Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 January 1916 — THE GIRL IN GRAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE GIRL IN GRAY

By HAROLD CARTER.

Jtamy Jarrold was going borne to dtp. At tbe’ige dr thirty-four be bad been taken 111 on his annual European trip. The doctor whom he consulted bad sent him to a Surgeon, and the surgeon had Informed him that only one man in the world might save his life. That was Bethany of New York. j “We’ve that operation here,” be said, “but none of us has Bethany’s technic. You have about one chance Tin-fifty ~of surviving, and that depends —I speak frankly—on hop your life has been spent" . Jimmy Jarrold, many times a millionaire, had thanked him and retired, without volunteering any information as to how his life had been spent. Jimmy Jarrold preferred to think that over in the solitude of his stateroom. For fifteen years he had squandered his princely fortune in devious ways. He reflected with a tinge of regret, but much philosophical resignation, that life had never had any meaning for him. He was not at all afraid to die. He was rather glad, in fact. Jimmy had been spoiled by his money. He had never been happy. He had never been generous, never done anything to help a fellow mortal. He had never been in love. He had simply been a selfish ass. 4 Now that life was almost at an end for him he was conscious of a wistful regret for all this. He wished that lie could taste the joys of life, if only

Rushing To and Fro.

for a minute. He wished something could happen to him that would lift him out of his selfish self and make him forget himself. He was aware of a new interest in his scrutiny of his fellow-passengers. He watched the girl in gray, for instance. He sat near her at the table, and even at the fourth meal he perceived that she Beemed utterly indifferent to him, although a fellow-diner had addressed him by his name, which Jarrold knew must mean a lot to everybody who heard it He wondered whether Miss Jamieson was going to America on business or pleasure, whether she was rich or poor. He wondered how it _jau»ff'-that all his wealth only seemed to Interest women of a certain type, and not the marrying type. He wondered a great deal, aware all the time of the throbbing pain in his side and the black spefiks before his vision. Afternoon of the second day out! They were passing the south coast of Ireland. Jimmy was watching the passengers. Some, who had already found their sealegs, were playing quoits; others, seated in deck chairs, were beginning incipient flirtations. Jimmy 1 was alone, ajs usual. The girl in gray was also alone. "Hello!” thought Jimmy. The ship had changed direction and appeared to be heading due North. Jimmy wondered why. Then he saw something white come rippling toward him through the water. Nobody but Jimmy saw it. "I shouldn’t wonder if that were a torpedo,” thought Jimmy, and a moment later the ship quivered and seemed to leap into the air as the detonating head struck her amidships. ' Of what happened during the next five minutes Jimmy was never fully conscious afterward. He knew that there was confusion, rushing to and fro as the vessel slbwly settled by the bows; then the Captain was shouting through a megaphone from the bridge, the boats were being swung out, and ah ominous quiet had succeeded the first panic. » Presently -Jimmy found himself Standing by one of the boats. He was going to save his life. It seemed strange to him that he should think his life worth*saving, but there he was, automatically going through the process prompted by the life instinct. .Jimmy was no coward, but he had vast possessions undisposed of, and he honestly believed that it was his duty to save bis’life in order to reach ,JSew ; York. ■• ‘ t' In fact, be knew that unless he made || will certain persons would suf—get*. poverty, and Jimmy, had a habit of standing by Jjis friends, although this was not commonly suspected of Wm. - ‘ *, ' These were already several boats upon the water. Tftd vessel, was ob--iouslv settling; it was impossible th»t sue could keep afloat many min-

utes. 'There seemed plehty of room for the passengers. The boat Immediately in front of Jimmy was nearly tall. "Room for one more!” shouted the officer In charge. Then he noticed that the girl in gray was standing where he had been. Also, that she was alone. It was odd, but at that moment Jimmy found himself cogitating-that she-must, then, be traveling alone. The eyes of the girl in gray were Jixed on his in scorn, sending uncomfortable sensations up and down Jimmy’s spine. j . “You coward !* <said the girl in gray, very icily and deliberately. Jimmy sprang out of the boat and tried to take off,the hat which was not in its place. “I beg your pardon! I see you,’’ said Jimmy to the girl in gray. But the girl in gray did not move. Instead, she stepped, back a pace, and from behind her there came rushing a poor,, frantic woman with a baby In her arms. She scrambled Into the place .which Jimmy had abandoned, and the sailors began to lower the boat - Jimmy glanced about him at the empty deck, and then he looked at the girl in g?ay. The ship had ceased to dip at the bow; now it was almost level. That meant that it was going down at the stern as well; the water lapped at their feet. They were the only living beings on the ship, except the captain, who, waiting calmly on the bridge, watched the scene with satisfaction. Even the sailors had gone. The captain did not see either Jimmy or the girl in gray, who were bidden behind the deckhouse. But in the distance, making swiftly toward-them, was a British patrol ship. It was a race against time, but there was a real chance that it would come up with them before the liner went under. The girl in gray was watching Jimmy. Jimmy, more conscious than ever of the throbbing pain, looked back at the girl in gray.

“1 don’t want to make excuses,” he said,, “but I thought everybody was aboard —at least, I didn’t think, but I supposed everyone was aboard the boats, and—l’ve got important business in New York.” “You’ll say life counts before business. Well, It does. Only, you see, I really did want to get there. It means happiness to a whole lot of people, and —and I’m going home to die —soonon the operating table.” Jimmy saw a strange light come into the eyes of the girl in gray. She took a step forward and clasped her hands. Her breast was heaving. “You —brave man!’’ said the girl in gray. Suddenly Jimmy Jarrold was conscious of a desire to live that he had never felt before. And with this consciousness came a sense of the zest of life, of the blood rushing through his veins. “But I’ll beat them. I’ll beat those doctors yet!’’ cried Jimmy exultantly. He looked at the patrol boat hnd knew that she had won the race. And somehow he felt that he had won hiF race too, against death and against self. (Copyright, 1915, by W. G. Chapman.)