The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-08
NUMBER EIGHT
BY ELLIS DERBY.

porter up two flights OF stairs and had
landed at No. 8, q stateroom, the
fourth from the forward smoking
room. And. dear, thereu be all the
smoke. too. You can't stand it."
Yes. l can. too Just lay those
things right in the berth" Miss Win
throp turned her flushed, beaming face
on her assembled relatives Where's
Phil? don't dare to let him OUT of
my sight"
Her brother. Phil's father, and Pills
two sisters and Phil's mother all Gag
erly assented
Not for a minute, Catherine, until
you see him safely in Gregory's
hands" said Mr.. Harding.
Now, Frank, you were young once
yourself began Mrs. Harding. On
the outskirts of the family gather
ing" stood Phil He was being con-
signed now to New York, in care Of
Aunt Catherine, to another uncle, and
from there to South America to learn
commercial conditions in the export
trade.
Phil tried to see the crowd down on
the dock through the side door lead
ing out on deck. She might be there
some place. II couldn't be that she
didn't care rap what became Of him.
PHI stood with his chin up. hating
the world at large, wishing with all his
heart he dared leap over the side Of
the boat before them all But what
was the use? She wasn't down there.
Not a single line had come from her in
days and days.
we can go on deck, now, Phil"
Aunt Caroline was saying.
Aunt Caroline pretended to settle
herself in her chair. And after Phil
had disappeared, there came cautious
ly across the deck to her side a girl
She was very young and very anxious
and wistful as she sat on the edge Of
the chair next to the old lady and
listened to her,
"oh. you must have known I'd be
sure to come after l got your letter."
she exclaimed once. "Why-why, /
love Phil terribly. l had no idea they
were sending him away like that"
Miss Winthrop eyed her pleasantly.
Real sweet, slightly sort OF girl"
she said, half to herself. well, my
dear, Boston families are given to
strange notions. They wanted Phil
to wait till he was settled in business,
| suppose. before he thought of marry
ing"
But that's all wrong. Phil needs me
now while he's trying to make good"
PITY sake. child. don't cry before
folks" said the old lady, hastily pro-
ducing a large linen handkerchief.
Yes. understand all about It. That's
why / sent for you"
And Phil doesn't know"
He won't know, either. You're GO
ing to share No. with me tonight,
and tomorrow morning when my other
brother arrives to meet US I shall Just
surprise him and Phil. too. You see,
Pills a dear, good boy, but I've al
ways wondered about his backbone"
His backbone"
"Oh, mean his nerve, his gumption.
He shouldn't let the family bundle him
on to South America as II he was a
two-year-old. So l want to hear II
he'll stand up against Gregory. my
other brother. II he does, I'm going
to let him have you, and I'll start him
in business myself and have an eye on
you both. But IL he doesn't, wen let
him sail for South America with Greg
DRY. all alone"
Not suspicion did Phil have. Aunt
Catherine decided she'd retire early,
and he walked the deck alone thinking
OF Marjorie, the girl back in Boston
who hadn't cared enough for him to
even come down and see him on.
And suddenly out Of the night there
doomed the dark hull Of a big schoon
er, bound from Maine with lumber.
Phil was thrown to the deck by the
shock. but got up and made for the
side where No. was. Confusion was
everywhere. people pouring out Of
staterooms, the boats officers calling
out, the men on the schooner shouting
but he reached No. 8, and stood In hor
ror before its splintered wreck. The
point Of the bowsprit had damned
through, crushing and smashing the
berths and side.
My aunt's in therel" he gasped
Then across the way, In No. 8, the
stateroom door opened and Aunt Cath
crime stood. wrapped in a serviceable
black silk travelling kimono. And be
yond her, In a blue kimono, Phi
thought he saw a ghost-Majorie with
wide. frightened eyes, and parted lips
PHYS sake, Phil, / thought we was
wrecked sure" began the old lady
Ran into something. didn't we?"
How did you get here?" was ali
Phil could say, reaching for Mar
jorie's clinging fingers. Il thought
Aunt Catherine was in No. s, and
that's wrecked"
Well. so 1t is" said Miss Winthrop
placidly. Good thing we didn't STEER
there. l don't like to make mistakes
but We must have got into the wrons
stateroom. So you found out sooner
than expected. Phil"
Phil stepped into the stateroom and
took Marjorie in his arms. The old
lady watched them happily.
What shall l tell Gregory in the
morning when you two run up after
your marriage license?"
Tell him l won't go to South Amer
ica for the whole family" answered
Phil. I'VE don't care about the rest
do we. Marjorie. as long as we've got
Aunt Catherine"
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndieate)