The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-12-26

over him, and of a most outlandish de
sire to swear. To tell the truth, he SO
nearly let slip shaft of heated pro-
family that his tongue was at last
loosened.
Della" he pleaded in desperation,
listen to me moment. On shipboard
orders are orders, and they are meant
for just one thing-to be obeyed. The
practice is so ingrained in every sea-
farlng man that he never even thinks
OF Sinking or compromising. Can't
you at least wait a little bit until Mr..
Willard comes? don't doubt but that
it will be all right"
] She was now angry through and
through.
Then why do you stand there talk
ing like simpleton?" she fiared at
him. IT'S not a question of whether
can or cannot wait-I don't propose
to-"
Della"
She stamped foot.
Don't call me that name!" she
stormed-"do you dare! l detest
it! Besides, it's rude and impertinent
and mgentlemanly in you to take such
a liberty" She moved quickly into
the gangway. If you won't, l will.
Thank goodness, can run motor
boatl"
Mechanically he reached forth a
hand and caught her arm. And with
the contact it was as If miracle had
happened for him. his discomposure
left him, and all timidity and irresolu.
ton vanished.
Dear girl" he said unsteadily-
"Delia-don't do this thing; don't force
me into such trying position. If
were anybody in whom you are the
least bit interested, the last thing you
would expect of me would be to dis
obey orders"
He had both her hands in his. Sud
denly she began pulling and tuggng
in furious but vain effort to loosen
his grasp.
"You-you wretched, miserable, ir-
ritating creature" she cried tearfully
! Il have to 90. Can't you get 1t into
Your stupid head?"
"Delia-Delia-d don't!" he beseeched
her, quite beside himself once more.
Dear girl, listen to reason"
Gradually he was drawing her to
him. Then both were stricken mo-
tioness and silent.
There is no way Of ascertaining how
this episode would have ended had it
been permitted to continue its natural
course, Perhaps it had already ended
AS far as this irate young lady was
concerned, perhaps 1t was all over
with Tom, and he was properly brand
ed an outcast and pariah. However
hat may be, right at this juncture
there came an interruption sufficiently
startling to jolt both of them from
even so absorbing situation as the
present one.
From somewhere forward, without
the slightest warning, there broke
forth a noise of scufing and Of a man
rursing. The intent behind the tumult
was so sinister and so wickcdly pur-
poeeful that, in terror, the girl in
stinctively shrank close to Tom. He
passed protecting arm about her,
and both stared intently forward, try.
ing to penetrate the gloom.
The scullling and swearing ceased as
abruptly as it had begun. Next in
stant they heard a resoundlng splash,
the thrilling cry of man overboard!"
which was Immediately followed by a
second loud splash
The two raced forward to find most
OF the crew gathered at the port rail,
over which they were leaning and
peering eXcitedlY into the river Tom
was not so disturbed that he failed to
notice how his companion clung to his
arm. He gave the hand a little
squeeze and drew her closer.
What's the trouble here?" he de-
manded Where's Mr. Mercer"
. " lliittA ", INV 'iJdi IOub OtCDIlu IildIb,
pointed down toward the water.
There. sir" he replied. "A fellow
wanted to jump overboard-the blame
foOl-and Mr. Mercer tried to hold
him. Before anybody could help him,
he man knocked him down and went
over the rail, Mr.. Mercer went right
over after him"
Already lif"-buoys had been tossed
to the struggling pair in the water, and
boat was being rapidly lowered. Tom
glanced over the faces in the dim star
light.
Who was the man." he asked.
A moments silence. then some one
spoke up: The big fellow called Cal.
lis, sir.
Lively, mca" Tom shouted. "He
cant SWIM"
CHAPTER v.