Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-09-23
BILLS HALF HOUR
BY H. LOUIS RAYsoLo

picked up the letter which Law or ,t-
desk, uhfolded it, ana read u.s.
whistle stopped abruptly.
Head propped IN his two hands =.
read the letter again, spread ont az
his desk, as if a second perusal n.gbt
alter the situation.
Dear Bill-Don't think thar b.-.
forgotten you, for all The long sfIer..
When I told you ] did not love van,
enough TO marry, but loved VIM
friend instead, I was wrong. H.,
never asked me again, by the uor
II you still want me, viii mar,
you In fact, I am taking chan.
and coming out by the next boat
which Will dock at Honolulu almost
as soon as sou receive this letter
If you don't want me, Bill WIN
can at least 60 home again AS eyer
BEATRICE SHAW
Beatrice Shawl Yes. he had opoa
thought he loved her-had been prq,.
ty we'll cut up when she turned him
down But he hadn't thought of her
for months. Not since he had mar
Eileen Cary to whom he was 10 ba
married at noon tomorrow
But noon tomorrow Why. that
was when the Matsonia would dock
bringing Eileen's aunt to the wedding
from her home in the States. ana Also
Beatrice. How could he explain 10
Eileen that this girl had no claim
on him? That the old affair-and Il
had hardly been that-was over and
done with years ago.
How could he know that Beatrice
would revive an affection for him
she had never shown and out Of a
clear sky would descend to ruin his
wedding day?
Bill rose and paced the floor of the
comfortable study he shared with his
old friend and present fellow worker
at the Tnter-Island Navigation com
pany with nervous, angry strides.
Then a strong desire surged within
him to share his trouble with some
one.
Should he tell Eileen? Instinct
urged him to wait, yet the longing to
hear her voice was overpowering.
He took down the receiver aud
called the number of her fathers
plantation on the city's outskirts.
"That you, Eileen?'
"Busy?'
anxious for tomorrow"
suppose you should hear
oh, nothing, dear; I don't know
what I'm saying"
"Of course / love you. No, there
never was any one else. On my word
of honor Eileen !"
And yet, as he hung mp, Bill could
see the Matsonia steaming nearer
and nearer, bringing the girl who ap-
parently thought he stiI cared as
hang it. he evidently must have
seemed TO care years ago. when
spurred by moonlight night al
dance at Coronado, he had suggested
they be engaged So long age had lt
been that he had even forgotten why
she had turned him down Oh the
letter had mentioned his friend
What friend? To Billy the whole mat
ter was as vague as that,
Desperately Bill sat down and tried
to reason a way out Of the tang'e
He would get his roommate 70 60
down to the Matsonia and explain 70
Beatrice that he was about To be
married. that she was mistaken 10
thinking he cared, that she must re-
turn on the next boat, providing she
had funds But. hang II, his room
mate. the only one he could trust p"
to let the cat out of the bag 20
Eileen. had other duties rs best man
He was to meet Eileen's aunt take
her TO the church and return itnne-
diately to accompany Bill
Meanwhile Beatrice, wondering why
Bill had not met her, would proha5F
be hunting him up ana like rs Ho'
stumble on him as he entered ias
church A nice contretemaS taaI
would be- For to BurS disor5a.ai
mind it seemed quite possible .
any girl capable Of chasing a '
and discarded lover to H7afai
would be quite as capable Of .-
ing up wedding with another .H
on the spot.
A wild thought leaped tH H
brain. Suppose he boIted or
pose he dashed OUT to EAaa
demanded she elope. Yet where
they elope to before Beatrice
The islands are circumsar.a.a
IT comes to gossip ana he ~a,
position 90 know that nat even
tramp steamer for the SaHt1
would he leaving port
Hark Who was that
downstairs? A shiver 81
sion shook Bill; THEN aa
shrugged his shoulders Tie
hadn't raised Diamond Head
worst it would only be his
His roommate if was VINE
MP the stairs two steps at
burst in the door.
Caught ride back a1
Yacht. so got here sooner H'@
little bridegroom? Your
seedy Brace up and tel
you think of q double woa