The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-09-10
Being a Ship
} Doctor
By JANE OSBORN

John CROSBY looked at the
y pretty young girl standing with
him there by the rail and wondered
whether lips like that left a tell
tale streak of red when they kissed.
Some men might be deceived by
their color, but John Crosby was
q doctor and knew that normal lips
were never of so deep vermilion.
1T must be wonderful being
ship DOCTOR" the pretty girl was
saying with little giggle. John
crosby looked at her with amuse-
: ment. Funny why it was that he
mad no desire to kiss those lips and
see how much of the red came off.
Ihere was no one anywhere about
on that side of the deck and the
girl was standing very close beside
him. Why was it that he could
stand there with such an undeni-
ably pretty girl and still feel rather
Q bored?
1T must be really wonderful to
be doctor at sea-" she repeated.
"Why-why, yes" was Johns
belated reply. THAT is-it isn't
really very wonderful. It's rather
dull looking at the masts and the
sea-"
Il should think there might be
good deal more to look at" said
the girl. with little pout. "Some
people would think so. Besides It's
so romantic being on the ocean
so far from the horrid smoky
cities"
II don't like cities, either" John
Crosby assured her 81 wasn't
thinking Of that. But right now;
do you know where I'd like to be?
I'd like to be sitting under an apple
tree, somewhere in the country
drinking glass of nice fresh
milk"
"What a dreadful baby" tainted
the girl. Really, think you are
very childish" She drew away
from him very little, then looked
up at him with a funny little, shy
defiant expression, and then left
him. I'm really quite disappoint-
ed" she called back.
For a second or so John Crosby
debated whether or not he ought
to follow the girl. Obviously she
wanted to flirt with. him. But
after all, concluded John Crosby,
he didn't feel the slightest interest
IN her and to flirt with such a
really nice sort of girl when he
didn't care about her didn't seem
fair. He stood looking out at the
line where sea and sky met as she
walked down the deck, and wished
devoutly that some one Of the pas
sengers would need his professional
services. 1t was dull having such
hale and hearty lot of passen-
gers. And as Jane Thompson
walked down the deck she was
wishing devoutly that she might
slip and strain her wrist or her
ankle so that very unfeeling young
doctor who looked so charming in
his uniform would have to show a
little interest in her. Jane felt
surprised at her own boldness.
Nice, eighteen year-old girls, she
was sure, oughtn't to feel so bold
as, that.
! Now as she walked into the sa-
Ion of the ocean liner she was de-
young doctor again. She had talked
to him and given him every oppor-
tunityi to talk to her, because she
considered him by all means the
most. attractive and interesting
manson the ship. Never in her life
had she been treated with such
complete Indifference.
After landing in the States Doc
tor Crosby had a weeks shore
leave, and he turned with consider
able eagerness from the sea and
all that smacked of It. One of his
sisters urged him to spend the
time with her at her seaside cot
tage, promising him plenty Of dane
Ing and pretty girls, sea bathing,
boating.
But John refused "All I want
to do now" John wrote, sis to go
somewhere miles away from the
sea oand sit under m emile tree. l