The Ely miner., 1914-01-23
MORE THAN BIG BROTHER
BY LOUISE MERRiFiELD.

TITS too hot to dance any more"
Dorothy pushed open the glass doors
that led to the veranda. She knew
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 care of young man she
rarely left him heart, head, or will
power.
II 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
II like the sea at night, Mr.. Forhes?"
Rather. After months in the An.
des l can't get enough of the water.
It 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
be did it."
II know" She hesitated. and held
aside a 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. I
think he's lawyer in New York.
Anyway, he's made scads of money
since she married him. And Adele.
that Mrs. c., tolc 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 q fight:
ing bull, his eyes sparkling in the
darkness as she looked UP at him.
what is it?"
Nothing special," he returned short:
". "Only you've saved my life.
Where is the nearest cable station" ?"
ACROSS the bay at Tampa. It's q
three-hour trip In the meter beat.
Why?"
:4'Ve got to reach it tonight. Listen.
I've knewn you Just three days.
haven't !? ! know you'll think I've
gone mad tonight II ! tell yau that I
never intended staying here more
than a day. had to get up North to
keep this same little Lawten Carruth.
ers from making straight ateal on
our concessions down there in Peru.
Our option expires the 20th at 8 q, N.
] 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-to know that Carruthers
has stolen q march on Us, had his
wife get near old Nat even to pull ms
Off my course and stay ever here
while he steals the thins right under
mF nese, Weuld 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 stesd and looked at
AaAAh SAoNStyS
II want to go with you"
sits impossible. ! couldn't be-
"You couldn't be bothered with me.
! know that's what you were going to
say. But I'm going. ] told Nat I'd
look after you, and we'll make sixty
mtles an hour by air, fifty by water,
] don't mind it one bit, Well 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 enehantment,
Perhaps it's right for you to share this
with me, But do you know what 1t
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 o child over the
hard silyery 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