The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-04-17

she answered hastily. Il simply
haven't any appetite. What
does he think has become of herr"
Tom shrugged his shoulders. What
can he think? He imagines all sorts
Of dire things, and is nearly crazy with
anxiety. The police will find her
though"
"Police!" she exclaimed in a
shocked voice. us 1t really as bad
as that?"
Shows" said Tom sagely, lust
how much one thoughtless girl can
turn things topsy-turvy. But,
hang 1t all; I'm sorry you're not en-
joying your luncheon. Feeling ILL.,"
The girl had pushed back her plate,
and she now sat silently contemplate
ing her hands clasped upon the table
edge.
"I-I-believe I am not feeling very
WELL" she replied family. meeting his
anxious look with eyes so somber that
Tom was alarmed. "A touch of head
ache-don't let me spoil your appe-
tite-it will be gone in minute" And
she mustered up the ghost of smile.
Tom, though, continued to watch
her., his own countenance rejecting
his suddenly awakened concern, while
her smile grew until presently she was
apparently her normal self again.
"There!-it is gone!" she lightly de-
clared, and, to Toms immense relief,
commenced chattering gayly, and did
not again allude to the scatter
Drained" cousin. But neither did she
do more than trifle with the succession
of dishes which Hewitt's deft hands
placed before her.
When the meal was finished, her
mood underwent another abrupt
change; she grew serious again.
"Now, If you will excuse me, be-
lieve I will go and lie down for a
WHILE"
Yes, do" he urged. TOO bad you
should feel so! Isn't there anything
l can do?-anything can get your"
His eagerness to serve her was re-
warded with a smile that made her
lovely countenance inexpressibly sweet
and winning; but it was manifest even
to his needless regard that she was
distract and wanted to be alone.
The long afternoon dragged by in a
monotonous fashion, and Tom was
both disappointed and troubled when
Molly, the mulatto stewardess, In
formed him that none of the ladies
would appear for dinner.
THE other young lady seems ter
ribly worried" Molly enlarged; "she
has something on her mind that's driv-
ing her distracted. Miss-your friend
is trying to quiet her."
The news augmented his curiosity.
What seems to be the matter?" he
asked.
Don't know" replied Molly with an
air of importance. "She just suffers
and don't say anything. She's a high
strung young lady, the kind that feels
more than most do. She's taking it
pretty hard, whatever her trouble may
be-
AS he dined in solitary grandeur,
Tom puzzled over the circumstance
not a little, and, as was usual with
him, the inference was slow in COM
ing, that whatever had upset the mys-
terious young lady, it must have &C.
Cured on the yacht. The merriment
of all three, as they came aboard last
night, testified to this fact. At any
rate, he thus accepted the conclusion,
without taking into account that the
trouble was a secret one, and that ii Is
woman's peculiar gift to be able to
hide carking care behind a mask of
gayety.
But he had scarcely got his pipe to
going before one of the watch sought
him out where he had retired upon the
bridge, bearing the information that
young lady wanted to see him i'm
mediately at the gangway.
He descended to the main deck and
made his way aftward with as brave
show of nonchalance as he could rally.
The night was clear and starlit,
and consequently the darkness was
not so dense as it had been the previ-
GUS night; therefore, when he arrived
at the gangway he was able to make
out that the group standing there were
in the midst of strained situation.
The first officer, Mr.. Mercer. and
two sailors showed plainly that their
state of mind was exceedingly black
and cheerless, while girl stood a
little apart. impatiently tapping the
deck with one foot.
AS soon as he approached she ad-
dressed him eagerly.
"Oh, Captain Phinneyl 1t seems
that am trying to transcend your au-
thority. I'm sorry. But I'm SO anx-
ious to be taken over to the Clare
mont landing that never thought
there might be any special formalities
to be observed"
why. suppose it's all right" he
returned uneasily. "You have a--er-
a permit from Mr.. Willard. of
She drew ewiftiy back with a 1.-the
movement.
Permit" she exclaimed uncompre-
hendingly. Toms fears were realized:
she had none. and he groaned inward
ly--'T don't understand"
He all at once felt as unhappy as
Tnroor IonIoA Wbaolfpo urnr that