PEGGY-IN-THE-RAIN
the public, failed to distract Gordon. On the second day out Miss Standley—whose given name was Bessie—announced with ludicrous pathos that "Winning Winnie" was child's play compared with "Winning Gordon." At Charleston Gordon received a mythical telegram and headed the yacht sharply around for New York, turning what was to have been a fortnight's cruise into a week's. Peter Waring, who had upset all calculations by paying assiduous attention to the fascinating chaperon, wanted to know why Gordon had bothered with the Siren. "You might have taken us over and back on the Weehawken ferry, old chap. Just when we're sort of getting acquainted"
"Getting acquainted!" sneered Gordon. "Do you call sitting up all night with Mrs. Ferris and drinking wine at four o'clock in the morning over my state-room getting acquainted?"
"Was that your room?" asked Peter mildly. "Grace bet me it was Miss Massey's. Joke on her, what?"
"Look here, Pete, you were supposed to be nice to Alice Roberts and not gallivant about with Mrs. Ferris. Damn it, you said you wanted to get married! You can't marry Grace Ferris, you
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