The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University

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series of pictures, “<strong>The</strong> Dangers of Diana,” where something of the kind had happened to the heroine in every reel—but she had not anticipated that it would ever happen to her; and consequently she had not thought out any plan for coping with such a situation. A grave error. In this world one should be prepared for everything, or where is one? “I’ve brought the revolver,” said Mr. Peters. “So—so I see!” said Billie. Mr. Peters nursed the weapon affectionately in his hand. He was rather a shy man with women as a rule, but what Sam had told him about her being interested in his revolver had made his heart warm to this girl. “I was just on my way to have a little practice at the range,” he said. “<strong>The</strong>n I thought I might as well look in here.” “I suppose—I suppose you’re a good shot?” quavered Billie. “I seldom miss,” said Jno. Peters. Billie shuddered. <strong>The</strong>n, reflecting that the longer she engaged this maniac in conversation, the more hope <strong>The</strong> <strong>Girl</strong> on the Boat 136 there was of Sam coming back in time to save her, she essayed further small-talk. “It’s—it’s very ugly!” “Oh, no!” said Mr. Peters, hurt. Billie perceived that she had said the wrong thing. “Very deadly-looking, I meant,” she corrected herself hastily. “It may have deadly work to do, Miss Milliken,” said Mr. Peters. Conversation languished again. Billie had no further remarks to make of immediate interest, and Mr. Peters was struggling with a return of the deplorable shyness which so handicapped him in his dealings with the other sex. After a few moments, he pulled himself together again, and, as his first act was to replace the pistol in the pocket of his coat, Billie became conscious of a faint stirring of relief. “<strong>The</strong> great thing,” said Jno. Peters, “is to learn to draw quickly. Like this!” he added producing the revolver with something of the smoothness and rapidity with which Billie, in happier moments, had seen Bream
Mortimer take a bowl of gold fish out of a tall hat. “Everything depends on getting the first shot! <strong>The</strong> first shot, Miss Milliken, is vital.” Suddenly Billie had an inspiration. It was hopeless, she knew, to try to convince this poor demented creature, obsessed with his idée fixe, that she was not Miss Milliken. Denial would be a waste of time, and might even infuriate him into precipitating the tragedy. It was imperative that she should humour him. And, while she was humouring him, it suddenly occurred to her, why not do it thoroughly? “Mr. Peters,” she cried, “you are quite mistaken!” “I beg your pardon,” said Jno. Peters, with not a little asperity. “Nothing of the kind!” “You are!” “I assure you I am not. Quickness in the draw is essential ….” “You have been misinformed.” “Well, I had it direct from the man at the Rupert Street range,” said Mr. Peters stiffly. “And if you have ever seen a picture called ‘Two-Gun Thomas’ ….” P. G. Wodehouse 137 “Mr. Peters,” cried Billie desperately. He was making her head swim with his meaningless ravings. “Mr. Peters, hear me! I am not married to a man at Ealing West!” Mr. Peters betrayed no excitement at the information. This girl seemed for some reason to consider her situation an extraordinary one, but many women, he was aware, were in a similar position. In fact, he could not at the moment think of any of his feminine acquaintances who were married to men at Ealing West. “Indeed?” he said politely. “Won’t you believe me?” exclaimed Billie wildly. “Why, certainly, certainly,” said Jno. Peters. “Thank God!” said Billie. “I’m not even engaged! It’s all been a terrible mistake!” When two people in a small room are speaking on two distinct and different subjects and neither knows what on earth the other is driving at, there is bound to be a certain amount of mental confusion; but at this point Jno. Peters, though still not wholly equal to the intellectual pressure of the conversation, began to see
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THE GIRL ON THE BOAT BY P. G. WODEH
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THE GIRL ON THE BOAT BY P. G. WODEH
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THE GIRL ON THE BOAT CHAPTER I A Di
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Breakfast was on the table in the s
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“Oh, no! I play cricket a bit and
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he had had to leave for England him
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“No?” “I’m not a man who
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eggs and a rasher of ham get cut of
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ellers off. There
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He had said nothing. Not a sound, e
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“She was an extraordinarily prett
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“Did you explain about the trouse
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He wore a bowler hat, and from time
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He was still busy with this congeni
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his middle, and accompanied him bel
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“Where is she?” “Where’s wh
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ing pea-green, rolled over on his s
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said it was all right. So it’s al
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as utterly heartless. Marlowe regar
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“Green. There is
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“I see!” said Sam. He shot his
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“While you’re down there, just
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and the males in the audience will
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“I am the Bandolero!” sang Sam
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which he had had through the portho
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in the mental scale. This morning,
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“Oh, hello!” “Why, Bream!”
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the only girl in the world! I have
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“Then,” said B
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iage under conditions like that. Wh
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“I think you were hard on him. A
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“How do I look?” Eustace Hignet
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“Ah, well, it’s seven years ago
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oosting in all your life, I’m goi
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other, had come back and rendered p
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like a man who was seeing some ghas
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to the door and took the note from
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“That’s good.” “But you’r
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of blacking up! You talk as though
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“what have you to say for yoursel
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a couple of days since my engagemen
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was stopping, are in a class of bun
Page 85 and 86: of Sam he laid down both engines of
Page 87 and 88: “Very well, Sir Mallaby.” “Th
Page 89 and 90: “Oh, what’s the good of answeri
Page 91 and 92: gines. Probably you have been feeli
Page 93 and 94: Sam started at his parent’s splen
Page 95 and 96: would chill her to the bone, and ri
Page 97 and 98: start. Cool and distant. Out of the
Page 99 and 100: “Awfully sorry, father! Don’t k
Page 101 and 102: “We do not require a large place,
Page 103 and 104: you it isn’t in that woman to cha
Page 105 and 106: and claimed that England had seen f
Page 107 and 108: It was a superb morning. It was as
Page 109 and 110: comfort was acute. Insects, some wi
Page 111 and 112: “Hullo!” said Bream, with amiab
Page 113 and 114: 4 EVEN INTO THE BLACKEST days there
Page 115 and 116: Hignett had stirred his memory. “
Page 117 and 118: He brooded for half an hour, and, a
Page 119 and 120: knockout blow; his number was up; a
Page 121 and 122: “Good-night, sir.” “Stop a mo
Page 123 and 124: Mr. Bennett had no pistol, but he d
Page 125 and 126: Mr. Bennett drew himself up as haug
Page 127 and 128: nary ball with the mashie which he
Page 129 and 130: “Dropped my pen!” he gurgled ag
Page 131 and 132: comfortable. Yesterday afternoon fa
Page 133 and 134: “But he may be lurking out there
Page 135: instantly, for Jno. Peters was one
Page 139 and 140: consternation, he could not check a
Page 141 and 142: use. He had given this sensitive gi
Page 143 and 144: limitation caused him to remain spe
Page 145 and 146: Mr. Bennett scorched him with a loo
Page 147 and 148: “What do you mean, be very carefu
Page 149 and 150: dise which Nature had intended it t
Page 151 and 152: Grocery Stores in Windlehurst—app
Page 153 and 154: “Five!” ejaculated Mr. Bennett,
Page 155 and 156: me to America, because I thought I
Page 157 and 158: “Sitting on the gate, miss. Yes,
Page 159 and 160: foreground. How eagerly he would ju
Page 161 and 162: “Will you take this to Miss Benne
Page 163 and 164: heart, had bribed a tramp to simula
Page 165 and 166: to occupy Sam’s thoughts for a mo
Page 167 and 168: “Quite easily, sir. I can admit y
Page 169 and 170: those abridged passenger-lists whic
Page 171 and 172: All the proprietor in Mrs. Hignett
Page 173 and 174: auders was to be dislodged she must
Page 175 and 176: gagements, and she could by no mean
Page 177 and 178: eveller creeping up to bed in the d
Page 179 and 180: “Lie back quite comfortably, and
Page 181 and 182: A charming smile spread itself over
Page 183 and 184: She sat in her chair and gulped; an
Page 185 and 186: cream in front of a fire. T
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“Get out!” whispered Sam tensel
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a violent activity descended upon h
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finished leaping into the air. She
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“I’m going,” said Billie reso
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“If you don’t come quick, I’l
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“Yes,” said Mr. Bennett, remind
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“Get out and crank her.” Bream
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der her arms, lifted her like a kit
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There was a long s
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ing the helmet on the floor of the
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