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"A few moments ago," replied the reporter.
"Well," and Mr. Howland gazed at his informant with suffused eyes, "I thank you for your kindness. You must know how grateful I am. Of course there is nothing I can tell you--nothing you want to know."
The reporter hesitated a moment.
"No," he said, "I don't suppose you can tell me much. Except--"
"Eh?" said Mr. Howland.
"Except--you read the despatch. It speaks of Captain Merrithew as Miss Howland's _fiance_."
"Yes." Mr. Howland's years of business resource and ac.u.men were beginning to a.s.sert themselves. "Oh, _fiance_! I see. Romance will help your article. Well, there isn't any. Captain Merrithew and my daughter were engaged before we started on this _Tampico_ jaunt." He looked at the reporter steadily. "Merrithew, you know, is really the a.s.sistant Marine Superintendent of the Coastwise Company; also a stock-holder. He was sailing the _Tampico_ merely for experience."
The reporter smiled at Mr. Howland.
"Merrithew is to be congratulated," he said.
"I fancy so," replied Mr. Howland. "In fact," he added, "do you know, I have reason to be quite sure of it."
THE END
