The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-08

W Ac1 II I40U0 your new happiness toJ
much. IN the last few hours since I
learned your secret / have become
conscious that ! had nothing TO offer
you except a commonplace life, with
only money for compensation. can
understand why you should have pre-
feered the better man when be came.
You could not help It. It Is fate.
4 shall be out of the city when you
receive this. It viii be better EoF us
both. God bless you, my dear. sweet
girl. Do not worry about me. In a
few years ! shall return and look to
see you happy in your marriage"
Fifteen minutes after this letter had
disappeared in the remorseless Jaw Of
a letter box, owen Cuthbert was on
train bound for New York and a
message speeding ahead Of him over
the wires was ordering a stateroom in
liner due to sail next day.
Events move swiftly in the be-wired
and be-railed world in these days. The
sun had set only hundred times on
Mr. Owen Cuthbert when it rose
again on a person who looked won
drously different from the conven-
tionally arrayed, luxurious, easy going
Mr. Owen Cuthbert Of the clubs.
This one hundredth' and one sun
rose on a Cuthbert in rags that once
had been khaki. Instead Of a monot-
onous avenue with solemn houses,
there was a monotonous desert with
solemn rocks.
High overhead vuIture was soar
ing The ragged person looked at it
and made a gesture Of helpless dis
gust that was nearer horror Then
he took drink 1t was not pleas
ant, cool, fragrant mixture brought in
frosted glass by trained club
servant. 1t was stale water gulped
from dusty, canvas-covered canteen.
Mr. owen Cuthbern would not have
objected to that alone. He had ar
rived at point where stale water
tasted pretty good. What bothered
him was that it was the last drop.
We'll" said he. deliberately address
ing himself, big game hunting is all
right until a fellow becomes the big
game in his own person"
owen Cuthbert's humorous words
belied his real feelings. He was not
in merry mood and his TESTING self
communion was sardonic. High above
him, the vulture, patiently circling,
gave the joke an unpleasant added
point
He did not deceive himself into any
belief that he could escape from his
predicament alive, although he knew
that the Uganda railroad lay only
days march distant across the Afri-
can plain. Tho spear.thrust in his leg
would not permit him to crawl even
to the shade Of the scrub hundred
feet away. He was as helpless as q
fettered man. Soon burning thirst as
sailed him, but he could only long for
water. The dreaded wound-feYer grew.
He began to see Wild visions In the
quivering heat-waves. Now be saw
his treacherous native guides rushing
at him. He went through the minutes
while he held them on with bis ride.
Again he saw the broad-bladed spear
flashing zig-zag CLEANS as it hurtled
at him.
He called to them again and again.
as he had called when they ran on
with his plumber, first threatening.
then beseeching. He had intervals of
unconsciousness now when all was
blessedly blank and cool and dark.
Suddenly he dreamed Of a spring.
He heard its splash from moist, spray
freshened rocks. He stopped, and the
glorious liquid touched his lips.
"Oh, Owen, owen. Owen!" he heard
a voice say close to his face. It was
a voice broken BY sobs.
Something was pressed to his Iips
something bitter that made pain
and knowledge pass away.
In a little village Of little iron
houses, owen Cuthbert came back to
his knowledge Of himself again. He |
was lying on cool, white cot. Over |
his face a fan was moving gently. The
hand that held the fan was small and
white. But what held his eye was
that on one finger shone ring and |
II was the ring that he had pressed |
on Marjorie's finger on the night 81
their engagement!
Owen, my dear. dear, brave, Mind
darlingl" said voice. It was Mar. 1
jorie'a And It was Marjorie who
kissed him.
you great noble old goose said |
she, little later when I received
your letter, | couldn't understand II
and / couldn't reach you, though faith |
81 and George Kingdom and wrote
and sent kilograms 70 every place Ne
could think Of. But when Anderson
wrote to George about the donation
from an unknown patron, we put two
and two together quickly enough.
since we knew that he was your law. |
yer. We realized then that you must |
have discovered our conspiracy |
against sEu."
Owen cathbert looked at her, won
deringly and with a delighted hope n
her eyes.
Come here. Mr. and Mrs. George
Kingdonl" called Marjorie. cIappine |
her hands and laughing with fov