Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-16
West Wind Drift
By GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON
Copyright. 1920, bv George Barr Mocutoboo,
THIS STARTS THE STORY

psrciroI q StoWdtodV, Is put to
,oork rnder guard Ruth Clinton, q
passenger, recognizes him as q man
phe had danced Nth at a party. Tpo
JSckhands forSake the ship In boat;
he tcireiess trdnsmitter refuses TO
onsrate. forty-sip OF the creU aud
mann passengers arc killed IN an. or-
niosion. The boat springs aledk, q
manic fpSueS and they take to the RE
LoatS, but re-enter the btq ship and
Sritt for days. Percivdl has frovcd IN
yaipab bic to tho captain; he has fuelled
n threatened muti,ty among the steer
soc passengers. Both MISS Clinton
and Madame Oboskv, q beautiful
yoting Russian, ShoW marked interest
IN PSrcivdl Al most critical point
land is sighted - an nnfnhdb bited
isiand. An exploration party, headed
by Perctvdi; plants TIE stars and
Stripes on the island aud commences
10 bmld hutS and prepares for a long
stdy Euery one Is pressed into Serutce
ard the tpork Is IN the hands of Per-
civai LdndoUor. q NgU York banker,
makes trouble for him By refusing to
take orders, and clique Is formed.
Miss clinton Is on the "Ldndover"
side, With Madame Obosky aiding and
abetting Percipdl IN his endedvors.
AND HERE 1T CONINUEs
UHE three young women had spent
several days in the making and put.
ting up of some very unusual and at
tractve window curtains and portieres
painting the stones that framed the fire.
place, the crude window-casings and
door jamb; and in draping certain cor
ner reccsscs which were to achieve dig
nifty MS clothes closets They were scrub
bng the floor when Percival passed on
his way to the office"
His office" by the way. was n rude
'lean-to' at the extreme outer end of
the street. II was characteristic of him
10 establish headquarters at n point
iarthCst removed from the appr, ach 70
the camp from the ship Fits was per-
haps the only person who sensed the
real motive back of this selection.
Every one else attributed 1t to an ami
liable conclusion on Percival's part to
Lsacrihcr himself for others by walking
IalmOst twice as far as any of them. AS
In matter OF fact, he had nothing Of the
|sort In mind. He deliberately arranged
Il so that all operations should be car
fried on between headquarters and
"home." 1t was his plan to drive in
ward instead of outward, to push al
ways In one direction. In other words.
Thought Fits quite correctly. he never
had TO look behind him for trouble"
To save his life. Percival could not
subdue the eager, devouring gleam that
flashed into his eyes as he looked into
hers. He could have cursed himself. A
swift warm lush raced from her throat
no her cheeks. Her direct. steady gaze
fatered under fire, and confused, trap
|ped expression ackered perceptibly for
Ia moment or two. He mistook II for dis
inay. or, on second thought, even worse
|--dispeasure
h. fl cant help it," he stammered,
surprised into vbicing the thought that
was uppcrmost you know how ] feel.
Ill"
But she had recovered her self
possession.
right to name Mrs. Cruises baby?" she
inquired coolly.
He managed n wry, deprecatory smile.
Everybody seems to like the name, Miss
|Clinton. The more | think OF it myself.
the better 1t sounds. tried 1t out last
night in all sorts of combinations. 1t fits
nicely into almost any family tree-even
Dorainc NiclSlestick. Try any name
you like. Doraine Smith. Doraine Hum
perdnck Doraine Landover-even Do
raine Shay--and, 7 tried 1t out with
Clinton. Doralnc Clinton. Don't you
like 1t? even tried Percival. 1t isn't
| quite so satisfying tackled onto "A name
| IKE mne-and it's poor beginning for
Ms fine"
1t isn't question of how 1t sounds,
Mr.. Percival."
Don't you like Doraine Clinton?"
81 like almost anything better than
Ruth. ! suppose most people loathe the
names that other people have given
| them"
"No one knows that better than |. l
sometimes wonder what they might have
called me IL | were a girl Nothing as
MI t,,n pt,th h.t gTll
Ion that Something like Guinevcre Aph-
rodlte, or Drslemona Venus, Or
we are getting away from the sub
1ect' shc Interrupted CriSply. Has ~
occurred. to YOU that poor little Mrs.
|Cruise might like to name her own baby?
My should you men take 1t upon your
Elves to choose a name for her child?
pont you think you were tritle high
Phanded in the matter?'
"of course, If Mrs. Cruise doesn't like
fDoraine, We will"
"You will suggest another ! suppose
she broke in scornfully. well, may
las well inform you that you are about to
|strike snag." she went on. II trifle In
Elegantly in her desire to be emphatic
1--WE intend to see 10 it that the mother
log That baby gives it a name of her own
choosing"
MAY inquire just who you mean by
|we?" he asked.
"The womrn-thrcc hundred of US. Mr..
|Percival that's who I for on" happen
TO know that Betty Cruise chose name
long ago. Her heart Is set on naming
the baby after her mother--,Iudith.
Think 1t is. That's the name she wants
|but do you imagine she will have the
|hardihuod or the courage, poor little
Iscrap, to oppose you, Mr.. perCiVal? /
mean you, personally She thinks your
word is law. She would no more thinlS
log defying you than she would think
|of-"
Pardon me Miss Clinton" he inter
|rupted gently, but don't you think that's
IA trine far-fctChcd? ! am not II dicta-
tor, YOU know fancy Mrs, Cruise
knows that, even If you do not
II have heard all about your meeting
|last night" sho went on ruthl"ssiY. her
|eyes flashing. "liOw you suggested the
mamie, how you settled the question to
suit yourself, and told them that the
|child was to be called Doraine before you
asked them to vote on II. Vote on It
What travesty! And no one had the
nerve to stand up and say word for
hat poor little woman, Oh, you've got
them wcll-tamed Mr. Pcrcival."
By this time the two nurses had APP
pearcd in the doorway, and several other
women at work down tht line seeming
Tho fray were approaching.
Il guess you'd better call off the vote,
Mr. PerCival," said one of the nurses,
|eyeing him unAinChinglv.
81 can't call it off. The men adopted
the name unanimously. | have no right
10 set aside their decision, no matter
| how hastily It was made" said he, be-
ginning to bride now that he tasted con-
|certed opposition.
Il warn you that ! intend to call the
|women-and what few men there ara
with minds of their own--together this
IeVenlng TO see that Betty Cruise gets
Pair play" said Ruth. When she hears
|ihat we are behind her, she'll have the
backbone TO tell you men TO mind your
|own business and"
,,, Have | mind Of my own or not,
MISS ClintOn?" he interrupted.
You certainly have" she declared
with conviction.
| Ihen you may expect me to be one
VI me men 10 attend your meeting. Good
morning lie lifted his hat, smiled lnd
walked brisky away.
Hell crab the whole thing" observed
que OF the women, and despite her vocal
has