Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-12-26
and hypnOticalIS Mrs. Sla;tery
obcyed. awkwardlr assisting as they
innsenni hic collar aud ,,n1iid lie ..o..,

'hS iooiu, uo"u the steps. OUT OF the
house into her own, and thence up the
stairs to the room where mutely re-
posed the untouched food. Gathering
the articles In her arms she rapidly
retraced her steps. and as the young
man came to consciousness he saw 4
not unbeautiful girl standing on
chair holding tiny pot above the gas
Jet. She smiled down at him a cenu-
inc. comforting smile.
Hot milk in minute. Toasted
crackers and mite Of cheese How
does that sound?" Her voice sound
ed mcrrily in the room and the man
answered the smile with a wan eff
fort.
1T smells better" came the whis-
per from the bed.
And it tasted equally good as Bet.
sy held his head and fed him the
Drowned biscuit dipped in the warm
milk. The man slept and Betsy tip
toed from the room. Mrs. Slattery
mounted guard in the hall with a
Dame Grundy vigilance.
His room rent be behind" Evil.
IDENTIFY in Mrs. Slattery's makeup
there was no trace Of that ImpclIing
force which had governed Betsy's
spontaneous act of loving Kindness.
She looked into her meascr purse.
wearing out at the corners.
"Will q dollar on account lie salts
factory" she asked. The bill was
rendered and accepted in silence and
Betsy returned to her room. supper
less and happy. AS she crept into
bed she shifted the alarm clock. 1t
registered awakening at half Iast five.
The hour thus gained next morn
Ing was devoted to assisting her new
ly acquired ward. With Il promise TO
the man who lay weak and inert TO
stop in on her way home from work
in the evening. she turned 20 20.
why are you so good 20 me:" no
questioned her.
why doubt the motivc!" by in
terrogation she answered.
PTeoccup:ed with her thoughts. Bet
jostled about on street and car Ivy
thronss Fastening to work. Morning
duties were fulfilled In like subcon-
sciOus fashion, for mind was helping
the lad lying III and helpless in the
hot bedroom. Noon was sounded by
sirens over the welterinS city as Bet
sy passed the music counter Of TIL
dcn'S. Inc. on her way out of the
store for luncheon. In raucous tones
sang the s0ng-booster through his bril-
llanuy colored megaphone, which he
turned alternately TO right and left
so that all might hear:
"When our Ship O. Dreams comes In,
dear.
When its cargo comes TO shore.
With gold so fine, ii will all be thine.
You alone adore"
Betsy smiled as she recalled the
first occasion when she had heard the
words and sacrificed the precious min
utes of her luncheon period to hear
the end OF the lyric.
"Wh"n our vessel comes sailing back,
dear,
Laden with wealth all for you.
Then we'll marry; no need to larry.
When our Ship. our SHIP o Dreams
comes true"
She caught up the lifting, catchy
melody and the easy. rolling words,
and ate her luncheon with the tune
in her head. Anxious for six o'clock.
the afternoon flew quickly by and
closing time found her hurrying to-
ward her boarding house with thou
sands Of other souls, all closctcd up in
their own little worlds of personal in
terest. Mechanically she bought the
evening paper and mechanically read
the usual run OF news, and equally
mechanically turned toward tho classi-
fled section in search for the always
possible, but never probable. better
job" Her eye drifted to the adjoin-
ing column of Personals" attracted
possibly by the words, "Ship O.
Dreams" They seemed to pursue her
this day. The man seated to her right
hummed with heavy breath. when
our Ship O. Dreams comes smiling In.
dear
Betsy read:
-4ttoyalties awaiting Leonard SUIT
cliffe. Information wanted as to pres.
emf whereabouts of composer of
Ship O Dreams Phone Popular
Music Co."
Betsy gasped. Could 1t really he
so wonderfully romantic? 1t was
more than food she brought him.
"Arc you Leonard Sutcliffe?" she
asked as she entered the room and
smiled to see him seated in the chair.
He nodded with surprise and looked
at tho newspaper she laid in his lap.
"Then your Ship o. Dreams has
come to port, Captain Singing Man"
Betsy announced and picked out the