The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-30
PHONE 434
North of Ocala National Bank


flash her expressive countenance mir
rored multitude of emotions, and he
was looking not only into the finest
eyes that had ever met his, but into
| pair of extremely startled eyes as well.
| Next the girls lips parted, and she re-
| coiled with gasp of sheer astonish-
ment.
And now must be recorded of Tom
one Of the incest things it has been
privileged thus far to say of him; it
| was really a pity that Van Vechten
| could not have been present to ap-
plaud. He looked uncommonly hand
some and natty in his fresh white-duck
uniform; and his cap, with the anchors
and the words "Kohinur" and Cap
tain" thereon all in heavy gold braid,
was very becoming to him. All at
once he became acutely aware of the
! boldness and ardor of his gaze, and
! lowering his eyes, he whipped off the
! young lady.
Il told YOU" said he exultantly, chat
: l would know you anywhere"
And that one little speech, when she
came to ponder over it, would be
| found to contain more of genuine COM
! pliment than he might ever hope to i'm
| press upon her in a lifetime of assur-
! ances.
She was still too dumfounded, how
ever, to note his words. Her regard
darted from his face to his cap and
uniform and back to his face again.
! Then, mechanically, she half-turned
away as if she would fee.
/ But Tom checked this impulse He
was now standing erect, his arms fold
ed across his broad chest, one hand
still holding the cap. He smiled and
said easily:
Seems as though I'm always to
scare you. Please don't run away.
Anyhow, stay long enough to tell me
what's SO fierce about my looks. Won't
your"
For moment longer their eyes held
one another's, hers still alive with be-
wildering amazement; but quickly
these expressions died away, and she
recovered her poise as quickly as it
had been routed. Her cheeks flushed
prettily, and she laughed.
'You!" she exclaimed. "Of all per-
sons! Captain-Captain Phinney! If
it isn't the strangest thing-but, no."
she broke off, lit is not so very re-
markable after all. You
She stopped with an abruptness that
passed unnoticed by Tom. Unable
longer to repress some expression of
his joy, however yelled it might he,
he said:
ut is remarkable, though. It's the
rippingest thing l ever heard of-that
I should have found you again, you
know-that I should be standing here
talking to you, like this.
But" he went on quickly, seeing
that this aspect of the matter was not
altogether acceptable, "I-believe me
i have not been trying to find you
Not that l didn't want to- mean, l
had no idea you were to be here. My
presence is perfectly legitimate"
Implying" she interrupted, every
spark of amusement vanished from
face and eyes, that my presence is
not?"
SAY" Tom earnestly protested.
please don't talk like that. It's hard
enough for me to make myself clear
under the best conditions; If you go
to taking me up sharp that way I'll
make a mess of it.
Here's the way of it. Old Brown
low-know him? Rum old sport
Brownlow wanted a skipper for his
yacht; l applied for the job''-he grew
more and more nervous as he proceed
ed under the level regard-''he hired
me; and here l am. Do you get me?'
For a long moment she studied MS
face; then her lashes lowered tribe
! her cheeks dimpled, and she replied
with a delightful low-voiced demure'
ness:
Il get you
Tom INDUCED in tremendous sigh
of relief For the first time hope
mounted high in his bosom that, after
all, their relations were going to start
. upon friendly footing.
But before he had time to ask q
question that rose to his lips, an inter
, ruption came. Turning at the SOUND OF
1 a footstep, he was in measure pre-
>, pared to confront the suppositltlous
1 old servant of Number 1913. The
r mans face, shot and crisscrossed with
[ a network of fine wrinkles, was beard
e less and as lifeless as a death-mask
t But not so the PIERCING black eyes;
a here at once the younger man recos
nized an extraordinary personality
: one that affected him powerfully, ever
o to forgetting his resentment at the
: intrusion.
q The man handed him an envelope
v with an uttered word or two Of e1pla
K nation: From Mr.. Brownlow. l an
: the charterer.''
/ And then Tom all at once remem
e bered where he had previously heart
this familiar voice. Last Monday
|, night. VIXEN he stood blindfolded II
.he -,vs+e-io,,s L,n0 Island house. ht