The Penn's Grove record., 1916-05-12
NUMBER EIGHT
BY ELLIS DERBY.

fourth from the forward smoking
room. And, dear, therell 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
my sight"
Her brother, Pills father, and Pills
two sisters and Pills 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. 1t couldn't be that she
didn't care a rap what became of him.
Phil 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, I
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 nv
dear. Boston families are given to
strange notions. They wanted Phil
to wait till he was settled in business,
l 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 1t. That's
why l sent for you"
"And Phil doesn't know"
H won't know, either. You're GO
ing to share No. 8 with me tonight,
and tomorrow morning when my other
brother arrives to meet us l shall Just
surprise him and Phil, too. You see,
PhiPs a dear, good boy, but I've al
ways wondered about his backbone"
"His backbone?"
"Oh, l mean his nerve, his gumption.
He shouldn't let the family bundle him
off to South America as if he was a
t~wo-year-old. So l want to zeal If
he'll stand up against Gregory, my
other brother. If he does, I'm going
I I'LL nave yOu, anu IL start ulm
in business myself and have an eye on
you both. But if he doesn't, we'll let
him sail for South America with Greg
DRY, all alone"
Not a 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 off.
And suddenly out of the night there
loomed 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. Z was. Confusion was
everywhere, people pouring out of
staterooms, the boats officers calling
out, the men on the schooner shouting,
but ne reached No. 8, and stood in hor-
ror before it's splintered wreck. The
point Of the bowsprit had jammed
through, crushing and smashing the
berths and side.
My aunt's in there!" he gasped.
Then across the way, in No. 9, 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, Phil
thought he saw a ghost-Majorie with
wide, frightened eyes. and parted lips.
PHYS sake, Phil, 1 thought we was
wrecked sure" began the old lady.
Ran into something, didn't WEI"
How did you get here?" was all
Phil could say, reaching for Mar
1orie's clinging fingers. 81 thought
Aunt Catherine was in No. s, and
that's wrecked"
We'll, SO it is" said Miss Winthrop
placidly. Good thing we didn't sleep
there. / don't like to make mistakes,
but we must have got into the wrong