Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-01-31

Il noticed you LETT before coHee last
evening. WHY"
"Didn't need 1t. Important business.
Had to hurry away" was certainly
not awake enough to yet stand cross
examination. ! must get away from
her before betrayed myself by some
lingual slip. Important business
now" I said. Must hurry away"
''You sit down, Mr.. Gilmore said
Isabelle Reade, OBTAINING hand with
more muscle behind 1t than her gentle
curves warranted, laid on my arm.
"Sit right there until you have said
several words of apology due me since
yesterday afternoon. Begin!"
I'll apologize" l muttered.
"Begin again!" she commanded.
Start I humbly apologize"
II humbIy apologize"
"For my rudeness to Miss Reade in
refusing her drink in saloon and
sending her to curley haired captain
who grins," she continued.
"For all that and more"
"Then why did you do it?"
"Why?" paused to gather myself
together; to seek help of my wander
ing faculties; to reinforce the thin
line of my wits. 1t was hopeless. The
reserves wouldn't come up. "Whyf
Why2" l repeated, aimlessly. II
don't know Can't tell you why"
If / had only the wit TO have lied to
her them! Her hand on my arm was
drawn quickly away and hot flush
mantled her cheeks-the blush Of
shame that she was seeking an unde-
sired friendship, the poignant fear
that she was forcing herself on man.
And even then, she was brave enough
to make last battle for that friend
ship. With averted face and lowered
voice from which all the gentle rail-
lery had gone, she persisted: "If
was wrong-in anything did not do
right-have hurt you unllnowingly-
am very, very sorry, Mr.. Gilmore"
she almost whispered.
could not stand it. If l had re-
mained another minute l should have
taken her in my arms and-and made
mess of everything! l ran away
My hat blew over the side and
cursed it so bitterly that man With
in hearing of my language piously
crossed himself. l went to my cabin
and forgot breakfast-cOffee even
in my first big heart-trouble.
One takes it hard at forty. Like
the measles and youthful contagious
generally, love should have its spasms
in the years of prompt reaction and
superabundance of vitality. moped
about during the next four days like
an elderly hen with the pip. Purser
Reedley was the only man aboard who
would have put up with me, for he
could counteract my effect with his rag
time drone. changed my meal hours
to his, which were not the captains,
and spent much of my time learning
how to run a line of passenger-steam-
ers carrying freight, from this CHEEKY
faced lad.
AS we neared Mazatlan and my
fears that Marcus might decide to
hold me grew less each hour, hated
myself worse. II there was to be no
excuse for running this wonderful
friendship, spelling what might have
been an Arcadian journey in perfect
tropic seas, would want to jump
over the side out beyond the three
mile limit where the water was deep.
The relief of knowing l was not to be
arrested for murder would never Of
set the fact that / had fatuouSN kill
ed the greatest hope my life had ever
held.
/ went to Reedley's cabin the night
before we should reach Mazatlan, talk
ing little because of the memory of
the two days she and l might have
spent together there; Reedley as quiet
save for the wordless song that ebbed
from his chest. He sat at his desk,
checking up his books or drumming
to the tune, and twice his careless ell
bow brushed yellow sheet of paper
to my feet and replaced it.
The second time / laid 1t back on
his desk, he began words TO the tune
he hummed, singing them low, and
somehow they penetrated my abstIac-
ton, they were such misfit words. The
tune was familiar enough, from a pop
ular light opera, but the words didn't
belong. EVERY little minute, you're
damneder fool! Why in HELEN
Blazes don't you read what's wrote?
Every little minute that your wits are
wondering you are taking chances
like goat" Again the yellow paper
fluttered to the floor
Reedley was toting up a Column OF
figures, his eyes riveted on the book,
while read:
Captain Blake, S. S. Wilton: Arrest
John Gilmore at Mazatlan, outside
limit, transship 10 Nanaimo in irons.
Murder suspect. Warrant here.
1t was signed by San Francisco's
chief of police and made doubly GER
tain by Thurston's counter'signature.
replaced the paper on his desk.
"Thanlis," he said idly. pinning it face
down on spindle.
when will we reach Mazatlan?"