"No, I don't like McB.," said Blix. "He's too--ornamental, somehow.""He wouldn't do for K. D. B., would he?"
"Oh, my, no! He'd make her very unhappy."
"'Widower, two children, home-loving disposition, desires introduction to good, honest woman to make home for his children.
Matrimony, if suitable. B. P. T., Box A, this office.'""He's not for K. D. B., that's flat," declared Blix; "the idea, 'matrimony if suitable'--patronizing enough! I know just what kind of an old man B. P. T. is. I know he would want K. D. B. to warm his slippers, and would be fretful and grumpy. B. P. T., just an abbreviation of bumptious. No, he can't have her."Condy read the next two or three to himself, despite her protests.
"Condy, don't be mean! Read them to--"
"Ah!" he exclaimed, "here's one for K. D. B. Behold, the bridegroom cometh! Listen.""'Bachelor, thirty-nine, sober and industrious, retired sea captain, desires acquaintance respectable young woman, good house-keeper and manager. Object, matrimony. Address Captain Jack, office this paper.""I know he's got a wooden leg!" cried Blix. "Can't you just see it sticking out between the lines? And he lives all alone somewhere down near the bay with a parrot--""And makes a glass of grog every night."
"And smokes a long clay pipe."
"But he chews tobacco."
"Yes, isn't it a pity he will chew that nasty, smelly tobacco? But K. D. B. will break him of that.""Oh, is he for K. D. B.?"
"Sent by Providence!" declared Blix. "They were born for each other. Just see, K. D. B. is a good housekeeper, and wants a respectable middle-aged gentleman. Captain Jack is a respectable middle-aged gentleman, and wants a good housekeeper. Oh, and besides, I can read between the lines! I just feel they would be congenial. If they know what's best for themselves, they would write to each other right away.""But wouldn't you love to be there and see them meet!" exclaimed Condy.
"Can't we fix it up some way," said Blix, "to bring these two together--to help them out in some way?"Condy smote the table and jumped to his feet.
"Write to 'em!" he shouted. "Write to K. D. B. and sign it Captain Jack, and write to Captain Jack--""And sign it K. D. B.," she interrupted, catching his idea.
"And have him tell her, and her tell him," he added, "to meet at some place; and then we can go to that place and hide, and watch.""But how will we know them? How would they know each other?
They've never met."
"We'll tell them both to wear a kind of flower. Then we can know them, and they can know each other. Of course as soon as they began to talk they would find out they hadn't written.""But they wouldn't care."
"No--they want to meet each other. They would be thankful to us for bringing them together.""Won't it be the greatest fun?"
"Fun! Why, it will be a regular drama. Only we are running the show, and everything is real. Let's get at it!"Blix ran into her room and returned with writing material. Condy looked at the note-paper critically. "This kind's too swell. K.
D. B. wouldn't use Irish linen--never! Here, this is better, glazed with blue lines and a flying bird stamped in the corner.
Now I'll write for the Captain, and you write for K. D. B.""But where will we have them meet?"
This was a point. They considered the Chinese restaurant, the Plaza, Lotta's fountain, the Mechanics' Library, and even the cathedral over in the Mexican quarter, but arrived at no decision.
