The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-02-19
MORE THAN BIG BROTHER
BY LOUISE MERRlFIELD.


her way around the house better than
Allan. 1t was his first visit to Sanibel
Island and her fifth. She felt vaguely
superior and motherly toward this
stocky, tanned youngster just fresh
from South America. Constance had
told her to take care Of him, and when
Dorothy took ogre 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
1t 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,"
II know" She hesitated, and held
aside mass of shrubbery heavy with
fragrant blossoms. HE had 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 scads 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 bull, 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 1? I know you'll think I've
gone mad tonight If tell yon that l
never intended staying here more
than day. l had to get up North to
keep this same little Lawton Carruth-
ers from making straight steal on
our concessions down there in Peru
Our option expires the Goth at a. m
wrote Washington the day l came
here, telling them to get an extension
Of time until l 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 1t means now to me to hear
this-this-to know that Carruthers
has stolen march on us, had his
wife get near old Nat even to pull me
off 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 you'll go back and tell
him
But Dorothy stood and looked at
him gravely.
II want to go with YOU"
Its impossible. | couldn't be-
You couldn't be bothered with me.
know that's what you were going to
say But I'm going. u told Nat I'd
look after you, and we'll make sixty
miles an hour by air, fifty by water
l don't mind it one bit. Well run
over the bay, send your message and
get back. | want to 60, 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 encnantment
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 child over the
hard silvery sands. Forbes reached 1t
first, and wakened the boy. He STUN
bled out, hitching up his suspenders,
and waited for the message Dorothy
wrote on scrap of paper torn from
Forbes note book, She said:
Come to Tampa with A. F. It's all
right Just like big brother to me-
Special business demands trip tonight
to reach telegraph station before clos
ing. DOT"
In less than fifteen minutes they
were ready, and she took her seat in
the cockpit, every nerve tingling for
the coming fight.
1t was twenty minutes to IL when
Mr. 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
railroad concession In the hands Of
Forbes company.
He went back to her down the old
street to the water front. She knew
the place where her brother made
his landings and had guided Forbes to
1t. Her hood had fallen back from
her head. Both hands reached out
to MIN swiftly.
Did you get there In timer"
I'VE must get back TO the island"
she began, but Forbes gave little un-
steady laugh, and drew her close In
his arms.
You said / was just big brother.
didn't you? Am | low, Dot, am /?
I'm going back with you tonight and
tell Nat I've stolen you for good, you
plucky, trueblue sweetheart"
Dorothy closed her eyes as his arms
crushed her close. The great winged
bird hoat waifad for fharc Oh, hou,