Judge — March 27, 1920 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

na Pa en Drawn by Warren we Me Tue Great Decision attractive state was always before him. He was con- stant] looking for arms, a neck and hair like hers, but his search Was in vain. He concluded that as to these vifts she had no peer. And he could not forget her. Coming East late one night, Melvin boarded a through train which was flagged for him at a way sta- tion. Among all the Pullmans there was but one vacant berth—an upper. He was dispirited. te had been very active. The wait for the train had wearied hi Climbing to his berth, a slight opening in the curtain startled and enchanted him. He caught a glimpse of a vision. Yes, more than a glimpse, for what the mind has long dwelt upon the eye records at meeting with the detail and fidelity of a camera. \ woman in the lower berth had apparently become so absorbed in a book that she took no note of time. She was half reclining, facing the window, with the elec- tric light upon the page she was devouring. From a dainty boudoir cap a hint of the wonder of her hair caped, and her neck and arms fascinated Melvin. Her charms even surpassed those of Mrs. Melvin. “Anything de mattah, boss?” asked the porter, who was holding a ladder for Melvin. He had stumbled on a step. It was deliberate. It gave him another fraction of a moment for obser- vation, The charming woman did not move. The page under her pretty thumb must have been en- rossing. Melvin did not sleep for hours, A line of light no thicker than a hair was projected through some negligence of the porter to Melvin’s eye from below. He watched it while his mind wove a fabric. If this woman should prove to be single he would pay court to her. A divorce was but 4 If she were married, why shouldn't he She was his fate! disappeared. ‘Toward morning Melvin fell into slumber. He dreamed he was in a train wreck, and awoke with a start. The train was still in motion. He had an impression that the lower berth was empty. It was. He per- formed the acrobatic feats that precede departure in seemly guise from an upper and made his way to the men’s room. A surreptitious glance between curtains into the lower berth had disclosed fem- inine detail, among other things a picture hat. He was happy. She had not left the train. Melvin met the porter, into whose hand he slipped acoin. * Do you mind telling me,” he asked, “the destination of the lady in lower seven “She's fo’ N’York. In de ladies’ room now, suh.”” As he shaved, Melvin hummed an air with the joy of a discoverer. Slick and dapper, he went rearward to the dining car. He would take break- fast leisurely. She was“almost sure to appear. Then he had another idea. Assisting his waiter to palm a dollar he said carelessly: “A lady will come in presently to breakfast—a handsome woman with wonderful hair. She will wear a large hat. You can’t mistake her. Please reserve a seat for her opposite me.” All right, sir.” The waiter was not at first clear in his mind as to what it might mean. Then came the idea that the lady must be the hand- somer half of a bridal couple. © Such persons, he well knew, sometimes reveal themselves by a studie carelessness. And this notion persisted with him Moreover, a dollar tip preliminarily meant something worth while subsequently. Melvin took his seat facing the rear of the car. He felt that he might betray his anxiety and defeat his plan if he should face the door through which she must enter. ‘The waiter turned the facing chair. “I'd rather you wouldn't do that,’ “Try to manage it as though it just happens.” was filling, but an interested waiter may prodigies. The infatuated man was negotiating grapefruit when he felt a presence. He kept his eyes down. The waiter seated a lady with the remark: “Yes, sir. All right, sir?” Melvin looked up to meet the amazed glance of Mrs. Melvin. detail. do the same? The light said Melvin. The car perform A Six Months’ Horoscope By Bexjasux De Casseres January—Germany gets her final ultimatum. February—Goldman and Berkman break out of Russia. March—* Mexican tension” is relieved again April—Coal reappears. May—The Peace Treaty gets through as a rider on the Pork Barrel bill. June—General delivery of 1919 Christmas packages. comicbooks.com