The Dark Ocean

Ted Bunpole proposes, and Betty Haverhill says no. But Ted won't take "no" for an answer, and the situation gets tiresome. Betty books passage to Europe by freighter.

The Garda departs San Francisco for Italy, via the Panama Canal. Passengers include the intellectual Alex Cato and his wife Ora; Nello di Prieri, whose father is a Marquis; plump Harry Mayberry, owner of a dry-cleaning plant in Oakland-and the formidable, cigar-smoking Mik Finsch, a Dutchman recently from El Salvador.

And who bu...