Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-06-29
L
! q {II5zEI- :
s- In

Maple house had ripened into sum-
mer. He was full of preparation for
his departure for Africa when a sum-
mons from old Captain Wayne reached
MIN.
With equal horror of putting up at
hotels or relatives houses, the captain
upon his arrival in town had gone
straight to his club and forthwith be-
come the sensation Of the clubs win
dows. Old members felt young when
they caught sight Of him, as though
they had come suddenly on vanished
landmark restored Passing gamins
gazed on his short-cropped hair, star
ing eyes, faring collar, black string
tie and flowing broadcloth and re-
marked, Gee, look at de old spoit in
de winderv'
Alan heard the remark as he entered
the club and smiled.
"How do you do, STRIP
'Huh!' grunted the captain. "Sit
down" He ordered a drink for his
guest and another for himself He
glared at the waiter He glared at a
callOW youth who had come up and
was looking with speculative eye at g.
neighboring chair. The waiter retired
almost precipitOusly. The youth fol-
lowed.
I'm my time" remarked the captain,
"a club was for privacy. Now it's a
haven for bellb0ys and a playground
for WhipperSnaDDerS"
They've made me a member, sir"
"Have, ehr' growled the captain,
and glared at his nephew Alan took
inspection cOolly, a faint smile on his
thin face. The captain turned away
his bullying eyes, crossed and I'M
crossed his legs, and finally spoke. 81
was just going to say when you inter
rupted," he began, that engineering is
a dirty job. Not, however" he con-
tinued, after a pause, ''dirtier than
most. It's a profession but not a ca
reer.''
"Oh, I don't know" said Alan.
They've got a few in the army, and
they seem to be doing pretty well'
"Huh, the army!' said the captain.
He subsidized, and made a new start.
whats your appointments"
1T doesn't amount to an appoint
ment. Just job as assistant to Wal
ton, the engineer the contractors are
sending out We're going to put up
a bridge somewhere in Africa
THAT'S it. l knew it." said the cap
tain. Going away. Want any money!"
The question came like solid shot
colored and smiled, all az the same
time.
"NO, thanks, sir" he replied, give
got all I need"
The captain hitched his chair fog
ward, placed his hands on his knees,
leaned forward and glared out on the
avenue. ''The Lansings," he began
like boy reciting piece, care devils
for drink, the Waynes for women.
Don't you ever let 'em worry you
about drink. Nowadays the doctors
call us nonalcoholic. In my time it
was just plain strong heads for wine.
| say, don't worry about drink There's
a safety valve in every Wayne's gull
let
But women, Alanr' The captain
slued around his bullying eyes. you
look out for them. AS your great
grandfather used to say, To women,
only perishabte gO0ds-sWeets, flowers
and Kisses And you take it from me,
kisses aren't always the cheapest.
They say God made everything
to little apples and Jersey lightning.
But when he made women the devil
helped" The captains merry BUSINESS
dropped from his as he deliberately
drew out his watch and fob Good
thing he did, too" he added, as a
pleasing afterthought. He leaned back
in his chair. A complacent look came
over his face.
Alan got up to say good-by. The
captain arose, too, and clasped the hand
Alan held out. Zone more thing" he
said. Don't forget there's always a
Wayne to back a Wayne for good or
bad There was a suspicion of mois-
ture in his eye as he hurried his guest
off.
Back in his room Alan found letters
awaiting him. He read them and tore
them up-all but one. It was from
Glenn. She wrote:
Dear Alan: Nance says you are going
very far away. I am sorry. It has been
raining here very much. In the hoIlcws
all the bridges are under water. l have
invented a new game. It is called steam
boat" I play it On old Duhbs. We go
down into the valley and I make him go
He puffs just like a steamboat and when
too fat. l hope you will come back very
soon. GLEN
That evening Glenn was thrown into
a transport by receiving her first tele-
gram. 1t read, You must not play
steamboat again, it is dangerous,
Alan" She tucked it in her bosom
and rushed over to the Firs to show it
to Gerry.
Gerry and AK we're spending the
summer at the Firs, where Mrs. Ian
sing, Gerry's widowed mother, was
still nominally the hostess. They had
been married two years, but people
still spoke of Alix as Gerry's bride,
and in so doing stamped her with her
own seal. To strangers they carried
the air of couple about to be mar
r1ed at the rational close of long en-