Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-12-29

and caught sight Of David's racing
car In the waves. The pillows fam
ing with moonlight were sweeping
over the little machine with terrifying
ruthlessness. now tossing up spray
which the noon turned to jewelry.
now smothering it all from view.
Royce gazed aghast. He tore his
hair at the vision. He could almost
see Gloria caught in the wheel n
held fast while she drowned. slowly
choking.
He was about to dash into the sea
and fight it for the body OF the little
runaway when he saw footprints in
the wet sand.
With a cry Of relief DR.. Royce fol-
lowed them across the sand TO the
highway. But Gloria had not turned
north in the road. She had been
wooed into the dense. lush foliage.
The doctor regarded II with dread.
He could not imagine how tempting
il had been TO Gloria's truant heart.
He was afraid that she might have
lost her mind with fear.
He had hardly plunged into the
thicket when he lost track Of her.
He ran back. hoping shat he might
end some courier with news. In
stead he met a boy from a pine
apple plantation. Royce hailed him
and learned that he was going for
q doctor. He had heard and seen
exactly nothing of Gloria.
He was about 10 let the boy go when
it occurred to him that Gloria's father
would be frantic for some word Of her
whereabouts. He found a prescription
pad il his pocket ard a bit of pencil
and he wrote a note.
Pierpont Stafford, Royal Poin-
ciana: / found Gloria's car in b
surf and her footprints leading
into the everglades. ] am follow
ing them. but think you had better
organize searching parties TO beat
the whole district.
STEPHEN ROYCE.
He gave this to the boy and q bill
from the small roll he found in his
pockets. He made the boy promise
~ 81 " Lnt At&iCcI NCANRhphO &au
transmit the message to he hotel.
Royce returned again to the chase. in
creasinsly applied at the thought OF
Gloria alone there.
Now and then he found some hint
Of her. a shred OF silk from her Paris
frock torn away by a c~lutching thorn.
Gloria had not been long in finding
out that there can he foo much liberty
az well rs too little. No calm wander
ing in = dream through nightmare
land could have seen a more fantastic
world tha that Florida ENHANCEMENT.
She was %entranced at first, but at
length she had had enough.
She had read of people who walked
in circles till they died Of exhaustion.
She felt ready to die so already. But
mainly she was yawning her pretty
head of. She beat about the bush and
sail 'Shoo." 10 any crocodiles or boa
constructors that might be in hiding.
Then she stretched herself out and De-
gan a little prayer. She could not
keep awake to finish IL. In her sleep
she dreamed herself back in the beau
tiful bed she had foolishiy left. She
dreamed that she was asleep In her
owl room.
Meanwhile DR.. Royce stumbled ami
CROPPED through the jungle III search
Of her. ard her father and brother
were in conference with the Palm
Beach police.
The message that Royce had given
to the boy from Colohatchee reached
them a little before dawn. II only in
creased their alarm. but IL gave them
something 10 do. They made no
further secret OF Gioria's disappear
tncc. They called on everybody for
telp.
Cars went s%currying along the little
railroad hat pushes a short distance
into the forest: boats OF every sort
gliled along the drainage canal; motor
boats. canoes. skifs. 6ugouts were
spinning hither and yon among the
thousands CT waterways.
David forgot Lois Freeman and the
engagement he had 10 play golf with
her that morning. He and his
father had anticipated the dawn In
the bayous.
Freneau. strcllilg across the lawn
to open the ofice CT the New York
brokers he represented. found Lola
freeman and her father reading tha
morning papers. They spoke OF the
loss OF Gloria and the $4,000 cner
Ter her restoration TO her father.
E'rereau rseditatet. He could use S.
300 or less I o great advantage.
when Lois invited him 10 play golf
he said that he had another engage
raent. Whatever motive It was .1at
moved Frenean, he resolved to forego
his opportunity 10 court Lois without
the cIstr-oing presence OF his wealthy
rival Re hade her good-by. but he
did rot 20 20 his Office. He sauntered
to the waters edge and chartered q
(, motor boat.
Almost everybody In Florida must
have been aware OF Gloria's disappear.