The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-10


think of availing himself OF TINS
pleasure unless Rudy were along.
Toms income did not permit OF MS
owning yachts or motor-cars; out
what he did not know about them
was not worth anybody's time trying
to find out
He was thus reminded of a catboat
over at Rocky Cove, belonging to
friend who was in Europe, and which
he could use whenever he wanted to.
He threw down his cue. hunted up .
a timetable, then fastened home to :
toss a battered but wonderfully COM
Portable negligee outfit into a bag,
and HE himself over to Long Island.
AS he passed through the lounging'
room-it is worth recording-Van
Vechten was brooding in his corner,
and SO did not see him. Tom sur.
veyed him a second or so, then con-
Guiding that he had better not break
in upon his cogitations, fastened
away.
While it was yet daylight, Tom
found the sail where it was stored in
his friends boathouse, shipped the
single mast and rugged it up, then
went up into town after a box OF pro-
visions. He meant to cruise around
the Sound for day or two, thus CIV
ing Rudy plenty OF time to think,
and perhaps learn something definite
about his Cousin Paiges movements
into the bargain; afterwards they
might find time to join the Carterets
He was profoundly Disguised that a
girls caprice was depriving him and
Ruddy, Of jelly good time.
That night, after a couple OF pipes,
he went to sleep in his little crafts
cabin, and before daylight he was
astir and taking advantage of a light
off-shore breeze. All day he loafed
around the lower Sound, enjoying
himself immensely and incidentally
emptying the provision locker to the
last crumb. He viewed this circum-
stance with rueful laugh.
Moses and green spectacles! And
| thought l was laying in supplies
tor weeks cruise!"
Then he laughed acknowledgements
eddy this time-and trimmed about for
home.
Dusk was falling when he drifted
close in toward Rocky Cove. He was
possibly two miles off shore when
he heard the mufIled exhaust and
warning pipe of motor.boat. And
here is where his adventure may be
said to have begun.
CHANGING back, he made out the
craft bearing down upon him under a
smother of spray of her own kicking
up. She swept by so close to port
that, despite the halflight, he was
afforded a distinct view of several of
the boats occupants.
There were five men and three
women. The latter were half.hidden
in their wraps and kept their faces
averted, but the men all turned and
stared at him with fixedness that
surprised Tom consi ,crably and made
him not little curious. So he re-
turned the scrutiny with an interest
which normally he would not have
felt.
His own regard sharpened. And
then his jaw dropped, and his pipe
clattered upon the grating at his
feet.
He recognized one of the men-the
!, aged, white.haired servant whom he
, had seen once or twice emerge from
! Number 1913. Quickly he darted a
!, glance at each of the others in turn;
but he had never seen them before.
In flash they were gone, and II
,, was not until vagrant puff heeled
!, him perilously astarboard that he
, recovered his wits and brought his
boat round again into the wind. By
, then the motor.boat had been all but
!. swallowed in the gloom.
However. Tom reflected, they were
heading straight for Rocky Cove; II
, the breeze held he would have his
, own craft tied up at his friends piei
within the half.hour; then a quicl
change of attire in the boathouse, and
he could put in the evening reconnoi
: tering. 1t would be queer II he failed
:. to turn up something in little plac,
like Rocky Cove.
: But after he had dined at the on,
hotel where he felt free to 60 at thi,
: season without evening clothes. b,
I was put out TO observe that a storm
: was brewing. The sky was alread,
!, thickly overcast the night suffocat
} ingly close, and of to the west light
. ming was pickering and approachin.
with a rapidly that promised a souall
u While he stood undecided as I,
what course to pursue, the matter VIZ,
. taken Unexpectedly out Of his hands
3 a man, Walking rapidly. came al
i rupdy out q: the darkness and On
: tered the glare Of light from the hos
2 telFy's open door and windows. He !
. was who had been controlling In
10 motor-boat
Tom now had an opportunity TO OF
y serve several particulars about hir
70 that he had previously missed q