Motion Picture Classic (Jan-Dec 1920)

.MOTION PICTURE CLASSIC Bui he was wise enouyh birthday, Betty, yours and mine. ' not to kiss her. even llien. Caleb West came home late, miting with a curious sense of uneasiness tlial there was no smoke curlinfj up from his diimney. He pushed open the door and found darkness and tlie sharp sudden scent of tlie sea. "Rctty." he called. "Betty-lnrl. where are you ?" A match sputtered and flared out under his impatient fingers. He lighted another. Then he saw the note on the mantel shelf, hlotched with tears. After he had read it he sat a long time, hours — staring down at his twisted, gnarled old hands lying on the redchecked table cloth. It was a fresh cloth he note<l stupidly. She mii>t have put it on just before >he went — he groaned as if in pain. •' Without a word he turned on his heel and set the helmet over his head" Sanford paid assiduous court and Kate Leroy's gay, pleased laughter shrilled her flattered delight to all the world "He's like the ocean — when there's a fog," he fiinnd himself repeating nieclianically, "he says that there is life behind the fog — and I want to see. You'll never forgive me, Caleb, or believe that I do love you. Your new shirt is in the top drawer — the camphor is on the kitchen shelf in case you catch cold. C) Caleb — " He held the pitiful, foolish note to tlie fipme of the lamp, watching it consume. Captain Bell, standing unnoticed in the doorway, regarded him in amazement. "I swan!" he ejaculated, "tlie hull blame world's gone plumb crazy tonight. Caleb West. What in tarnation you doin'?" The other man gripped !iis arm, turning a stark face toward the window. Over the water came the sharp yelp of a steamboal whistle. "She's gone," lie said heavily, and his lips came together like the jaws of a trap, "she's gone with Bill Lacey to find life — " he laughed silently, unpleasantly. Captain Bell probed tlic white face in the lamplight with (Cotiliinicd on ['age 66) For:y-tU>0^