The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-03
lcopyrish. 1912 By A. C. Mec,urg 4 ca)
CHAPTER vi.
The Man of Iron Speaks.


request, with its unmfstakable 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 IL she had been little
child, and as tenderly.
Get Molly" he CURLY ordered Mer-
Ger, then started with her to her room.
Her eyes were closed, the long dark
lashes lay upon her cheeks, and the.
lovely face wore a pinched look
"Delia-sweetheart," he muttered-
'ff / could only take your trouble up
on myself"
The lids fluttered weariedly, and she
looked up at him with a 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-
Ger, or else he owed Mercer an apol-
ogy. But the latter bore no grudge for
Toms involuntary outburst. "She was
| phoning somebody" he said, land
!! learned something that knocked her
all of heap" He recounted all that
/ had happened. and wound up by say
| ing:
There's a whole lot more mystery
about this little old boat than / like
| What do you make of it all, anyway"
Nothing" Tom CURLY replied. "And
I'm getting pretty tired of it myself
| Old Willard doesn't want to send for
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. Well, the blame's all his
| IL the chap dies
Hope he does" was MERGERS I'M
| feeling 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"
Before breakfast next morning
Thursday-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.
! Il am afraid | must cause more
bother" she said. Il 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. Il am go
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 if I 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
cab-if such things are procurable
so far from town. But I'm sorry the
mystery and secrecy-but it is not
mine"
81 don't want to, intrude," he hest
! tated. She flashed a sly look at him.
|. Little good it does me to object,
she said-"Here's jessie
A stateroom 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 so.
Hers was contrasting type; black
hair and eyes, but clear complexion !;
and she was as tastefully and becom-
ingly gowned, though in light gray, as
the other girl.
She acknowledged Toms introduc-
ton so absently that he received the
impression that her mind was set upon
something afar off and that she was
fiercely impatient of the intervening
! distance. She seemed to move in a
sort of stony despair that would crush
] her down presently if she could not
find relief
And on the way over to the landing,
and up to the Claremont, whose garage
: supplied them with an automobile, she
uttered no word and remained slndlf-
ferent to her surroundings.
When he had seen them in the ca,
Della offered him a hand.
Il suppose the launch will come for
us?" she said with a sober little
smile.
IF you don't mind, I'll meet you
here-any time you say" returned
Tom. Il want to run down to my
club and look up a friend, then I'll
be free"
Della glanced doubtfully at Jessie
Willard. I'VE might take you as fan
as Central park" she proposed.
Thank you-if I'll not be in the
way"
And the long ride downward was
made in silence, save for an occasional
remark from Della, to which Tom
could find only the most perfunctory