The Delta independent., 1912-09-13
Copyright, 1911, BY Ii. K. Fly Co.


dence.
DR.. and Mrs. Temple, who had re-
turned to their berth, witnessed this
greeting with amazement. After the
quarrel of the night before surely
some explanation should have been
overheard, but the puzziing Maliorys
flew to each others arms without
moments delay. The mystery was ex-
citing the passengers to such point
that they were vowing to ask a few
questions point blank. Nobody had
quite dared to approach either OF
them, but frank curiosity was prefer
able to nervous prostration, and the
secret could not be kept much longer.
Fellow-passengers have some rights.
Not even a stranger can be permitted
to outrage their curiosity with Inn
punity forever.
Seeing them together, Mrs. Temple
watched the embrace with her daily
renewal of joy that the last nights
quarrel had not proved fatal. She
nudged her husband:
'See, they're making up again."
DR.. Temple was moved to violent
outburst for him: We'll. that the
darnedest bridal couple-I only said
darn, my dear"
He was still more startled when Mr..
Baumann, cruising along the aisle,
bent over to murmur: Can l fix you a
nice divorce?"
DIR. Temple rose in such an attitude
of horror as he assumed in the pulpit
when denouncing the greatest curse
of society, and Mr.. Baumann retired.
AS he passed Mallory he cast an ap-
preciative glance at Marjorie and,
tapping Mallory's shoulder, whispered:
mo wonder you want marriage IL
cense. I'll be in the next car, should
you meet me-" Then he went on his
route.
Marjorie stared after him in won
der and asked: What did not person
mean by what he said?"
Its all right, Marjorie" Mallory
explained, in the highest cheer: I'VE
can get married right away"
Marjorie declined to get her hopes
mp again: You're always saying that"
But here's the license-see?"
What good is that?" she said;
there's no preacher on board
But that man is a justice OF the
peace ana ne ii marry US.
Marjorie stared at him incredulous-
ly: THAT creature!-before all these
passengers?"
mot at ALL" Mallory explained.
"We'n go into the smoking room"
Marjorie leaped to her feet, aghast:
"Elope two thousand miles to be mar
ried in a smoking room by Yiddish
drummer! Harry Mallory, you're
crazy"
Put just that way, the proposition
did not look so alluring as at first.
He sank back with a sigh: II guess
AMI. l resign"
He was as weary of being "foiled
again" as the villain of cheap melo-
drama. The two lovers sat in tw1-
light of deep melancholy, till Mar
jorie's mind dug up new source OF
alarm:
Harry. I've just thought of some
thing terrible
Lets have it," he sighed, drearily.
1--WE reach San Francisco at mid
night and you sail at daybreak. What
becomes of me?"
Mallory had no answer to this prob
lem, except a grim: I'll not desert
you"
But well have no time to get mar
ried."
"Then," he declared with iron re-
solve, then I'll resign from the
army"
Marjorie stared at him with awe
He was SO wonderful. SO heroic. But
what will the country do without
your"
lit will have to get along the best
It can." he answered with finaiity. do
you think I'd give you up?"
But this was too much to ask. In
the presence of a ruined career and a
heroless army, Marjorie felt that her
own scruples were too petty to count
She could be heroic, too.
mol" she said, in deep, low tone
mo, well get married in the smoking
room. Go call your drummer!"
This opened the clouds and let in
the sun again with such radiant
"Fine!" he cried, and leaped to his
feet, only to be detained again by
Marjorie's clutch:
But first, what about that brace
lett"
"She's got it." Mallory groaned
slumping from the heights again.
do you mean to say she's still
wearing it?"
"How was I to get it?"
Couldn't you have slipped into hel
car last night and stolen it?"
Good Lord. 1 shouldn't think yout
want me to go-why, Mar1orie-rd be
arrested"
But Marjorie set her jaw hard:
well, you get that bracelet, or you
don't get me-" And then her smoul
daring jealousy and grief took q less