The Washington times., 1914-08-30

her in this comatose state vastly puz-
zled the men. The truth is she rad
suffered a slight ConCussion of the
brain. and this. atop of all the worry
she had had for the last few weeks.
was sufficient to cause this blankness
of the mind
The final cod was cleaned and packed
away in salt, the mudhook raised. and
the schooner Betty SET her sails for the
southwest. Barnes realized that to save
the girl she must have a doctor who
knew his business. Mrs. Barnes would
know how to care for the girl, once
she knew what the trouble was. There
would be some news in the papers. \
young and beautiful woman did not
jump from a big Atlantic liner without
the newspapers getting hold OF the
facts.
A fair wind carried the Betty into her
haven: and shortly after Florence was
sleeping peacefully in a feather bed,
ancient. it is true, but none the less soft
and inviting. In all this time she had
not spoken a single word.
The poor young thing! murmured
the motherly Mrs. Barnes. What
would give up the sea. hate it, 1t is
terrible | am always watching you in
my minds eye, in calm weather. in
storms Pieces of wrecks come ashore.
and always wonder over the death
and terror back Of them.
Don't V worry none about me,
Betty. | never take no chances. Now
I'm gOin' in tn village an bring back
tn sawbCnes. He'll tell us what [
do
The village doctor shook his srizzled
head SraVely.
She's been hurt and shocked at the
same time. 1t will be many days before
she comes around to herself Just let
hcr do as she pleases. Only keep an
eve on her so that she doesn't wander
off and get lost. III watch the news
papers. and If | come across anything
which bears upon the case II notlly
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 good deal or IN
terest in the affair. IneN gosslped
about it and strolled out to the
Barnes cottage to satisfy their cur
iosity. One thing was certain TO their
simple minds. some day Barnes would
get great sum of money Tor ms
Kindness. They had read about such
things in the family story paper. She
was a rich mans daughter, the ring
on the umkmown's finger would have
fitted out q fleet
Florence was soon able to walk
about ordinary conversation she
seemed to understand. but wneneV +
the past was hroaChed she would
shake her head with frowning eyes.
Her main diversion consisted Of sit
ting on the sand dunes and gazing out
at sea.
one day a stranger came to town.
He said nc represented a life insur
anCe company and was UP here from
Boston to take "A little vacation. He
sat on the hotel porch that evening.
surrounded by an admiring audience.
The stranger had been all over the
world, so il seemed. He spoke famil-
iarlv of St Petersburg. NladivOstOk.
Shanghai a the NillaG"rs-sOme IF
them-might have spoken of Boston.
There were one or two old timers
to all these parts. The stranger knew
what he was telling about. After tell
ing of his many voyages h" asked n
there was . good bathing beach near
hv. He was told that he would find
The most suitable spot near captain ,
~ coy Mister. seen auythin in III
papers about nIissin' young woman"
Missing young woman: What's
The man told the story of FlorenCe's
leap into the sea and her subsequent
arrival at the cape.
THAT'S funny" said the stranger. Il
don't TecCllect reading about dny Young
woman being lost at sea. But those big
liners are always keeping such things
under cover. HOOdOOs the ship. they
s4i. and turns prospective passengers to.
ut;r.r lines II hurts business Whats
tire Young girl look like
Florence was described minunteIy.
Tre stranger teetered in his chair and
smoked. Finally he spoke.
she was probably insane. That's the
Wv generally with insane people. They
emit Sc, wafer or look of Il tai build
iuc without wanting to jump. My bust
ness is insurance. and we've got the
thing figured pretty close to IN" ground.
They used to get the best Of us on the
suicide game \ man would take ont
a large policy today and tomorrow he'd
bloY his head off, and we'd have I" pay
his wife. But nowadays policy is not
" orih the paper it's written on If a man
commits suicide under two years
You amt tryin' { insure anybody in
town, are yOu?'
80. no. No work for me when I'm
ON m vacation. Well. I'm going to
bed, and tomorrow morning III 90 out