The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-15
CHAPTER VIII.
A Mixed Pickle.

n MtNeQ\ FICkio.
Mrs. Whitcomb had almost blushed
when she had murmnred to Lieuten-
ant Hudson:
Il should think the young couple
would have preferred stateroom."
And Mr.. Hudson had finched lit
tie as he explained:
yes, of course. We tried to get 1t,
but 1t was gone"
It was during the excitement over
the decoration of the bridal section.
that the stateroom-tenants slipped in
unobserved.
First came futtering woman
whose youthful beauty had certain
hue Of experience, saddening and
wisering The porter brought her in
from the station-piatform, 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 shiyered and
hesitated, and then demanded:
"oh, porter, are you sure there's mo-
body else in there?"
The porter chuckled. but humored
her panic.
Il amt seen nobody. Shall look
under the seat?"
To his dismay, she nodded her head
violently. He rolled his eyes In won
derment, but returned to the state
room, made pretense OF examination,
and came back with face full of re-
assurance. Nom. they's nobody
there. Take mighty small-size, bur
glar to squeeze unda that bald-er-
berth. Nom. nobody there"
"Oh!"
The gasp was SO equivocal that he
made bold to ask:
"ls you pleased or disappointed"
The mysterious young woman was
too much agitated to rebuke the impu-
dence. She merely sighed: "Oh, por-
ter, I'm 80 anxious
I'm not-now," he muttered, for
she handed him coin.
Porter. have you seen anybody on
board that looks suspicious?"
'Evvabody looks suspicious to me.
Missy. But what was you expecting
-especial?"
oh, porter, have you seen anybody
that looks like detective in dis
guise?"
We'll, they's one man looks q If he
was disguised as balloon. but don't
believe he's no slooch-hound."
We'll, II you see anybody that looks
like detective and he asks for Mrs
Fosdick--"
Mrs. What-dick?"
Mrs. Fosdick! You tell him I'm mot
on board" And she gave him another
coin.
"Yassum," said the porter, Iinger-
Ing willingly on such fertile soil. "Ill
tell him Mrs. Fosdick done give me
her word she wasn't on bode."
Yes!-and ii woman should ask
you"
What kind of woman"
The hideous kind that men call
handsome"
"Oh, amt they hideous. them hand
some women"
We'll, II such a woman asks for
Mrs. FosdickAshe's my husbands
flrst wife-but Of course that doesn't
interest you"
No m-yes'm :"
III she comes-tell her-tell her
oh. what shall we tell herr"
The porter rubbed his thick skull:
Lemme see-we might say you'll
tell you what We'll tell her: we'll tell
her you took the train for New York:
and II she runs mighty fast she can
Just about ketch it."
Fine, fine!" And she rewarded
his genius with another coin. And.
porter" He had not budged. "por-
ter, II very handsome man with
luscious eyes and soulful smile asks
for me-"
I'll th'ow him Off the traln."
"Oh, no-no!-that's my husband
my present husband. You NAV 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 1t out In a
semi-audible humble: "Lemme see.
II your present husbands absent wife
gifts on bode disguised as handsome
hideous woman Pm to throw him
her-off the train and let her-hfm-
come in-oh, yassum. you may rely on
me-" He bowed and held out his
hand. But she was gone. He shut.
fed on into the car.
He had hardly left the little space
before the stateroom when a hand
some man with luscious eyes. but
without any smile at all, came stink
ing along the ..orridor and tapped
cautiously on tile door Silence alone
answered him at first, then when he
had raped again. he heard a muY-
fed:
Go away. I'm not In
He put his itps close and softly
called: Edith.
At this Sesame the door opened b
trtfs bu. when he tried to enter. q
k~en.& <G-. ~ !. .s@@4 1881