The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-09-11

ter they make When Iuey S0e w.
their mail. they amt none OF EN-
deaf and dumb"
You say they were here the frst
Of the week; are they gone now!
demanded Maldon.
Gone for awhile. Another girl
on the other side Of the mountain
invited them to finish out the week
with her on the ranch. But I un-
derstand the whole bunch are comm
back Saturday night to attend the
Esp at the hotel where you're stop
PIN"
no further news was to be obtained
from the old man, SO Maldon was
obliged to possess his soul In patience
till the night of the dance.
Her afiliction makes no difference
to me; her eyes and her smile make
up for all
Saturday night he was on the hotel
veranda when large car drove up
and six girls alighted. They made .
pleasing picture, but with their long
coats and enveloping wells he could
not distinguish one from the other.
He stationed himself where he
could see them come from the dress
ing room. and as he waited he felt
he reaction from his keyed-up hopes.
Probably am mistaken. and she
isn't in this crowd 1t is unlikely that
shall ever see her again. Oh why
did meet her, only 10 lose her SO
>oon?' He glanced out at the happy
couples strollinS up and down in the
moon which. to him. looked tranished
and dull. The light seems to have
gone out. he said
SO preoccupied was he that he
looked up with start at the sound
of Jean McNarth's voice saying:
Miss Lander, let me present Mr.. Nal
don" lie found himself looking into
the blue eyes of lady-idyl girl. I'll
let Lillian do her own explaining,
mischievously added Jean. and left
them alone together.
Il think do owe you an explana-
ton, Mr.. Maldon," laughed Miss Ian
der.
For a moment he stared at her In
blank amaZement. "YOu-yOu speak"
he bluntly asked.
Quite fluently, I've been told" she
gayly responded
His dazed faculties awoke with
fervOr I'VE cannot talk here with.
out interruption. Let us so where IL
is more quiet" he suggested. and led
IN" way to a coy corner Of IN" yer
anda
Really, Mr.. Maldon, l owe you a
big apology she began when seated
III all must seem like a dreadful mys
terry"
"A delightful mystery-but perplex-
ing"
Wait TIL tell you all" she dim
pied. You see 1t Is part OF our
seniority initiation to pose in some un-
known place as being deaf and dumb,
and trust to the first person We meet
to guide US back in safety"
but the disappearance act! How
did you elude me-"
Just behind that big clump OF
pines near where We were standing Is
a hole among the rocks leading to q
natural cave There the other sorority
girls were waiting for me. You kept
us in captivity long time that day
while you secured the woods"
Il couldn't find single trace of
you and at last would have sworn 1t
was all dream II II hadn't been for
the end
At the mention of that, she flushed
little. We are obliged to thank
our guides that way" she shyly ex
planned
In that case. should like to be
your guide always" he laughingly
declared. but his keen eyes were very
earnest
This time it was Maldon who took
the initiative, and 1t was she who was
surprised. And the old yellow moon.
which short time before had seemed
TO him so dull and furnished, now
shone brightly.
Copyright, 1912. by Associated Literary