Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-04-12
CHApTERIio

from Marsellles, and cable when you
get in. And don't forget I'm coming
out Sin March," ''lI' '.,'7--il'- i'i- Ii-
The girl chung desperately to her
brother, her soft arms locked about
him. Matt Kearney could feel that
she was trembling, and:
What's the matter with Kid Sis
terY' he asked, squeezing her.
kid Sisters 7miserablep
Because you don't want to go
back?" ,-'',' r
'No. But because somehow, Matt
dear" she whispered very close to his
ear, II feel frightened about this. jour
ney. Don't be mad with me. know
it's silly, and | ought to be used to
travelling by now. But I've got a wob-
bly,! funny feeling"
Kearney looked down at the tangled
curls nesting upon, his shoulder; and
in the light shining out from the cozy
stateroom they cleaned and SHIN
mered like FURNISHED bronze. He
Rugged her affectionately and told
himself that a chill suddenly expert
enced and resembling cold water trick
ling down his spine was due physically
to the clammy quality Of the night,
and mentally to the girls over-wrought4
condition. A $3.50 li1 slt..1 a,.l {t. hs -!l@
But he was used to Eileen's moods,
to the odd streak Of superstition--a
legacy from their Irish American ia
ther-which sometimes he distrusted
but always understood. =A " --7
skid, DEAR" he said, and stroked her
hair, "play fair. Seeing little girls off
is bad enough anyway, without giving
fellow the breeze up" ~ @-'9!f7
HI'm sorry, Matt. It was utterly
Big Pig Of me. % - 7-'-!.% ~ -
She glanced up; and her blue-gray
eyes were calm. except that he had a
fieeting, odd impression that something
"a shadow-had been banished at
that very moment from them. -------.-----y
'..No-7-only Little Pig" he said play
, fully only wish were coming
!, with you"
st wasn't fair, and ! shouldn't have,
said it. It's just this beastly fog and
having to let you go ashore in it, Give
mesa kiss, Matt, and we'll go and hunt
Jack Rattray-although / really don't
know how you're going to- get home"
Wisps of mist f1oated under the
lights. Not another soul was in sight
on that deck, but there was activity
on the deck below, and tremendous
clamor on, the dockside. The RIM.
S. Wallaroo was going out in the
morning-sixteep hours late, thanks to
one of those fogs, London Special,
which sometimes hold up Thames
traffic for whole days. ALI the other
passengers seemed & to have retired,
with the possible exception Of "a few
stragglers who might have been found
In the smokeroom.@ 10 &&
One last lingering glance Kearney
cast into the coy stateroom which
Eileen was toeoccupy to Colombo. He
would cheerfdlly have resigned six
months pay to be. going, too. The
wardrobe trunk, which. he had Labelled
himself, green hat on the rack above
the bed, camera hung on the back
ola chair, dressing case open on
the table. The box of hundred Gig
arettes which Dawson Haig had
brought down to the steamer that
morning lay on the turned back cover.
let. and pile of magazines oh top Of
an unopened cabin trunk; three novels
which Matt had brought for Eileen in
the rack beside the green hat.
'''Ah. well!' he sighed, you'll be a
comfortable Little Big. Winter the
purser, is,1a star turn. You're ait: his
table, and he'll see that severything's
right. Jack Rattray is an old pal, SO
that you won't lack company"
81 shan't lack company" said Eileen
archly.
Her mood changed, and she smiled
mischievously. But Kearney welcomed
the change, and:
you little devil!" he said, and
squeezed her hard. Don't forget
there's spy aboard"
II might buy him over!' said Eileen.
"I'll tell Billy Haig!"
"Oh don't please do that!" Eileen ex-
claimed in mock horror. "He might
never run out to Colombo to have a
cup of tea with me as he promised p
But really her heart was very sad.
Because she didn't expect ever to see
Dawson Haig again.
She made charming figure in the
light streaming from the cabin door,
simply dressed though she was in
jumper and tweed skirt And Matt
Kearney felt affectionately proud of
his dainty sister.
"Come on" said he. Lets go and
dig old Rattray out. ] must positively
beat it. I've got at least a quarter
of an hours walk through dockland,
and failing divine luck. long voyage
by motor bus"
Jack Rattray, chief officer of the
Wallaroo, was exchanging few pleas
antries with the boss stevedore by the
hatch of Number Three hold, But he
broke off this not too parliamentary
debate when the charming passenger
appeared beside him with Kearney.
"Whar about a f1nal?" asked Rat
tray.
"No final for me-" Kearney replied.
He grasped Rattray's hand. Good