Page:The Plutocrat (1927).pdf/112

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not unlike the present viewpoint of his unwelcome companion. For when a man is in flight from his womenkind—and this was Tinker's condition at the moment—he looks upon all other men, even strangers and foreigners, as sympathetic comrades who will instantly comprehend his plight and even dishonour themselves to succour him. The fugitive kept close to Ogle, bumping shoulders with him now and then as they walked down the long deck.

"You may of noticed my wife was a little frosty with me, Mr. Ogle," he said confidentially. "My glory! When she and Baby want to do it, they can do it, believe me! There was quite a number of gentlemen on this boat sat up pretty late last night; and I haven't seen many of 'em around to-day yet, to tell the truth; but I've seen some of their families, and I guess one or two of those gentlemen got plenty to go through when they do get up. It's a funny thing how some women just naturally can't stand it to let their husbands sit up a little late, even when there's no more object in goin' to bed early than there is on a steamship in the middle of the ocean. That white-moustached ole Doc Taylor's lucky; he's a bachelor and travellin' alone. You aren't married, either, are you, Mr. Ogle?"