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

IT'S too near the prov of the boat.
Aunt Catherine" Dora protested, when
they had followed the luggage-laden
porter up two flights of stairs and had
landed at No. 8, a stateroom. the
fourth from the forward smoking
room. "And. dear. there1l be all the
smoke. too. You can't stand it."
Yes. 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? l 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.
mot 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 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 single line had come from her in
days and days
I'VE 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 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. We'll, my
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 large linen handkerchief.
Eyes, understand all about 1t. That's
why I 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 othel
brother arrives to meet us shall JUS
surprise him and Phil, too. You see
Pills q 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 hin
of to South America as II he was {
two-year-old. So | want to hear 1
he'll stand up against Gregory, m!
s other brother. II he does, I'm goini
to let him have you, and I'll start hin
= in business myself and have an eye OF
= you both. But II he doesn't, we'll lie
. him sail for South America with Gree
8 DRY, all alone"
D Not suspicion did Phil have. Aun
Catherine decided she'd retire early
. and he walked the deck alone thinking
2 of Marjorie. the girl back in Bostol
u who hadn't cared enough for him t
even come down and see him of.
q And suddenly out Of the night Their
q doomed the dark hull of big schooI
y er, bound from Maine with lumber.
Phil was thrown to the deck by tn
shock, but got up and made for tn
u side where No. was. Confusion wa
T. everywhere. people pouring out {
N staterooms, the boats officers calm
N out, the men on the schooner shouting
IL but he reached No. 8, and stood in no
r ror before its splintered wreck. TIL
Is point of the bowsprit had jamme
~ through. crushing and smashing tn
TX berths and side.
B. My aunt's in therei" he gsspeI
Of Then across the way. In No. 8, tn
Ut stateroom door opened and Aunt Cat
4 crime stood, wrapped in a serviceab
80 black silk travelling kimono And b
ne yond her, in a blue kimono, Phi
IT. thought he saw ghost-Majorie wit
ne wide, frightened eyes, and parted lip
d. PHYS sake, Phil, thought we Wa
ol- wrecked sure" began the old lad
I'll Ran into something. didn't WEI"
Vn How did you get here?" was I
Phil could say, reaching for Ma
h jorie's clinging fingers. 81 thougI
ed Aunt Catherine was in No s. ar
ly that's wrecked"
he Well so II ia" said Miss VVinthrr