TimeTravel Adventures of The 1800 Club: Book 12

by P McAuley, Robert

  “I’m sure I will.” A look of consternation came across his face as he asked, “Shirley, there is something I must ask you.”

  “Please feel free to do so, John.”

  “This-this trip must cost a fortune. I mean just the room alone.”

  She nodded, “You mean, just the three rooms, right?”

  “Yes, the three rooms. I mean, is this normal for you? I mean when you go to America is it always first-class?”

  “Yes. Believe me, John, when you meet him you’ll understand. He’s not a snob or even close to being one. And as for his money, you will see that he works very hard to earn it.”

  “Well, I’m sure he does, it’s just that I feel so-so out of place in this-this cabin.”

  She smiled warmly, “John, please just accept it. He is obviously excited about meeting you. After all I have told him so many stories of you.”

  Watson blushed and said as he changed the subject, “Rubbish. Now, what time is lunch? All I had was that cup of tea you provided me with.”

  “In another thirty minutes. And I saw the number one on the reverse of our ticket which means that we are assigned a table for two.”

  Watson patted his stomach, “Jolly good. Jolly good.”

  Thirty minutes later they entered the great dining room and as much as Watson tried to look as though this was an every day thing for him, he felt overwhelmed by the elegant room. The closest that he had come to being in a grand room such as this was when he attended a medical convention in the grand ballroom of one of London’s grandest hotels.

  The ship’s dining room was situated on the first deck and the entrance was a single curving stairway with a hand carved mahogany banister that ended with a large torch held in a hand that seemed to sprout out of the banister. The torch’s light was composed of red and yellow colored glass in the shape of a fire. It flickered which gave it the look of being a real torch. The stairs were covered in dark brown carpeting that spread out to cover the entire dining room floor. The room’s walls were all covered with mahogany framed mirrors that were etched with illustrations of flowers and birds. At the top of the ten-foot high walls ran a thick mahogany molding with hand carved flowers and at each corner they met a mahogany column that displayed more hand carved flowers and vines that trailed up from the floor. The ceiling was flat white with three large recessed flowers made of plaster and painted in high gloss light blue, yellow and green. Hanging from each faux flower was a large gold-plated multi-armed chandelier whose candlelight reflected off of the many cut glass crystals. The tables and chairs were all made of white wicker, strong but light. White linen table clothes showed off the fine blue and white flowered china and silverware all of which reflected the lights of the small ornate oil lamp on each table. There were three types of settings: a two place, a four place and a ten place. Each section was separated by rows of thirty-six inch round, dark brown stone pots containing large palm fronds.

  Watson was glad that most of the men wore everyday business suits rather than tuxedos. However, he thought, tonight it will be different. While Shirley wore the same dress that she wore when she boarded, he was amazed at how fresh and attractive she looked and was proud to have her on his arm. As they made their way to their table he saw many of the men follow her with their eyes before seeing him looking back with a smile. Their table was next to a large window that looked out upon the ocean, which at the moment was filled with calm waters and blue skies with tall white clouds that were the background for hundreds of seabirds. He pulled out her chair and she sat before he sat facing her.

  “Jolly good table,” Watson remarked as he looked around.

  “Yes. Indeed it is,” she agreed as she opened the lunch menu. Knowing that the doctor’s lunch was usually onion soup, a biscuit and a cup of tea she peeked over the top of her menu to see her friend’s expression as he looked at his too. She had guessed correctly as she saw his thick gray eyebrows arch as he saw the first-class lunch menu and heard him mutter, “Oh, I say . . . “

  Hamburg American

  Oceanliner SS Augusta Victoria

  Invites you to our

  Midday Meal of:

  Soup: Julienne.

  Fish:

  Boiled Rock Fish, butter sauce.

  MEATS:

  Haricot of mutton; roast beef, baked potatoes; boiled mutton, caper sauce; mashed turnips; potatoes.

  DESSERTS:

  Rice pudding; apple tart; small pastry. Biscuits and cheese.

  Tea; Coffee; Milk; Cider.

  “Mmm,” he said, “I take it that there is no onion soup should one desire it?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t say that, John. The kitchens on these ships are set up to handle anything a passenger might ask for. Just ask the waiter.”

  “No bother,” he said as he slid his finger down the menu, “Actually I’ll have the boiled mutton and turnips.”

  “It’s the roast beef for me, John along with a baked potato followed by a nice cup of tea.”

  “Oh, yes indeed, a cup of tea, then I would suggest a stroll on deck.”

  “Wonderful plan.”

  At the rear of the large dining room a six-piece orchestra played soft background music as the passengers ate and chatted excitedly about their upcoming holiday in New York City.

  Two hours later the two friends walked the deck when Shirley asked, “So, John, are you enjoying the trip so far?”

  He nodded as he answered, “I am! I have taken ocean trips before, but never first-class.” He looked at her and went on, “I imagine this has become the normal way that you travel these days?”

  “It has. However, I never speak of it to my friends. I feel they might shun me. However, Bill has one thought and that is to keep me safe as he can when we are not together and traveling first-class is part of it.”

  “He does know of your helping Scotland Yard solve nasty events, does he not?”

  She nodded, “Yes.”

  Watson smiled, “Well I don’t blame him for protecting you as much as he can.“ He looked at his pocket watch and snapped it closed as he exclaimed, “I think I’ll go to my cabin and put some things away before getting dressed for dinner. Dinner is seven-thirty. Shall I knock on your door at seven-fifteen?”

  “Yes, although right now I could not eat another bite of food.”

  He nodded in agreement and then added, “Although should I be presented with a cup of onion soup I would have to second guess myself.”

  Alone in his cabin Doctor Watson opened the letter from Bill Scott and read it again. He closed it and sat back on the bed as he thought, How can this be? It seems so simple yet we in the medical field in England know nothing of it? He rubbed his chin and went on, Think clearly Watson. If the American medical field were this advanced they would have been in a hurry to tell the world of their breakthrough. And why does this Bill Scott want me to come to New York so badly? So badly that he would make sure I would come by sending this tease? Well, Watson, you must admit that whatever his reason, he has got your attention. He rubbed his chin again and said, “Come, Doctor Watson, time to put razor to face. Pray that the ship keeps an even keel as you are doing so.”

  At seven-ten Shirley stood in front of her mirror and touched up her eyebrows with the makeup kit that she had from Bill’s time. It was just one of the things that she loved of the future as it was so advanced to the makeup of her time period. She closed the small box and thought with a smile, I wonder what Bill would say if I said that I just came back because my mascara was running low? She stepped back and patted down a few wrinkles out of her dress. The dress she wore was a light blue day-gown that, with a full skirt that was cut longer in the back formed a train and a much hated by her, mini-bustle. The pagoda sleeves hugged her upper arms but started to widen at the elbows and ended up at her wrists as wide folded up cuffs. While the dress was a light blue, the front was decorated with hand cut flower patterns made of dark blue linen. The wide cuffs were also dark blue, as was the frilly trim that ran around
the bottom of the skirt and a dark blue high collar showed off the single strand of pearls she wore.

  She added a blue silk cap that was held in place on her piled high brown hair with a light blue bow attached to the end of a hatpin. A dark blue silk purse and low-heel shoes finished her outfit. Satisfied, she stepped back from the mirror and winced slightly. She quickly put her left leg up on the seat of a chair and pulled her dress up to reveal a five-inch leather scabbard strapped to her inner thigh. She undid the single leather strap and removed the holstered slim knife and placed it in the small cosmetic bag. “I doubt I’ll bump into Moriarty aboard ship,” she said as she closed the bag just as a tap on her door got her attention.

  “Hello John,” she said as she opened the door. Come in.”

  “I’d rather not, you know how rumors get started.”

  “John,” she said with a smile, “Come in. we’re leaving that society behind for now.”

  Reluctantly he stepped in and looked around. “Why, your room is a mirror image of mine.”

  “Is it? Well it is a great set of rooms.” She glanced at him as she picked up her purse, “John, you should wear a tux more often. You cut quite a figure.”

  With a blush he stammered, “Ah, well, it is fairly new. I just wore it twice. Really quite stiffening. However you do look splendid.”

  She smiled, “Shall we see what a first class dinner is like?”

  The walk from the grand staircase to their table gave Watson a feeling of pride as once again they were given the look over by both men and women. Once seated at ‘their’ table they looked over the menus.

  Hamburg American

  Oceanliner SS Augusta Victoria

  Invites you to our

  Evening Meal of:

  SOUPS: Turtle and Spring Greens.

  FISH: Scotch Salmon and Sauce Hollandaise.

  ENTREES: Blanquettes de Poulet aux Champignons. Filets de Boeuf a la Bordelaise. Cailles sur Canapes.

  JOINTS: Saddle of Mutton and Jelly. Beef and Yorkshire Pudding. York Ham and Champagne Sauce.

  POULTRY: Roast Turkey and Truffles. Spring Ducklings.

  VEGETABLES: Pommes de Terre Duchesse. Asparagus. Potatoes. Parsnips.

  SWEETS: International Pudding. Rhubarb with Custard. Strawberry Jam. Tartlets. Sandwich.

  PASTRY: Genoese Pastry. Marlborough Pudding. Gooseberry Souffles. Lemon Cream.

  DESSERT: Seville Oranges. Black Hamburg Grapes. English Walnuts. Madeira Nuts. Cantaloupes. Café Noir.

  Tea, Coffee, Cider

  After a moment Shirley said, “I believe I’ll have the Salmon with the Hollandaise sauce.”

  “York Ham and Champagne sauce for me,” offered Watson and with raised eyebrows added, “And perhaps a glass of wine.”

  After dinner they sipped tea and played cards in the game room before returning to their cabins at ten o’clock.

  Shirley took a shower and changed into the ship’s thick white terrycloth robe. She sat at the dressing table and tied her hair back into a ponytail as she thought with a smile, Bill loves me in a ponytail. He claims that he has corralled a wild pony. She wrinkled her nose in the mirror and said as she brushed her long damp ponytail, “I shall have to tell him that it was I who corralled a wild horse.” She went to the small table next to the door and selected a magazine that she knew would be interesting for her and deeply interesting for Bill. I’ll bring this to him straight from 1898.

  Harper's Magazine, May 1898 (No. 590)

  Harper's New Monthly Magazine for May 1898, is published by Harper & Brothers, New York and London. It is a Literary magazine covering a broad range of topics.

  Table Of Contents

  “Hear, 0 Israel!” Frontispiece Illustration for “Transitional." Drawn by Louis LOEB.

  The Spanish - American War. Part VI. The Blockade of Manila and the Capture of Guam. - Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, United States Senator from Massachusetts. Nineteen Illustrations and One Map. From Drawings by T. De Thulstrup, G. W. Peters, F. Luis Mora, Harry Fenn, E. C. Peixotto, Guy Rose, And H. Reuterdahl ; and from Photographs by Hollinger, Endeau, and Others.

  Breath on the Oat. A Poem J Russell Taylor

  Transitional. A Story I Zangwill One Illustration (Frontispiece) by Louis Loeb.

  Trooper Jaekson. A Poem Thomas Edward Grafton One Illustration by Frederic Remington. The Interior Decoration of the City House Part III. Russell Sturgis Ten Illustrations and One Plan. From Drawings by Otto H. Bacher, and front Photographs.

  The Princess Xenia. A Romance. Part IV. H. B. Marriott Watson, Author of Galloping Dick. One Illustration by T. De Thulstrup.

  The Wrath of the Zuyder Zee. A Story Thomas A. Janvier Four Illustrations by Lucius Hitchcock.

  The Australian Horseman Herbert C. Mac Ilwaine Seven Illustrations by Percy F. S. Spence.

  Their Silver Wedding Journey. A Novell - Part VII. William Dean Howells Two Illustrations by W. T. SMEDLEY.

  The Honor of the Troop. A Story Frederic Remington Two Illustrations by the Author.

  Not on the Passenger-List. A Story. Jessie Van Zile Belden

  Trade Policy with the Colonies Worthington C. Ford, Late Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, Washington.

  A Brother to Saint James. A Story Wolcott Leclear Beard

  In Hades. A Poem Anna C. Brackett

  The Drawer. With Introductory Story By Margaret Sutton Briscoe Illustrations By A. B. Frost, Peter Newell, H. B. Eddy, And Albert E. Sterner.

  Literary Notes John Kendrick Bangs

  Wow! She thought as she lay back and started to read the first story, Bill will love this issue.

  Eight a.m. found Shirley and Watson enjoying their breakfast of Buckwheat cakes and smoked ham along with their first cup of tea. After breakfast they walked the deck, visited the gym and played shuffleboard. After a hearty lunch they visited the ship’s library and read their books on the reclining deck chairs before changing for dinner and back to their respective cabins by ten p.m.

  This became their ritual for the eight-day trip and both admitted the evening before docking that they were ready to see something more than water and sky.

  It was 10:15 in the morning and the sun drenched docks of New York looked just like any dock in England as crowds of well wishers waved to friends and family aboard a ship leaving port as another crowd waved to friends and family aboard their ship as it docked.

  No sooner had they stepped onto the long wooden dock when Bill Scott ran up and swooped Shirley up in his arms and kissed her as an astonished Doctor Watson watched her kiss and hug him back. Seeing Watson standing there, making as though he was looking at the crowd on the dock, brought the couple back to their senses.

  “You, sir, must be Doctor Watson! It is a great pleasure,” said Bill offering his hand.

  “Oh, Bill,” said Shirley seeing Watson’s unease, “This is Doctor John Watson and,” she turned to Watson and continued her introduction, “Doctor Watson, this is Bill Scott.”

  Properly introduced Watson grasped Bill’s hand and said as they shook hands, “The pleasure is mine, sir. I’ve heard many stories about you.”

  “The pleasure is all mine,” said Bill with a smile, “How was your crossing?”

  “Never better. Great weather, food and company.”

  Bill squeezed Shirley’s shoulder, “Yes, I imagine the company was the best.”

  Shirley shook her head, “Oh you two! Shall we fetch our luggage?”

  “Give me your tickets,” Bill said and when they did, he gave them to a big man with a long drooping mustache who went to the stack of luggage.

  “Come,” Bill said, “I have a cab waiting.”

  “But, our luggage?”

  “The fellow who is retrieving your luggage is our cab driver. I skipped the first two drivers and when I saw his arms, picked him.”

  Once at the cab Bill held the door as Shirley and Watson climbed into the four-seat cab and Bill followed to find himself sitting alone facing them. Shirley grinned as Bill played footsies wit
h her and the doctor pretended not to see them. The driver came back and secured the two pieces of luggage to the top of the cab before he climbed up and started off in a trot.

  “So, Bill, what hotel have you booked us in?” asked Watson.

  “Uh, well actually I would be honored if you both stay in my place . . . in your own rooms of course.”

  “I couldn’t hear of that,” Watson said before Shirley cut in and said smoothly, “Watson, it’s fine. Bill has a huge place with plenty of rooms. Please accept his invitation.”

  “Well, if you wish. However I must insist that I am not pushing someone out of their room.”

  “I promise, Doctor Watson.”

  “Then yes, Bill. I’ll gladly stay at your place.”

  “That’s fine, John. Believe me you will enjoy your stay.”

  With a nod Watson said, “Bill, would you do me a favor and call me Watson? Most of my friends do.”

  “As you wish, Watson.”

  As they rode up Broadway Bill had a hard time as he wanted to see the streets of old New York go by and keep up his conversation with his beautiful fiancé, Shirley Holmes and the famous Doctor Watson.

  Finally they stopped at the rear of Bill’s townhouse and the driver took down the luggage and following Bill into the garden, placed them next to the security door. As Watson and Shirley waited Bill walked back to the cab with the driver and gave him twenty singles and a handshake. The smiling man said as he climbed up onto his cab, “Sir, anytime you have a trip to take, please ask any driver where Timmy is and I’ll be there for you.” He tipped his tall hat and drove off with a smile from ear-to-ear.