Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-01-24

gers, but it's continuation would be
noticed without doubt. She was a
very young girl, very beautiful and at
tractive, travelling alone. Should she
prove to be the friend OF a man arrest
ed for murder-well, she must not,
that was all!
Could l explain this to her so she
would understand? My cabin was not
large enough to contain that question
with me, so / took it to the bows
where there was room. l knew Isa-
belle Reade pretty well now. If told
her anything, l could not drive her
away from our friendship with an AK
-marline-spike was the better word
on shipboard! She would be SO loyal
she would insist on Jail with me. She
was just that age for romantic sac
rifice; no, that was doing her fine.
ness of character an injustice. At
any age, she'd be like that. She was
the kind to stick by a-friend in dis
tress till the last dog was hung-bah!
bad smile, till the last dregs were
drunk.
If wanted her to begin loving me,
to tell her was the quick way of 60
ing at it. l did; flatly, frankly, right
from the shoulder. ! admitted to my
self that / wanted Isabelle Reade's
love. Then, said / to myself in the
bows of the Wilton, looking across the
San Pedro Bay at the hills beyond, l
have only to tell her what Is lacing
me and order her to keep away from
me the balance of the voyage. Result,
II am arrested at San Diego, Mazat-
Ian or by Captain Blake aboard, she'll
best tarred with the murder-pitch for
the balance of her life, even if she
does not implicate herself in the at
tempt to save me.
That result was too costly win
ming of her love. put 1t aside and
reversed the reasoning. Tell her
nothing; had hurt her feelings, unin-
tentionally, but no whit less surely,
already, and there was an explana-
tlon and apology coming from me be-
fore our pleasant relations might be
resumed She would expect that, and
I guessed she was prepared to make
me pay well for sending her away
from me to the captain. And she
could, hang it! She could make me
suffer-!
Tell her nothing, make no explana-
tion, no apology, and suffer; there
was the alternative? She had pride
enough to keep her away from me a
longer trip than the Wilton was MAX
ing, and that was the situation re-
quired. All / need do was do moth
ing; easy enough? The hardest thing
to do that ever made up my mind
had to be done!
l saw her On the bridge beside Cap
tain Blake when we cast loose from
the San Pedro dock and pOked her
nose up the bay on our journey. She
didn't see me then, nor much at din
ner; just enough so that her neglect
was incOnspicuous. l finished first
and got away from the table by refus-
ing coffee, and ! need my coffee!
am accustomed to three cups each
meal and two at late night supper.
found the purser whose acquain-
tance had made the first day out.
Reedley was rouad faced, chunky
built, youthful chap who hummed
scraps OF rag-time between sentences
and drummed an accompaniment on
his desk-lid or the arm OF his chair
with his fingers. He was uncon-
sciously assisting me in learning my
new vocation OF steamer efficiency.
and lie was willing master. He en-.
joyed showing me iaat he knew the
steamer business from A to Y and
then backward, and gained knowl-
edge In chunks that had to be broken