SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, December 23, 1917. THE BEST SHORT STORIES OF 1917 NOTE. The twenty stories which follow are arranged in the alphabetical order of their authors' names. This arrangement does not imply any precedence in merit of particular stories. THE EXCURSION[2] [Note 2: Copyright, 1917, by The Pictorial Review Company. Copyright, 1918, by Edwina Stanton Babcock.] BY EDWINA STANTON BABCOCK From _The Pictorial Review_ Mrs. Tuttle arrived breathless, bearing a large gilt parrot-cage. She swept up the gangway of the _Fall of Rome_ and was enthusiastically received. There were, however, concealed titterings and suppressed whispers. "My sakes! She's went and brought that bird." "I won't believe it till I see it." "There he sets in his gold coop." Mrs. Turtle brought Romeo to the excursion with the same assurance that a woman of another stamp brings her Pekingese dog to a restaurant table. While the _Fall of Rome_ sounded a warning whistle, and hawsers were loosed she adjusted her veil and took cognizance of fellow passengers. In spite of wealth and "owning her own automobile," Mrs. Turtle's fetish was democratic popularity. She greeted one after another. "How do, Mis' Bridge, and Mister, too! Who's keeping store while you're away? "Carrie Turpin! You here? Where's Si? Couldn't come? Now that's too bad!" After a long stare, "You're some fleshier, ain't you, Carrie?" A large woman in a tan-colored linen duster came slowly down the deck, a camp-stool in either hand. Her portly advance was intercepted by Mrs. Tuttle. "Mis' Tinneray! Same as ever!" Mrs. Tinneray dropped the camp-stools and adjusted her smoked glasses; she gave a start and the two ladies embraced. Mrs. Tuttle said that "it beat all," and Mrs. Tinneray said "she never!" Mrs. Tuttle, emerged from the embrace, re-adjusting her hat with many-ringed fingers, inquiring, "How's the folks?" Up lumbered Mr. Tinneray, a large man with a chuckle and pale eyes, who was introduced by the well-known formula, "Mis' Tuttle, Mr. Tinneray, Mr. Tinneray, Mis' Tuttle." The Tinnerays said, "So you brought the bird along, hey?" Then, without warning, all conversation ceased. The _Fall of Rome_, steaming slowly away from the pier, whistled a sodden whistle, the flags flapped, every one realized that the excursion had really begun.