The Parker post., 1916-07-22
MOONLIGHT
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

ip, here is a letter from Tom at last
I had begun to hope that his silence
was portentOus of sOmething-that he
had been busy with other things. But
if so-he doesn't give any intimation
Of it here. Read it for yourself"
Philip Mercer lighted a cigarette
and held out his hand Golf, boating
and so on, eh? Anything but a girl.
Is that the trouble, sis? I can't see
why you're SO blamed anxious to have
him married"
''You are living example of what
don't want him to be, Philip You
know you need an anchor, Philip.
You are merely a nonentity floating
around this way and never getting
anywhere. Oh! Forgive me, Phil
I'm so sorry! I thought-you see-I
didn't know 1t was all SO long ago
I thought it was over" She laid her
hand contritely on his arm.
The shadow passed from MS face
and he patted her hand aGecti0nately.
It's all right sis, ] think myself it's
all over-then something happens to
0ring it back. There! I'll love Pau
line till my dying day. can't help
it.
Cheer up, Philip! I'll ring for tea
YOU need reinforcing"
I've about decided to go to Sum-
mer Beach myself and if you like,
I'll undertake to be a matrimonial
guide for your SON.
1t was late in the season for Sum
ner Beach But enough of gayGty
remained at the great hotel to FL the
quiet moonlight night with sounds Of
laughter and music,
Two men, Philip Mercer and his
nephew, Tom Baldridge, had dinner
on the terrace The smoke from their
cigars was waited across the terrace
70 another table, at which girl and
IN older man were finishing their des-
sert. The girl turned and Philip Mer-
Ger caught her glance A startled
glance it was, for he was on his feet
IN an instant staring as though he
had seen a ghost. Then, seeing her
omazement, he sank back to bis chair,
That girl, Tom-whO is she?"
patricia Talbot"
"Is her mother here?"
Il don't know anything about them.
I met her on the beach and only
talked with her for little while"
"She is beautiful! And she is the
image Of some one used to know {
don't know the name of the man she
married. The family took her. to
Japan, where she met an American
q lieutenant in the navy-and mar
ried him I never knew his name. 1t
may have been Talbot"
Philips face had gone gray. He got
ZIP. Il think I'll walk on the beach
alone, Tom. I've a headache and don't
feel like talking"
The beach, hard as a stone where
The tide had receded showed white
and glistening in the moonlight Philip
strobe along the edge of the water,
not hearing it's soft lap, regardless Of
time and distance.
He came to the delta Of a small
river He kept on until the stream
divided--and in the embrace of the
two arms was a small green island
and on the island-a house
Then he heard the pumping of a
motor in the distance-from the direc-
tion he had come-a boat coming UP
stream from the sea.
The sound grew louder, and soon
through the trees Philip saw q tiny
launch hung with lanterns. TWO pe0-
pie were in it, man and a girl, Tom
and Patricia,
But before he had quite recovered
from his surprise something happened
the unexpected, of course. A crash
like a hundred guns tore the quiet
night-and there was a flash of flame.
1t took only an instant for him to
kick off his white shoes and dive into
the water He found Tom frst-per-
fectly whole so far as he could tell,
out unconscious-and got him to
shore He dived twice for Patricia
before he found her caught in the
Wreckage at the bottom
The noise had brought two servants
running from the house and q woman
IN white followed swiftly patricia!
Patricia, dear, where are you? Oh,
what has happened? Patricia"
Philips heart, hammering from his
eXertions, almost stopped beating. He
knew that voice He went over to her
and took her hand in his wet one
"There has been an accident" he
said simply, "but I think your daugh,
ter and her escort will soon be all
right. The tank blew up, but it must
have been almost empty-or-or--
The woman's eyes grew wide
"Philip!" she cried philip Mercer!
To have you here now to save Pa
tricia's life! I can't believe it." She
caught his hand in both hers for an
instant, then flew to the girl on the
ground.
Mother Tnurmured Patricia Sleep
lily. And Just them Tom sat up
'WeH get them to the house and