The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1914-10-07


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 feather
bed, ancient, it is true, but none the
less soft and inviting. In all this time
she had not spoken a single word.
1.-The poor young thingi" murmured
the motherly Mrs. Barnes. What
beautiful hair! o, John. 1 wish you
would give up the sea. hate 1t. 1t
is terrible. 1 am always watching
you in my minds eye, in calm wealth
er, in storms. Pieces of wrecks come
ashore, and always wonder over the
death and terror back of them"
Don't y worry none about me
Betty. 1 never take no chances. Now
I'm goin' int tn village an bring
back tn sawbones. He'll tell us what
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-
fore she comes around to herself. Just
let her do as she pleases. Only keep
an eye on her so that she doesn't wan
der off and get lost. I'll watch the
newspapers and If I come across any
thing which bears upon the case I'll
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
terest in the affair. They gossiped
about it and strolled 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 in
the family story paper. She was rich
mans daughter; the ring on the I'M
known's finger would have fitted out
a fleet
Florence was soon able to walk
about. Ordinary conversation she
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 at
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 little vacation. He
sat on the hotel porch that evening,
surrounded by an admiring audience.
The stranger had been all over the
world, so it seemed. He spoke famil-
iarly of st. Petersburg, Vladivostok.
Shanghai, as the villagers of
them-might have spoken of Boston.
There were one or two old timers
among the audience. They had been
to all these parts. The stranger knew
what he was telling about. After tell
ing of his many voyages he asked If
there was a good bathing beach near
by. He was told that he would find
the most suitable spot near Captain
Barnes cottage just outside the viii
lage.
"An' say, Mister, seen anythin' in
tn papers about missin' young wom-
an?" asked some one.
Missing young woman? What's
that?"
The man told the story of Florence's
leap into the sea and her subsequent
arrival at the cape.
That's funny" said the stranger.
81 don't recollect reading about any
young woman being lost at sea. But
those big liners are always keeping
such things under cover. Hoodoos the
ship, they say, and turns prospective
passengers to other lines. 1t hurts
business. What's the young girl look
like?"
Florence was described infinitely. The
stranger teetered in his chair and
smoked. Finally he spoke.
"She probably was insane. That's
the way generally with insane people.
They can't see water or look off a
tall building without wanting to jump.
My business is insurance, and we've
got the thing figured pretty close to
the ground. They used to get the
best of us on the suicide game. A
man would take out a large policy
today and tomorrow he'd blow his
head of, and we'd have to pay his
wife. But nowadays a policy is not
worth the paper it's written on If
man commits suicide under two
years."
You amt tryin' to insure anybody
in town, are you?"
ooh, no. No work for me when
I'm on my vacation. Well, I'm going
to bed; and tomorrow morning I'll go
out to Captain Barnes beach and have
a good swim. I'm no sailor. but like
water"
He honestly enjoyed swimming.
Early the next morning he was in the
water, frolicking about as playfully as
a boy. He had all the time in the
world. Over his shoulder he saw two
women wandering down toward the
beach. Deeper he went, farther out.
He was bold swimmer, but that did
not prevent a sudden and violent attack
of cramps. And it was a rare piece
OF irony that the poor girl should save
the life of that scoundrel who was
without pity or mercy. AS she saw
his face a startled frown marred her
brow. But she could not figure out the
puzzle. Had she ever seen the man
before? She did not know, she could
not tell Why could not she remen-