a very handsome man with
luscious eyes and soulful smile asks
for me-"
I'll th'Ow him off the train"
"Oh, nO-no.-that's my husband
my present husband You may let
him in Now Is it all perfectly clear,
porter?"
"Oh, yassum, clear as clear" Thus
guaranteed she entered the staterOom,
leaving the porter alone with his prob
lem He tried to work it out in a
semi-audible humble: "Lemme see!
II your present husbands absent wife
gifts on bode disguised as a handsome
hideOus woman I'm to throw him
her--Off the train and let her-him--
come in-oh. yassum. you may rely on