Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/377

Rh York. But, sir," he recalled, "if I merely send your answer blindly, he will get it, and—I think, sir, he would wait for an answer!"

"I think he would!" Preston agreed heartily. "Then send back to him this for me," he wrote hurriedly. Thanks! They are in order!

"And now, Captain," the young American returned to the commander as the "wireless" operator hurried off, "I know, of course, what you were about to say, and I—we thank you. But you cannot now be the first to offer them, sir!"

"Not the first?" the captain asked in surprise, not having entirely grasped the meaning of the interruption the instant before. "Why, I did not know that this was standing before—before—"

"No, Captain," Preston finished for him. "And it was not. It did not happen finally till just a moment ago."

"Ah, then am I not the first, Miss Varris?" he appealed.

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