The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-11-27

1N@a SO 6H 49,
raised, and the schooner Betty set her
sails for the southwest Barnes ree'
lied that TO save the girl she mus
have a doctor who knew his business
Mrs. Barnes would know how to care
for the girl, once she knew what the
trouble was. There would be some
news in the papers. A young and
beautiful woman did not jump from a
big Atlantic liner without the newspa.
pers getting hold Of the facts.
A fair wind carried the Betty into
her haven, and shortly after Florence
was sleeping peacefully in a feather
bed, ancient. it is true, but none the
less soft and inviting. In all this time
she had not spoken a single word.
THE poor young thingl" murmured
the motherly Mrs. Barnes. What
beautiful hair! o, John, l wish you
would give up the sea. / hate it, 1t
is terrible. l am always watching
you in my minds eye, in calm wealth.
er, in storms. Pieces of wrecks come
ashore, and l always wonder over the
death and terror back Of them"
Don't y worry none about me
Betty. never take no chances. Now
I'm goin' int tn village an brine
back tn sawbones. He'll tell US wha
t. do"
The village doctor shook his grizzled
head gravely,
She's been hurt and shocked at the
same time. 1t will be many days be
'ore she comes around to herself. Just
let her do as she p]leases, Only keep
N eye on her so that she doesn't wan.
der OFF and get lost, I'll watch the
newspapers and if l come across any
hing which bears upon the case III
notify you"
But he searched the newspapers in
vain, for the simple fact that he did
not think to glance over the old ones
The village took a good deal Of in
crest in the affair. They gossiped
bout it and stroIled out to the Barnes
cottage to satisfy their curiosity. One
thing was certain to their simple
minds: some day Barnes would get a
great sum of money for his kindness
They had read about such things IT.
he family story paper. She was a rick
mans daughter; the ring on the un
known's finger would have fitted out
a feet.
Florence was soon able to walk
bout. Ordinary conversation sh5
seemed to understand; but whenever
the past was preached she would
shake her head with frowning eyes
Her main diversion consisted of sitting
on the sand dunes and gazing out a
sea.
One day a stranger came to town
He said he represented a life insur
ance company and was up here from
Boston to take a little vacation. HI
sat Of the hotel porch that evening
surrounded by an admiring audience
The stranger had been all over tn,
world, so 1t seemed. He spoke famii
iqrly of st. Petersburg. Wadivostok
Shanghai. as the yillagers-some o
them-might have spoken of Boston
There were n or two old timcr
among the audience. They had bee.
10 all these parts. The stranger kne'
what he was telling about. After tel
ing of his many voyages he asked
there was a good bathing beach neal
by. He was told that he would fin
he most suitable spot near Capital
Barnes cottage Just outside the vi
tage.
"An' say, Mister, seen anythin' g.
III papers about a missin' young won
amp" asked some one,
Missing young woman? What
thatg"
The man tOId the story,of Florence
heap into the sea and her ~subseQuen
arrival at the cape.
That's funny" said the stranger
4 don't rec0llect reading ABOUT an
Young woman being lost at sea. Bu
those big liners are always keepin
such things under cover. Hoodoos tn
Snip. they say, and turns prosperity
UassgE gers 70 other lines. II hurt
business. WHAT'S the young girl loo.
Hke?'
Florence was described infinitely. Tn
stranger teetered in his chair an
smoked. Finally he spoke.
-She probably was insane. That
the way generally with insane people
They can't see water or look of
tall building without wanting to JUMP
My business is insurance, and we'v
got the thing figured pretty close t
the ground. They used % get tn
best Of US on the suicide game. !
man would take out a large polio
today and tomorrow he'd blow hi
head on. and we'd have to pay hi
wife. But nowadays a policy is no
worth the paper it's written on il
man commits suicide under tw
years"
You amt tryin' TO insure anybod.
in town. are your"
, -Oh, no No work for me wheI
I'm on my vacation. Well, I'm goinI
to bed; and tomorrow morning I'll g
out to Captain Barnes beach and hav.
a good swim. I'm no sailor, but l lik.