Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/251

Rh to flee from trouble which the 'wireless' will surely bring upon me anyway. And this morning you are suggesting almost precisely the same thing."

"Oh, I didn't mean to, please!" the girl laughed. "In fact I was not thinking of your trouble; I was thinking of my own case. Last night, just before I went to sleep, the 'wireless' brought me the comforting assurance that mother is never going to forgive my aunt, her own sister, for being taken ill at Brighton. I hope yours is nothing worse."

"Oh, but it is, Miss Varris!" Preston responded, trying to appear more hopeless. "Much worse! But I can't blame mine upon Marconi."

"You mean something has happened here on board?"

"Yes, Miss Varris."

"What?"

"Listen," he prepared her solemnly. "Miss Varris, the Englishman's—Mr. Dunneston's—shirt and sleeve buttons have been stolen!"

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