The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-12-27
CHAPTER VI.
The Man Of Iron Speaks.

INC wan OF iron speaks.
The unhesitating assurance of her
request, with its unmistakable import
OF dependence on him in her moment
of need, thrilled every fiber of Toms
being. He swept her up into his arms
as easily as if she had been a little
child, and as tenderly.
Get Molly" he curtly ordered Mer.
Ger, then started with her to her room.
Her eyes were closed, the long dark
lasbes lay upon her cheeks, ard the
lovely face wore pinched look.
Della a-sweetheart," he muttered-
If ! could only take your trouble up.
on myself.'
The lids futtered weariedly, and she
looked up at him with wan little
smile.
You can't. Tom" he heard her
whisper.
After seeing her safely in Molly's
care, and being assured that the other
ladies were notified, he went back to
his first officer, convinced that either
an explanation was due him from Mer-
cer or else he owed Mercer an apol-
ogy. But the latter bore no grudge for
Toms involuntary outburst. "She was
phonlng somebody" he said, "and
learned something that knocked her
all Of heap" He recounted all that
had happened, and wound up by say
ing:
There's whole lot more mystery
about this little old boat than l like
What do you make Of it all, anyway"
Nothing" Tom curtly replied. "And
I'm getting pretty tired of 1t myself
Old Willard doesn't want to send for
a doctor to look at Calls. The fellow
hasn't come around yet. Willard
claims to be something of a doctor
himself, and that nothing serious is
the matter Wen, the blame's all his
if the chap dies"
Hope he does" was MERGERS un-
Keeling comment He handed me an
awful wallop."
Some time after midnight, Molly
came to him in the chart house with
message that relieved his disquiet.
Said Molly;
Miss Della wants me to tell you
that she's all right now, and she hopes
she hasn't caused you any anxiety"
RQfOra hroakfaot pavt ,,,or,;p~
Thurday-he saw her, dressed for the
street in the same becoming blue
gown she had worn the previous night.
Her face was drawn and pale and her
eyes held troubled look, as if she
had passed sleepless night. Never
theless she smiled as she greeted him.
81 am afraid | must cause more
bother" she said. 81 am obliged posi-.
lively to go downtown this morning.
got no farther than the Claremont
last night, you know"
Before breakfast" exclaimed Tom.
yes with quiet gravity. 81 am 60
ing with Miss Willard"
Miss Willard Then one of the 9th.
er ladies was old Wizards daughter
Jessie, doubtless.
Della" he said after a moment, "do
you care IL go with you this morn.
ing?"
She colored family and dropped her
gaze, but her gravity did not change.
Il shall be very glad to have you go
over in the launch with us and get US
a cab---if such things are procurable
so far from town. But I'm sorry the
errand is of private nature abhor {
mystery and secrecy-but it is not
mine"
q don't want to intrudo," he hesi.
tated. she & ahed 4 sly look at him.
Little good il does me to object" =
She said-"Here's Jessie" r
A stattroom door opened to disclose
a girl who, if she was not SO beautiful .
as Della, Tom was obliged to admit .
that she came very near being 80, c
Hcrs was contrasting type; black .
hair and eyes, but clear complexion;
and she was as tastefully and becom- s.
!ngly gowned, though in light gray, as II
the other girl. n
She acknowledged Toms introduc- !,
ton so absently that he received the y
impression that her mind was set upon Al
something afar OFF and that she was a
iercely impatient of the intervening 4
distance. She seemed TO move in pl
sort of stony despair that would crush Al
nor d2.- --eser.,z if she could not Of
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