the agony column-第15节

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is　real。　　It　is　very　quiet　there　to…night；　with　the　city　and　its　continuous　hum　of　war　and　terror　seemingly　a　million　miles　away。

Shall　we　meet　at　last？　　The　answer　rests　entirely　with　you。　　But；　believe　me；　I　shall　be　anxiously　waiting　to　know；　and　if　you　decide　to　give　me　a　chance　to　explain　…　to　denounce　myself　to　you　in　person　…　then　a　happy　man　will　say　good…by　to　this　garden　and　these　dim　dusty　rooms　and　follow　you　to　the　ends　of　the　earth　…　　aye；　to　Texas　itself！

Captain　Fraser…Freer　is　coming　down　the　stairs。　　Is　this　good…by　forever；　my　lady？　　With　all　my　soul；　I　hope　not。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　YOUR　CONTRITE　STRAWBERRY　MAN。


CHAPTER　IX

Words　are　futile　things　with　which　to　attempt　a　description　of　the　feelings　of　the　girl　at　the　Canton　as　she　read　this；　the　last　letter　of　seven　written　to　her　through　the　medium　of　her　maid；　Sadie　Haight。　Turning　the　pages　of　the　dictionary　casually；　one　might　enlist　a　few　…　for　example；　amazement；　anger；　unbelief；　wonder。　　Perhaps；　to　go　back　to　the　letter　a；　even　amusement。　　We　may　leave　her　with　the　solution　to　the　puzzle　in　her　hand；　the　Saronia　a　little　more　than　a　day　away；　and　a　weirdly　mixed　company　of　emotions　struggling　in　her　soul。

And　leaving　her　thus；　let　us　go　back　to　Adelphi　Terrace　and　a　young　man　exceedingly　worried。

Once　he　knew　that　his　letter　was　delivered；　Mr。　Geoffrey　West　took　his　place　most　humbly　on　the　anxious　seat。　　There　he　writhed　through　the　long　hours　of　Wednesday　morning。　　Not　to　prolong　this　painful　picture；　let　us　hasten　to　add　that　at　three　o'clock　that　same　afternoon　came　a　telegram　that　was　to　end　suspense。　　He　tore　it　open　and　read：

STRAWBERRY　MAN：　I　shall　never；　never　forgive；　you。　　But　we　are　sailing　tomorrow　on　the　Saronia。　　Were　you　thinking　of　going　home　soon？　MARIAN　A。　　LARNED。

Thus　it　happened　that；　a　few　minutes　later；　to　the　crowd　of　troubled　Americans　in　a　certain　steamship　booking　office　there　was　added　a　wild…eyed　young　man　who　further　upset　all　who　saw　him。　　To　weary　clerks　he　proclaimed　in　fiery　tones　that　he　must　sail　on　the　Saronia。　There　seemed　to　be　no　way　of　appeasing　him。　　The　offer　　of　a　private　liner　would　not　have　interested　him。

He　raved　and　tore　his　hair。　　He　ranted。　　All　to　no　avail。　　There　was；　in　plain　American；　〃nothing　doing！〃

Damp　but　determined；　he　sought　among　the　crowd　for　one　who　had　bookings　on　the　Saronia。　　He　could　find；　at　first；　no　one　so　lucky；　but　finally　he　ran　across　Tommy　Gray。　　Gray；　an　old　friend；　admitted　when　pressed　that　he　had　a　passage　on　that　most　desirable　boat。　　But　the　offer　of　all　the　king's　horses　and　all　the　king's　gold　left　him　unmoved。　　Much；　he　said；　as　he　would　have　liked　to　oblige；　he　and　his　wife　were　determined。　　They　would　sail。

It　was　then　that　Geoffrey　West　made　a　compact　with　his　friend。　　He　secured　from　him　the　necessary　steamer　labels　and　it　was　arranged　that　his　baggage　was　to　go　aboard　the　Saronia　as　the　property　of　Gray。

〃But；〃　protested　Gray；　〃even　suppose　you　do　put　this　through；　suppose　you　do　manage　to　sail　without　a　ticket　…　where　will　you　sleep？　　In　chains　somewhere　below；　I　fancy。〃

〃No　matter！〃　bubbled　West。　　〃I'll　sleep　in　the　dining　saloon；　in　a　lifeboat；　on　the　lee　scuppers　…　whatever　they　are。　　I'll　sleep　in　the　air；　without　any　visible　support！　　I'll　sleep　anywhere　…　nowhere　　…　but　I'll　sail！　　And　as　for　irons　…　they　don't　make　'em　strong　enough　to　hold　me。〃

At　five　o'clock　on　Thursday　afternoon　the　Saronia　slipped　smoothly　away　from　a　Liverpool　dock。　　Twenty…five　hundred　Americans　…　about　twice　the　number　the　boat　could　comfortably　carry　…　stood　on　her　decks　and　cheered。　　Some　of　those　in　that　crowd　who　had　millions　of　money　were　booked　for　the　steerage。　　All　of　them　were　destined　to　experience　during　that　crossing　hunger；　annoyance；　discomfort。　　They　were　to　be　stepped　on；　sat　on；　crowded　and　jostled。　　They　suspected　as　much　when　the　boat　left　the　dock。　　Yet　they　cheered！

Gayest　among　them　was　Geoffrey　West；　triumphant　amid　the　confusion。　He　was　safely　aboard；　the　boat　was　on　its　way！　　Little　did　it　trouble　him　that　he　went　as　a　stowaway；　since　he　had　no　ticket；　nothing　but　an　overwhelming　determination　to　be　on　the　good　ship　Saronia。

That　night　as　the　Saronia　stole　along　with　all　deck　lights　out　and　every　porthole　curtained；　West　saw　on　the　dim　deck　the　slight　figure　of　a　girl　who　meant　much　to　him。　　She　was　standing　staring　out　over　the　black　waters；　and；　with　wildly　beating　heart；　he　approached　her；　not　knowing　what　to　say；　but　feeling　that　a　start　must　be　made　somehow。

〃Please　pardon　me　for　addressing　　he　began。　　〃But　I　want　to　tell　you　…　〃

She　turned；　startled；　and　then　smiled　an　odd　little　smile；　which　he　could　not　see　in　the　dark。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　she　said。　　〃I　haven't　met　you；　that　I　recall　…　〃

〃I　know；〃　he　answered。　　〃That's　going　to　be　arranged　to…morrow。　Mrs。　Tommy　Gray　says　you　crossed　with　them　…　〃

〃Mere　steamer　acquaintances；〃　the　girl　replied　coldly。

〃Of　course！　　But　Mrs。　Gray　is　a　darling　…　she'll　fix　that　all　right。　I　just　want　to　say；　before　to…morrow　comes　…　〃

〃Wouldn't　it　be　better　to　wait？〃

〃I　can't！　　I'm　on　this　ship　without　a　ticket。　　I've　got　to　go　down　in　a　minute　and　tell　the　purser　that。　　Maybe　he'll　throw　me　overboard；　maybe　he'll　lock　me　up。　　I　don't　know　what　they　do　with　people　like　me。　　Maybe　they'll　make　a　stoker　of　me。　　And　then　I　shall　have　to　stoke；　with　no　chance　of　seeing　you　again。　　So　that's　why　I　want　to　say　now　…　I'm　sorry　I　have　such　a　keen　imagination。　It　carried　me　away　…　really　it　did！　　I　didn't　mean　to　deceive　you　with　those　letters；　but；　once　I　got　started　…　　You　know；　don't　you；　that　I　love　you　with　all　my　heart？　　From　the　moment　you　came　into　the　Canton　that　morning　I　…　〃

〃Really　…　Mr。　…　Mr。　…　〃

〃West　…　Geoffrey　West。　　I　adore　you！　　What　can　I　do　to　prove　it？　I'm　going　to　prove　it　…　before　this　ship　docks　in　the　North　River。　Perhaps　I'd　better　talk　to　your　father；　and　tell　him　about　the　Agony　Column　and　those　seven　letters　…　〃

〃You'd　better　not！　　He's　in　a　terribly　bad　humor。　　The　dinner　was　awful；　and　the　steward　said　we'd　be　looking　back　to　it　and　calling　it　a　banquet　before　the　voyage　ends。　　Then；　too；　poor　dad　says　he　simply　can　not　sleep　in　the　stateroom　they've　given　him　…　〃

〃All　the　better！　　I'll　see　him　at　once。　　If　he　stands　for　me　now　he'll　stand　for　me　any　time！　　And；　before　I　go　down　and　beard　a　harsh…looking　purser　in　his　den；　won't　you　believe　me　when　I　say　I'm　deeply　in　love　…　〃

〃In　love　with　mystery　and　romance！　　In　love　with　your　own　remarkable　powers　of　invention！　　Really；　I　can't　take　you　seriously　…　〃

〃Before　this　voyage　is　ended　you'll　have　to。　　I'll　prove　to　you　that　I　care。　　If　the　purser　lets　me　go　free　…　〃

〃You　have　much　to　prove；〃　the　girl　smiled。　　〃To…morrow　…　when　Mrs。　Tommy　Gray　introduces　us　…　I　may　accept　you　…　as　a　builder　of　plots。　I　happen　to　know　you　are　good。　　But　…　as　…　　It's　too　silly！　　Better　go　and　have　it　out　with　that　purser。〃

Reluctantly　he　went。　　In　five　minutes　he　was　back。　　The　girl　was　still　standing　by　the　rail。

〃It's　all　right！〃　West　said。　　〃I　thought　I　was　doing　something　original；　but　there　were　eleven　other　people　in　the　same　fix。　　One　of　them　is　a　billionaire　from　Wall　Street。　　The　purser　collected　some　money　from　us　and　told　us　to　sleep　on　the　deck　…　if　we　could　find　room。〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃I　rather　fancied　you　in　the　role　of　stoker。〃　　She　glanced　about　her　at　the　dim　deck。　　〃Isn't　this　exciting？　　I'm　sure　this　voyage　is　going　to　be　filled　with　mystery　and　romance。〃

〃I　know　it　will　be　full　of　romance；〃　West　answered。　　〃And　the　mystery　will　be　…　can　I　convince　you　…　〃

〃Hush！〃　broke　in　the　girl。　　〃Here　comes　father！　　I　shall　be　very　happy　to　meet　you　…　to…morrow。　　Poor　dad！　　he's　looking　for　a　place　to　sleep。〃

Five　days　later　poor　dad；　having　slept　each　night　on　deck　in　his　clothes　while　　the　ship　plowed　through　a　cold　drizzle；　and　having　starved　in　a　sadly　depleted　dining　saloon；　was　a　sight　to　move　the　heart　of　a　political　opponent。　　Immediately　after　a　dinner　that　had　scarcely　satisfied　a　healthy　Texas　appetite　he　lounged　gloomily　in　the　deck　chair　which　was　now　his　stateroom。　　Jauntily　Geoffrey　West　came　and　sat　at　his　side。

〃Mr。　Larned；〃　he　said；　〃I've　got　something　for　you。〃

And；　with　a　kindly　smile；　he　took　from　his　pocket　and　handed　over　a　large；　warm　baked　potato。　　The　Texan　eagerly　accepted　the　gift。

〃Where'd　you　get　it？〃　he　demanded；　breaking　open　his　treasure。

〃That's　a　secret；〃　West　answered。　　〃But　I　can　get　as　many　as　I　want。　Mr。　Larned；　I　can　say　this　…　you　will　not　go　hungry　　any　longer。　And　there's　something　else　I　ought　to　speak　of。　　I　am　sort　of　aiming　to　marry　your　daughter。〃

Deep　in　his　potato　the　Congressman　spoke：

〃What　does　she　say　about　it？〃

〃Oh；　she　says　there　isn't　a　chance。　　But　…　〃

〃Then　look　out；　my　boy！　　She's　made　up　her　mind　to　have　you。〃

〃I'm　glad　to　hear　you　say　that。　　I　really　ought　to　tell　you　who　I　am。　　Also；　I　want　you　to　know　that；　before　your　daughter　and　I　met；　I　wrote　her　seven　letters　…　〃

〃One　minute；〃　broke　in　the　Texan。　　〃Before　you　go　into　all　that；　won't　you　be　a　good　fellow　and　tell　me　where　you　got　this　potato？〃

West　nodded。

〃Sure！〃　he　said；　and