Mexico Missouri message., 1914-05-07

I
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"
"Policel" she exclaimed In
shocked voice. rs It really as had
as that?"
Shows" said Tom sageiy, "just
how much one thoughtless girl can
turn things topsy-turvy. But.
hang 1t all; I'm sorry you're not en-
ioying your luncheon. Feeling ill?"
The girl had pushed back her plate.
and she now sat silently contempiat-
| ing her hands clasped upon the table
edge.
"I-I-believe am not feeling very
WE'LL" she replied family, meeting his
anxious look with eyes SO somber that
Tom was alarmed. "A touch Of head
ache--dont let me spoil your appe-
ute-it will be gone in a minute" And
she mustered up the ghost OF a 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 trlne with the succession
OF dishes which Hewitts deft hands
placed before her.
When the meal was finished. her
mood underwent another abrupt
change; she grew serious again.
Now, II you will excuse me, ! be-
lieve / 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 you?"
His eagerness to serve her was re-
warded with a smile that made her
lovely countenance iuexpressibly sweet
and winning; but it was manifest even
to his needless regard that she was
distrait 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'
Iing her distracted. Miss-your friend
is trying to quiet her."
| rTst- 4 sr IL tk.V
What seems to be the matter?" he
asked.
Don't know" replied Molly with ar
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 i
pretty hard. whatever her trouble may
: be-"
AS he dlned in solitary grandeur
Tom puzzled over the circumstance
not little, and. as was usual will
him, the inference was slow in com
ing, that whatever had upset the mys
terious young lady, 1t must have oc
Il Cured on the yacht. The merrimen
Of all three, as they came aboard Las
y night. testified to this fact. At an,
rate, he thus accepted the conclusion
without taking into account that tn
Il trouble was a secret one, and that 1t
q woman's peculiar gift to be able t
hide carking care behind a mask @
gayety.
But he had scarcely got his pipe I
going before one of the watch sough
him out where he had retired upon tn
bridge, bearing the information ths
young lady wanted to see him in
mediately at the gsngway.
He descended 20 the main deck an
= made mis- way aftward with as brave
show of nonchalance as he could rail-,
The night was clear and starll
and consequently the darkness wa
20 not so dense as 1t had been the prev
ous night; therefore, when he arrive
at the gangway ne was able to max
out that the group standing there wei
in the midst of strained situation.
The first officer, Mr.. Mercer, an
two sailors showed plainly that the
state OF mind was exceedingly blaC
and cheerless, while the girl stood
nv little apart, impatiently tapping Il
deck with one foot
As soon as he approached she a
ne dressed him eagerly.
ie- "Oh, Captain Phinneyl It seen
nd that ! am trying to transcend your a
; a thorty I'm sorry. But I'm so an
lg. ious to be taken over to the ClaI
er- mont landing that never thoug
there might be any special formaliti
sss to be observed"
bis why, l suppose it's all right"
en- returned uneasily. you have a-er
bis a permit from Mr.. Willard,
course--?"
ui. She drew swiftly back with a lit
lat movement.
Il Permit" she exclaimed unsompl
hendingly. Toms fears were realize
nd. she had none. and he groaned tnwal
gh. ly-"I don't understand"
md He all at once felt as unhappy
OF Mercer looked. Wheeling upon th
ria paptiaman he apannad IN IN u-A