| Show 0 3 wanted I 1 capable mate x by H LOUIS I 1 I 1 U i d by mcclure newspaper syndicate there had been silence in the cozy little sitting room for several tense moments when carolinda with a lit tie catch in her voice broke it sud denly I 1 can t help it george I 1 in not sure ot of my own mind silly as that may seem perhaps I 1 do love you enough to marry you but until I 1 in sure that I 1 d go anywhere in the world vv ith you why I 1 see said george grimly and I 1 don dont t know that I 1 blame you I 1 im in certainly not worth talin taking 6 much of a chance on but there theres s one thing I 1 won t do and that Is hang around these parts while ou make ma ke up your mind I 1 will throw up my job and go to florida for the winter that Is I 1 will if a certain nghe ne pans out florida Flo ridal carolinda rolinda Oa gasped in gen nine surprise centerville Cent erville folks dlan didn t go casually to florida florida repeated george grimly bead read tl ti Is and you will understand from his vest pocket he drew forth a foidel bit of ne newsprint sprint flattened it out and passed it to carolinda who perused it amazedly wanted capable mate to spend the winter cruising in florida waters man fond of adventure preferred only three in party captain and cap tain s mother apply marion calder 4 aptakin beachcomber 11 addle IN harf there theres s a woman moman for you said george easily leaning back in his chair 1 abot ot afraid t advertise for a masculine companion perfectly al all right as far as the co contentions mentions are concerned as she s taking I 1 er mother along carolinda opened her mouth then closed it again without permitting to escape whatever Nhat ever she was as on the point of saying perhaps peri aps youve noticed the beach comber anchored oft off the yacht club asked george why ves I 1 ha have hae e admitted caroi add tl TI en she sa beautiful craft she added and and I 1 wish you luck george swallowed loved ved and regarded her thoughtfully gosh I 1 carol certainly d dant t lo 10 love e him a particle when she could dismiss him so coolly to a winter aboard that snug little boat oat with an other girl ho conever v ever well chaperoned tt TI en he rose i thank you he said gravely I 1 expect to apply imme Immel lately and dont don t expect to see me right away it I 1 sue aeed in landing the thing be so darn busy packing of course george returned caro linda serenely I 1 quite understand bhe she allowed him to press her hand waited malted until his footsteps ceased to echo along the N walk valk then sank natively tat ively back into her chair sudden ly she giggled captain marion calder 1 she said poor george I 1 the scene shifts a bit abruptly to the afterdeck att erdeck of the beachcomber the following day beneath the gay striped awning sat a portly middle aged worn wom an knitting placidly and beside beside her a white individual whose eyes were mere bent on an approaching rowboat manned by a young man whom caroi ada mould w have called george As the dinghy swung alongside the suspended ladder the person in white flannels arose and held out an assist ing and welcome hand how er how do you do said george a bit winded from the pull from the shore I 1 d like to talk with captain marion calder exactly beamed the other my self lou loul george s eyes were positively protuberant then he succumbed to the inevitable how stupid he had been not to consider such a possibility to take for granted that a name both masculine and feminine should be the latter in this particular Inq instance tance and after all the difference in gender while it spoiled the opportunity of making carolinda jealous need not at af feet his winter plans halt half an hour later he had signed on as first mate of the beachcomber A full hour after that he had telephoned the information to a mildly interested carolinda Cai Cat olinda As he hung bung up the recell er he be reflected with a grin that somehow he had omitted to mention his lit ai tie error regarding captain calder folio rollo ved ed busy days of preparation george fie alev v about in a very flurry of last minute affairs which he made an excuse for not seeing Car glinda per taps deep in his heart he realized that one little hint of reluctance on her part to have him go and all the charms of florida could lure in vain not until the very day set for his departure did carolinda herself exhibit any interest in his doings noon noori of that day a messenger boy appeared bearing a very good looking traveling bag and a note dear george ran the note please accept this little gift from me at part ing perhaps forever but do not open until definitely adrift on your great adventure carolinda dar dear carol I 1 george felt a tug at his heart then he steeled himself resolutely had dear carol cared a shoestring she would never have let him go particularly under the cir cum stances the circumstances that is as she conceived them he ile would 1 write a cordial grateful note of thanks tideway Tid ewas to serve at eight george went aboard some time earlier f i VJ As he clambered up the Beach com bers side something whispered that many days would pass before he again saw centerville Cent center erville ralle Cent centerville erville and caro landal I 1 no not carolinda for there sat carol knitting placidly beside the captain s mother then as she saw him she laughed and blushed and looked as if she wanted to ran run away no no george I 1 haven t come to say good ba b worse oh much worse I 1 I 1 in going along too that Is george dear she lowered her eyes then lift ed them bravely it if you it 11 let me A rising moon that evening found them leaning above abone the stem stern rail watching matching the glimmering foam crested wake for the tenth time george was delightedly listening to Caro lindas con confession how she had met captain calder at the yacht club the very at af hernoon george first mentioned him and so had known knon she had no reason for jealousy how georges george s going away amay had taught her she loved him too much to let him go and finally how bow she had evolved the darin daring de licious scheme oi of going along too and being married en route so that the voy age might be the r wedding trip lo 10 that end she had confided all to the captain captains s mother who bless her had bad approved the whole project forthwith gut but maj bh darling george wanted to kno inov v did you send me the bag with directions not to oh oil said carolinda that was wa s a blind but incidentally it Is pac packed ked with mith my wedding dress |
