The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-01

surprised face of a Swedish deck
hand stared down at us.
'Let me aboardl I must come
aboard" / cried
Other faces appeared, then q rope
ladder Somehow I was mounting
| it-a dizzy feat TO which only the tu-
multi of my emotions made me indif-
ferent. Bare brawny arms OF sailors
clutched at me and drew me TO the
deck. There at once / was the CEN
ter of circle of speechless and aston
fshed persons, all men but one
"Wellf" demanded a large breezy
voice. What's this meant What do
you want aboard my shipf"
I looked up at red-faced man in
large straw hat
| 81 want my aunt" explained.
'Your aunt?" he reared. "Why the
devil should you think I've got your
aunt?"
"You have got her." I replied with
firmness. 81 don't see her, but she's
here somewhere"
The captain of the Rufus Smith
shook two large red fists above his
head.
another lunatic !" he shouted. "pd
as soon have q white horse and q min
lister aboard as go to sea In q floating
bedlami"
AS the captains angry thunder
died away came the small anxious
voice of Aunt Jane.
whats the matter7 Oh, please tell
me what's the matterw she was say
Ing as she edged her way into the
group. Her eyes, round, pale, blink
ing a little in the tropical glare,
roved over the circle until they LIT on
me. Right where she stood Aunt Jane
petrif1ed. Her poor little chin dropped
until 1t disappeared altogether In the
folds Of her plump neck, and she re-
manned speeches., stricken. immobile
as wax figure in an exhibition.
"Aunt Jane" said, you must come
right back to shore with me-" I spoke
calmly, for unless you are perfectly
calm with Aunt Jane you fiuster her.
She replied only by a slight COB
bling in her throat, but the other
woman spoke In loud voice, adj
dressed not to me but to the universe
In general.
1.-The Young Person LIS mad!" 1t was
an Enthusiastically British intonation.
This, then, was Miss Violet HiggIes-
lby-Browne. | saw grim, bony,
stocky shape, in a companion COS
tune to my aunt's. Around the edges
of her cork helmet her short iron-gray
hair visibly bristled. She had a mas
sive head. and scanned and rugged
countenance which did its best to live
down the humiliation Of q ridiculous
little nose with no bridge.
But what riveted my eyes was the
deadly glare with. which hers were
} turned on me. l saw that not only
was she as certain of my identity as
though she had guided me from my
first tottering steps, but that in q
flash she had grasped my motives
aims and purposes, and meant once
for all to face. out-general and defeat
me with great slaughter.
; So she announced to the company
with deliberation: 1.-THE Young Per
son is mad"
1t nettled me extremely.
Mad p / flung back at her. ":Be-
cause I wish to save my poor aunt
from such a situation as this? II
would be charitable to infer madness
in those who have led her into 1t |"
When l reviewed this speech after
ward l realized that 1t was not, under
the circumstances, the best calculated
to win me friends.
"Jane!' said Miss Higglesby- Browne
In deep and awful tones, ''the time has
, come to prove your strength !"
i Aunt Jane proved 1t by uttering {
shrill yelp. and clutehing her hal
with a reckless disregard Of its hav
ing originally been that Of a tota
and struggles that 1t was with dim
Guilty that she was borne below in ~
arms Of two strong men.
I had seen Aunt Jane In hysterHS
before-she had them that time ab0u
!, the convict. / was not frightened, bu
: hurried after her-neck and necl
with Miss Browne. 1t was flfteel
minutes before Aunt Jane came tc
and then she would only moan.
,bathed her head, and held her hand
: and did all the regulation things IN
der the baleful eye Of Miss Browne
| who steadfastly refused to 60 away
' but sat glaring like a gorgan VIII
sees her prey about to be snatche
: from her.
! In the midst of my ministrations
awoke suddenly TO a rhythmic heav
and throb which pervaded the shiI
r Dropping Aunt James hand I rushe
. on deck There lay the various piece
\ OF my baggage, and In the distanc
? the boat with the two brown rover
. was skipping shoreward over the ri
: pies. As for the Rufus Smith, sh
; was under way, and heading out q
i | the rcadstead for the open sea.
. I dashed aft to the captain, VIII
, stood issuing orders In the voice Of q
aggrieved fog-horn.
Captain :" / cried, wait; tur
) around. You must put my aunt an
+ me ashore
) He whirled ON me, showing a erin
; son angry face. Turn around, Is
, | turn around?" he shouted. do 20
: suppose 1 can loaf about the harbC
: here a-waitin' on your aunt's fins
! You come aboard without me aSkir