The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1914-12-03

| packed away in salt. the mhuhool
raised, and the schooner Betty set he
sails for the southwest. Barnes real
lied that to save the girl she mus
have a doctor who knew his business
Mrs. Barnes would know how to car
for the girl, once she knew what tn
trouble was. There would be somt
news in the papers. A young ant
beautiful woman did not Jump from
big Atlantic liner without the newspa
pers getting hold of the facts.
A fair wind carried the Betty intt
her haven, and shortly after Florence
was sleeping peacefully in feather
bed, ancient, it is true. but none thu
less soft and inviting. In all this time
she had not spoken a single word.
1.-THE poor young thing" murmured
the motherly Mrs. Barnes. what
beautiful hair! o, John, I wish you
would give up the sea. hate 1t. II
is terrible. am always watching
you in my minds eye, in calm wealth
er. in storms. Pieces Of wrecks come
ashore, and I always wonder over the
death and terror back Of them"
Don't y worry none about me
Betty. never take no chances. Now
I'm goin' int tn village an bring
back tn sawbones. He'll tell US what
t. do"
The village doctor shook his grizzled
head gravely.
"She's been hurt and shocked at the
same time. 1t will be many days be-
fore she comes around to herself. Just
let her do as she pleases. Only keep
an eye on her so that she doesn't wan
der of and get lost. I'll watch the
newspapers and If come across any.
thing which bears upon the case I'll
notify you"
But he searched the newspapers in
vain, for the simple fact that he did
not think to glance over the old ones.
The village took a good deal of in
teresI in the affair. They gossiped
about 1t and strolled out to the Barnes
cottage to satisfy their curiosity. One
thing was certain to their simple
minds:- some day Barnes would get
great sum of money for his kindness.
They had read about such things in
the family story paper. She was rich
mans daughter; the ring on the I'M
finger would have fitted out
A feet
Florence was soon able to walk
bout. Ordinary conversation she
seemed to understands but whenever
he past was preached she would
'hake her head with frowning eyes.
Ter main diversion consisted of sitting
m the sand dunes and gazing out at
sea.
One day stranger came to town.
lie said he represented life insur.
'nce company and was up here from
'oston to take little vacation. He
lat on the hotel porch that evening,
by an admiring audience
The stranger had been all over the
world, so it seemed. He spoke famil-
arly Of st. Petersburg. Vladivostok.
Shanghai. as the villagers-some of
hem-might have spoken Of Boston
there were one or two old timers
mong the audience. They had been
o all these parts. The stranger knew
What he was telling about. After tell.
ng of his many voyages he asked if |
here was good bathing beach near.
y. He was told that he would find
he most suitable spot near Captain
'arnes' cottage just outside the vii.
age.
"An' say, Mister, seen anythin' in
h papers about missin' young wom-
NJ" asked some one
Missing young woman? What's
hat?"
The man told the story of Torence's
zap into the sea and her subsequent
rival at the cape
That's funny" said the stranger
don't recollect reading about any
Dung woman being lost at sea. But
hose big liners are always keeping
UGH things under cover. Hoodoos the
hip, they say, and turns prospective
assengers to other lines. It hurts
usiness. What's the young girl look
ke?"
Florence was described minutely. The
tranger teetered in his chair and
noked. Finally he spoke. |
'She probably was insane. That's
le way generally with insane people.
hey can't see water or look of
IL building without wanting to Jump.
y business is insurance, and we've
1t the thing figured pretty close to
le ground. They used to get the
est Of US on the suicide game. A
an would take out a large policy
day and tomorrow he'd blow his
FAD on, and we'd have to pay his
life. But nowadays a policy is not
orth the paper it's written on IL a
an commits suicide under two
,ars."
you amt tryin' to insure anybody
town, are you?"
"Oh, no. No work for me when
n ON my vacation. Well. I'm going
bed: and tomorrow morning I'll m