The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-22
CHAPTER VII.
Oeeper Waters.

be in code, contained more than one
incomprehensible but none the less
pregnant item. The line Of perpleXity
between his brows deepened,s as he
continued to stare at it, while Tom
looked on and fidgeted with curiosity.
whirlpool" Van Vechten voiced
his mystifcation-"s seems to me I've
heard that name before-Pm sure |
have-but hanged if 1 can associate it
with anything definite. And who the
deuce is Fotheringill?"
He handed the slip Of paper over to
Tom. The items began to. appear
slowly by degrees.
Withypool-Withypool he repeat
ed in an effort to spur his memory
where and when did l ever hear that
name? It's not one that Paige men
toned. Must be some town in Somer
set"
And two ladies'" supplemented
Tom in mock admiration, answering
to the description Of your cousin and
Mrs. Devereaux were there some time
in July. What ripping Sherlock
Holmes you are!"
Van Vechten surveyed him with I'M
Say" he began with considerable
energy. tom, if they were Paige
and 10, why should it be so difficult to
determine their identities positively?
Were they trying to hide? And if SO,
from whom?"
You can search me-" Tom offered
dispiritedly.
Van Vechten took the message and
pored over it again.
Five hundred pounds reward" he
groaned after minute. Great
Scott, Tom! How luridly the papers
will blossom now, for the blessed
puzzle is fair game at last for them.
Who has authorized anyone to offer a
reward, I'd like to know? And what
two weeks in July were these two mys-
terious ladies at whirlpool? Am I to
infer that they and Mrs. and Miss
Schuyler are the same?-that Paige
and Joe sailed home incog the eighth
of last month";
That's what it says" replied Tom.
in a way, yes. But this sheet of de-
formed intelligence is more remark
able for what it does not say than for
what it says. Schuyler, you know,
was Mrs. Devereaux's maiden name
Toms eyes opened. by George!"
he exclaimed wonderingly. $50 it
was!"
WELL" tartly, "does the circum-
stance suggest anything to you?"
But Tom merely stood silent a Sec
ond wagging his head. mo. It's only a
little more muddling, is all can make
of it,
Here it is the fifth of September, /"
Van Vechten's summarizing went on;
where, in heavens name, have they
been all this time? Where are they
now?"
Moses and green spectacles, Rud-
dy!" burst forth Tom in desperation.
You'll give yourself a headache if you
Keep on asking questions that nobody
can answer! Here-let's sit down at
this table and have something to
drink; maybe thatll help. You can
thlnh things over, anyhow"
Van Vechten all 81 a sudden expert
enced a let-down from the high ten
sion under which he had been labor
Ing ever since the cablegrams arrival,
and Immediately the drawn lines about
his mouth. and the restless shifting OF
his eyes, disclosed his growing bur
den OF anxiety; even to Toms unob-
servant regard it was laid bare how
deeply the battling mystery-the IN
certainty OF his cousins fate-had az
sected his whole being.
Steady, old man." Tom muir
INJURED sympatheticaliy. Try a little
nerve tonic Brace up"
They sat down.
4 don't want anything to drink"
Van Vechten declined the offer. "bu
L VIII gladly smoke 9 big black cigar
Perhaps 1t will clear away soDe ot
the cobwebs."
Tom, ever a model Of abstemiors
ness, contented himself with a. miIo
and ladylike thimble Of curacao.
Then they took W the subject Of the
cablegram again. Van Vecbten fiat
tened the paper upon the table
propped his elbows at either end anG
grasped his hair firmly with botl
hands, the cigar smoke forming a blue
halo about his head. He gave himself
up to the serious business of inter.
preting and assimilating the disquiet
ing, unfathomable information from
overseas.
The operation, manifestly, was not
very satisfactory, for by and by be
uttered another groan, tossed away his
half-smoked cigar and once more sat
upright.
What" he began, but his com
panlon promptly checked him.
Now you stop right there" com
manded Tom. If you want to fire any
more questions. suppose you try 'em
out on Uncle Theodore. Ring him up. -
The other smiled wanly, and a spark
OF his customary sprightly humor
flashed again.
Bright boy" he said IF l pos
sessed your practical mind would not
be so WOODY over this thing. But you