New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Short stories; Theater -- Fiction
They looked on at the pier hop, while Professor Willard's musicians
played popular tunes; returned to the boardwalk and watched the pretty
girls leaning against the wooden beasts on the merry-go-round while the
organ screamed forth, “Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow;” experienced
that not very illusive illusion known as “The Trip to Chicago;” were
borne aloft on an observation wheel; made the rapid transit of the
toboggan slide, visited the phonographs and heard a shrill reproduction
of “Molly and I and the Baby;” tried the slow and monotonous ride on
the “Figure Eight,” and the swift and varied one on the switchback. They
bought saltwater taffy and ate it as they passed down the boardwalk and
looked at the moonlight. Down on the Bowery-like part of the boardwalk
they devoured hot sausages, and in a long pavilion drank passable beer
and saw a fair variety show. Thence they left the boardwalk, walked to
Atlantic Avenue and mounted a car that bore them to Shauffler's, where
among light-hearted beer drinkers they heard the band play “Sousa's
Cadet March” and “After the Ball,” and so they arrived at midnight.
All this was beneficial to Haddon and pleasant enough in itself, but
it prevented Morrow that night from prosecuting his search for the
loveliest girl in the world. He postponed the search to the next day.
And when that time came, after Haddon had started for New York, occurred
an event that caused Morrow to postpone the search still further.
He had decided to go up the boardwalk on the chance of seeing Edith in
a pavilion or on the beach. If he should reach the vicinity of the
lighthouse without finding her, he would turn back and inquire at every
hotel near the beach until he should obtain news of her.
He had reached Pennsylvania Avenue when he was attracted by the white
tents that here dotted the wide beach. He went down the high flight
of steps from the boardwalk to rest awhile in the shade of one of the
tents.
Although it was not yet 11 o'clock, several people in bathing suits were
making for the sea. A little goat wagon with children aboard was passing
the tents, and after it came the cart of the “hokey-pokey” peddler,
drawn by a donkey that wore without complaint a decorated straw
bathing hat. Morrow, looking at the feet of the donkey, saw in the sand
something that shone in the sunlight. He picked it up and found that it
was a gold bracelet studded with diamonds.
He questioned every near-by person without finding the owner. He
therefore put the bracelet in his pocket, intending to advertise it.
Then he resumed his stroll up the boardwalk. He went past the lighthouse
and turned back.
He had reached the Tennessee Avenue pier without having found the
loveliest girl in the world. His eye caught a small card that had just
been tacked up at the pier entrance. Approaching it he read:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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