The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-15
4o~ Madua Said "oood-by" To The
Young Army officer


looked UP at the young army Off
er. who had Just uttered whimsical,
atatnlng PLEASE In my ear with as
enlistment that, I'm afraid. was more
.eixned than real. q hadn't exactly .ex-
,ectsd him to follow me when I turned
way after thanking him for taking care
Pete, but there had been q vague i'm
PRESTON In my mind that the incident
yasn't quite closed.
ST hope you'll forgive me If am pre-
urning too mucif," the pleasant draw
Ing vioce went on, ''but it has occurred
0 mo that you must have been going
omewhere on that car. and wondered
you wouldn't accept lift from me.
was going in that direction anyway.
,ou know, SO it won't Inconvenience me
n the least"
II he had made his offer in any other
way than the careless, mater -of-fact
method he employed. II he had lnttmated
that my acceptance or declinAtiou Of his
invitation was of the remotest interest
TO him, / should promptly have given
him decided negative, thanked him
again, and have gone on my way
But 1t was SO perfectly natural thing
for him to do, indeed, could SEQ from
his standpoint. that he couldn't have
preserved his own high standard Of cour-
tasy otherwise, that disliked having
him think me either discourtsous or over
pr,1dish, one Of which impressions knew
ha must receive from q negative on my
part.
Besides, ana am afraid this was the
strongest motive underlying my decision,
I realised that this was an exceptional
opportunity to escape tho espionage OF
tho mysterious horSeman who had 50 an
moved me. This swift. high-powered mo-
tor car would take me TO tho vicinity OF
tha little inn at which wished to lunch
even moro quickly than the trolley.
NV inbred horror Of Internationally
STRUGGLED for n moment with the newer
tnciina tons to do the practical neces-
~mry things lying next to one, inci4nattons
vhiol had been born ana nurtured under
r.tllian's tutslage. Then, with sudden
determination to do the thing graciously
az NOT ALL smiled up into tho young
officers face.
An embarrassment Avoided
.aT-hank Won. I shall be very glad In
daed to accept your offer" SAID SIM
ply, I'm going about i've miles up TINS
road. Are you sure that viii noS Do
farther than you wsre going!
y,hara was an unScrutAbie look In the
hiue eyes with the hint Of steel IN them
which smiled down at me.
ssTm verv sure I'm going as far as
that" he replied whimsically' ana felt
rov.aN unaccountAbiy flushing again as
rurned with him and walked to the
waiting motor car.
whather intentionally or not. he re-
l,avad my embarrassment by taking 70
the dog.
conductor won't throw you out or No
aaia eeniaiiy, STOPPING and RUBBING the
aoepa head, How about It, old chap
qs.aII wo CHASE that conductor ana give
va, a chance for nip 1T his heeis?
Ps&e looked up into his face cooked
h,a head to ono side and gave one 81 MS
snort, sharp yeips.
ss7 beiiovo you understand WHATS eaio
n vouT the officer exclaimed. dehSnteo'
arA the next moment Pets, with the
tn0stus Of the officers hand on his col
isr haa scranbied into the tonneau.
,p.a, tha eygnsr Of the machine turned
to me.
cr-in fYonty' he asked.
DOR With me-" and had quickly changed
q for feay he might offend mo, HIS
daIlaaey pleased me and sffsctuaiiy ban
t.Sa A the mental protests which my OUT
raxed conventionality was voicing.
aoh. in front, by all Eneans! re-
Piled, and was surprised % see MS
Tana iiRtlt I'D as II my decision had
meant something to him.
s"rhanlk you," he said simply. and held
ont his hand TO assist me into the ma
shine.
II wasn't en- army earl saw that at
nv first gilmpso Of it--but was unpre-
pared for the marvellous luxury and COM
pisteness OF It's appeintments. It was
car which GOULD belong only TO man Of
rrsat wealth or a reckless spendthrift.
and this man by my side didn't look like
the actor OF either role.
A DIsconcertInC RelaiSaelon.
But had little tirne to speculate upon
either car or owner. The fivo milss flew
past like go many rods. and when the
car drew up at the corner I Indicated