Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1914-01-19
MORE THAN BIG BROTHER
BY LOUISE MERRIFIELD.

NAAA leu 70 Tue ffidAQds cAt hHNA
her way around the house better than
Allan. 1t was his first visit to Sanibel
Island and her hfth She felt vaguely
superior and motherly toward this
stooky. tanned youngster just fresh
from South America. Constance had
told her to take care Of him, and when
Dorothy took care Of young man she
rarely left him heart, head. or. will
power.
Il love TO walk down through the
palm grove In the moonlight she
went on, tripping ahead of him under
the great shadowy fronds. Don't
you like the sea at night, Mr.. Forbes ?"
Rather. After months in the An
des ] can't get enough OF the water
il was bully of old Nat to ask me here
for the holidays. You know / was
bound north to Washington. No
thought OF loafing at all Wonder why
he did It."
Il know" She hesitated, and held
aside a mass Of shrubbery heavy with
fragrant blossoms. He had a letter
from Mrs. Carruthers. She's Mats
second cousin. and married to that
queer little Lawton Carruthers.
think he's a lawyer in New York
Anyway, he's made soads Of money
since she married him And Adele
that Mrs c., told Nat you were bound
this way. and for him to waylay you
for the Christmas party here on the
island. What's the matter?"
Forbes had stopped dead short, his
head thrust bit forward like fight
ing bulle his eyes sparkling in the
darkness as she looked up at him.
What is IT."
Nothing special, he returned short
ly. only you've saved my life
Where is the nearest cable station?"
Across the bay at Tampa It's a
three-hour trip in the motor boat
Why?"
I've got to reach it tonight. Listen
I've known you just three days,
haven't /? know youll think I've
gone mad tonight if l tell you that
never intended staying here more
than a day. l had to get up North to
keep this same little Lawton Carruth-
ers from making a straight steal on
our concessions down there in Peru
Our option expires the goth at 9 a. m.
wrote Washington the day / came
here, telling them to get an extension
Of time until ] could get there.
didn't know any one besides ourselves
knew of the plans to put the railroad
through Perez to Qualtipoco. Can you
see what it means now TO me TO hear
this-this-to know that Carruthers
has stolen a march on us, had his
wife get near old Nat even TO pull me
of my course and stay over here
while he steals the thing right under
my nose. Would you mind telling Nat
that / had to take his boat I've run
one before, up at Newport last sum-
mer If youll go back and tell
him
But Dorothy stood and looked at
him gravely.
Il want to 90 with you"
IT'S impossible / couldn't be-
You couldn't be bothered with me.
know that's what you we're going 10
say. But I'm going | told Nat Id
look after you, and Wen make sixty
miles an hour by air. fifty by water.
don't mind il one bit Wen run
over the bay, send your message and
get back. / want to go, Allan"
He laughed shortly, ran his fingers
through his thick, crisp hair. and took
her outstretched hand.
you witch. You've held me here
with your island holiday enchantment.
Perhaps it's right for you to share this
with me. But do you know what it
means, Dorothy; do you? Do you
know why I've stayed on here?'
you hurt my hand. Let's run be-
fore we're missed
She pulled her hand away from his
clasp and ran like a child over the
lard silvery sands. Forbes reached it
lrst and wakened the boy He STUN
hled out, hitching up his suspenders,
and waited for the message Dorothy
wrote on scrap of paper torn from
orbes' note book. She said:
Come to Tampa with A.. F. It's all
right. Just like a big brother to me
special business demands trip tonight
10 reach telegraph station before clos
ing. DOT"
In less than fifteen minutes they
we're ready, and she took her seat in
The cockpit. every nerve tingling for
he coming fight.
II was twenty minutes to u when
dr. Forbes walked into the telegraph
Office and sent his wire north, the
message that stopped Lawton Carruth-
ers game, and kept the control of the
abroad concession in the hands of
0rbes' company.
He went back to her down the old
rect to the water front. She knew
sc place where her brother MADE
g landings and had guided Forbes 10
III Her hood had fallen back from
head Both hands reached out
3 him swiftly.
Did you get there in timer"
We must get back to the island"
fbe began. but Forbes gave a little un.
.eady laugh. and drew her close in
arms.
You said was just big brother
in't you? Am l now, Dot, am r.
IN going back with you tonight and
tsll Nat I've stolen you for good, you
i4cky. trueblue sweetheart"
Dorothy closed her ewes as his arms !.