Blow The Man Down: A Romance Of The Coast
       “She says it's to the milliner so that the milliner will hold the job open. But I'm suspicioning that it's roundabout to the beau that's in love with her. That's the style of women. Cap'n Epps shanghaied her to get her away from that fellow. Now she has got it worked around so that she is going back. But there's a beau in it instead of a milliner. She wouldn't be so anxious to get word to a milliner. That's my idee, and I reckon it's yours, too.”      

       “I really have no ideas on the subject,” returned Captain Mayo. “But if you have promised a young lady to send a telegram for her I would       certainly keep that promise if I were in your place.”      

       The next moment he regretted his rather impetuous advice, for Mr. Speed slapped the paper against a hard palm and blurted out: “That's all I wanted! Course and bearings from an a-number-one adviser. New, how'll I go to work to send this thing?”      

       “I have been figuring on that matter for the last few minutes, myself,”        acknowledged the captain. “It's about time to have a little action in this place.”      

       He was obliged to elbow his way through the group of men who surrounded the telegraph operator. Oakum Otie followed on his heels, resolved to study at close range the mystery of telegraphing, realizing what he needed for his own instruction.     

       “These telegrams are important and they must go at ore, madam,” Mayo informed the flustered young woman.     

       “I can't send them. I am bothered so much I can't do anything,” she stammered.     

       “Oh, forget your business, skipper,” advised one of the party.     

       “It is not my business, sir.” He laid the packet of messages before the operator on her little counter and tapped his finger on them. “They must go,” he repeated.     

       “In their turn,” warned the yachtsman, showing that he resented this intrusion. “And after the party is over!”      

       “I intended to confine my conversation to this young lady,” said Mayo. He turned and faced them. “But I have been here long enough to see that you gentlemen are interfering with the business of this office. Perhaps your messages are not important. Mine are.”     
 Prev. P 62/394 next 
Back Top
Privacy Statement Terms of Service Contact