Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-15
CHAPTER XIII.

into Brindisi late at night, and the
menagerie, as William now dubbed
his fellow tourists, made straight for
the Ark. A mild condition of pande-
monium reigned for a time. Those
who had taken the Sicilian trip, and
those who had remained in or near
by Naples had arrived earlier; and
they all had to compare notes at once.
or course. William understood that
notes of this character, were perish
able and were not fit to exchange
twelve hours later. and he was con-
ditionally charitable in his comments.
1t was after midnight before the con-
fusion quieted down.
William was genuinely glad to see
his two ancients> the Psychologists.
They had been burrowing among the
fresh excavations at Pompeii and
Herculaneum, and were as happy as
two boys on summers Saturday
afternoon. They talked across him.
over and around him, cracking like
irecrackers. When they finally went
below William felt very lonely and
very old.
The truth is. the nearest approach
to happiness possible to William was
work for his hands, and these hands
Of his had been practically idle for
weeks. His brain was healthy ana
normal, but il had not been construct
ed for the solving of problems. 1t
readily absorbed pictures and con-
strued their import relative to life.
but in the realm of pure thinking 1t
was the old story of the round peg in
the square hole.
The problem which confronted him
was too big for his resources. too
deep for his deductions to reach bot
tom, and too close for clear per-
spective. When a mans in love he
is not much good for anything else.
William tried in vain to crush down
this love. to divorce it from the sex
ual to play the brother in spirit as
. well as in fact. But he never came
close to Ruth now that he did not
long fercely to snatch her. up in his
arms and never let her go. How long
could he hold out? He lacked the
diversions Of a well-educated man;
the obsession was always with him.
Why hadn't he some fad like these
two Psychologists, something that
would for the time being make him
forget everything else in the world?
Once upon a time he had poked fun
at them: now he envied them from
the bottom of his heart. they never
knew any heartaches. Naturally he
forgot that these two old bachelors
had once been young like himself.
And who was he to say that they car
ried no tombs in their hearts?
~
loitered by the gangplank and
smoked. There came an interval
when both dock and ship seemed de-
serted except for himself. Presently
he saw a man emerge from the gloom,
stagger to the gangplank and climb
up. His efforts were spasmodic. He
would pull himself up a few feet by
hauling at the rail, then he would
rest for moment. william eyed
him callously. 1t was some one who
was going to have a fine headache in
the morning. AS the straggler came
under the cluster of lights\ he
. steadied himself as If marshaling
what remained of his forces.
Hello. Camden"
The man peered into Williams face.
Well, If it isn't old frien' w. Grogan!
But your face is like Gaul, divided
int three parts. Any one of 'em IL
do me. Remember what you said?
I'll have that kink in m back in the
morning, all rightly. We gods, to get
back to sea, where It's clean" ,,.
Want a pilot?" asked William.
sensing that the man was deep in
liquor.
Fine! Pilots the thing need.
Los OF rocks in the channel. and I've
los m chart Camden accented
Williams arm and commented upon
the Drawn of 1t. You're " strong g
H hoist boom! Don't ever hit me.
william; don't you ever hit me-" At
the companionway he pulled back.
"I'll leave it to YOU, pilot. Three
doors, and one OF 'em s right. but
which is which. damn me-
81 guess I'd better steer you down
to your bunk, my lord. Some little
load. Where'd you collect it,"
Rome and her seven hills. Got to
go to China. Boss wants some aueues