The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-09
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Slippery Fog.
sv BORA NOLAN

(Copyrtght 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
IF you had been unceremoniouslg
hustled out of beloved city and
~ deposited in d furnished seashore
cottage, left In a most disreputably
untidy condition by its previous &C.
cupants; If for the first three days
after your arrival it had logged SC
persistently that the windows might
as well have been blank walls; if you
had nothing more interesting to read
than a month before lasts magazine
and nothing more inspiring to look
at than framed print Of Gargan-
tuan mosquito biting the elephantile
leg OF an amazing coTpulent lady; if at
Nintervals Of thirty seconds the damp
silence was broken by the dismal
prolonged wall of fog siren; and IT.
to, top it all. your but just returned
and beloved soldierhusband = t.
whose recently acquired passion for
the open of all these present miseries
could be traced-had departed on a
business trip which to you did not
seem to be the least bit necessary,
would you, or would you not, provid-
ed you are young married woman,
have done what Sally Anne did,
wonder?
When the time set by Jerry for his
return came and passed without a
word; after Sally Anne had opened
the door twenty times peering into
the inpenetrable wall OF fog in vain,
each time turning back to more re-
sentful contemplation of the fat lady's
plump member, she plIOlged sudden
ly from the immaculate heights Of a
lifetime to the utmost correctness
down into the depth of-attendtng,
alone and unchaperoned public
lancet
Feeling desperately from her bore
dom, Sally Anne felt her way to the
end Of the little beach street and
there took trolley for mile or so
10 mammoth pavilion she had noted
on the day Of her arrival, where n
great cign read, "Daneing Every
Evening".
A long flight Of steps led toward
circles Of blurred light, from beyond
which came the fog-muffled sounds
IL music. Half way up ticket booth
challenged. The tone Of the man be-
hind the grating was firm. No ladEEs
without escorts admitted"
A long arm reached over Sally
Anne's shoulder, a bill was thrust
through the opening. A deep voice
said. Two A hand grasped her ell
bow lightly and the same voice re-
marked pleasantly, I'm so glad you
zane. Hurry and we can make this
waltz.
Sally Anne loved to dance-and
could. So could her partner, as she
loon discovered. He was taller, much,
but in the creeping mist which sifted
In at doerways and windows and
through which the half hundred
couples circled weirdly, It was DIFF
hcult to get q clear impression OF his
features, That the tall man was
euurteous gentleman was self-evident;
the floor and the music were good.
Aside from a few tweaks OF con-
science Just at first Sally Anne
thoroughly enjoyed the evening. They.
danced much, sat out and talked
lome. The strange man, without CIV
ING a ghost Of hint as to his ident-
ty, mentioned his service overseas.
he told some amusing experiences, in
ddentaIly referring to his top SER
seant and often to his first lieutenant,
3nt never calling them by name.
A couple nearby spoke Of the hour,
which was late. Huriedly Sally Ammo
started up, saying she must go at
pnce. Suddenly q full Relation Of
That she had done. came to her. Her
ccort walked silently down the steps
sesido her At tho bottom Sally
Anne suggested VIGOROUSLY that he