the agony column-第14部分

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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；　leaning　over；　he　whispered。

For　the　first　time　in　days　a　smile　appeared　on　the　face　of　the　older　man。

〃My　boy；〃　he　said；　〃I　feel　I'm　going　to　like　you。　　Never　mind　the　rest。　　I　heard　all　about　you　from　your　friend　Gray；　and　as　for　those　letters　…　they　were　the　only　thing　that　made　the　first　part　of　this　trip　bearable。　　Marian　gave　them　to　me　to　read　the　night　we　came　on　board。〃

Suddenly　from　out　of　the　clouds　a　long…lost　moon　appeared；　and　bathed　that　over…crowded　ocean　liner　in　a　flood　of　silver。　　West　left　the　old　man　to　his　potato　and　went　to　find　the　daughter。

She　was　standing　in　the　moonlight　by　the　rail　of　the　forward　deck；　her　eyes　staring　dreamily　ahead　toward　the　great　country　that　had　sent　her　forth　light…heartedly　for　to　adventure　and　to　see。　　She　　turned　as　West　came　up。

〃I　have　just　been　talking　with　your　father；〃　he　said。　　〃He　tells　me　he　thinks　you　mean　to　take　me；　after　all。〃　　She　laughed。

〃To…morrow　night；〃　she　answered；　〃will　be　our　last　on　board。　　I　shall　give　you　my　final　decision　then。〃

〃But　that　is　twenty…four　hours　away！　　Must　I　wait　so　long　as　that？〃

〃A　little　suspense　won't　hurt　you。　　I　can't　forget　those　long　days　when　I　waited　for　your　letters　…　〃

〃I　know！　　But　can't　you　give　me　…　just　a　little　hint　…　here　　…　to…night？〃

〃I　am　without　mercy　…　absolutely　without　mercy！〃

And　then；　as　West's　fingers　closed　over　her　hand；　she　added　softly：　〃Not　even　the　suspicion　of　a　hint；　my　dear　…　except　　to　tell　you　that　…　my　answer　will　be　…　yes。〃





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