The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-11-29
MATTER OF ADVICE
Young Lawyer Secures an Inter.
esting Case in an Unusual
Manner.
BY JOANNA SINGLE.

BY JOANNA SINGLE.
Elwood Pierce lay at full length
on the fallen leaves under q grea,
tree in the September woods and Won.
dered whether. summer over, his Law
practice would not begin to pick up 4
Bit The season was dull. and he had
SO little work that he would hardly
have recognized a real case IL he had
met It on the street. The young man
tousled his smooth hair with an impa.
tient hand. and decided that he would
like to be counsel in q really interest.
Ing case-something that would make
him SIT up and take notice mentally.
Unusually enough. his father and his
grandfather had made the money
question OF secondary interest. What
he wanted was to get on in his pro-
fession.
From the lake came girlvoice. In
Iaughter-voices from which he had
Ned. Knowing his weakness and his
determination not to be caught until
he had something really his own to
oner her." he often hed-in fact, he
was socially an unstable quantity,
though for his very elusiveness great.
~ In demand. The latest was Mrs.
Wharton's note asking him to meet
her cousin Nancy from down south"
at dinner. Therefore. to make good
his non.acceptance. he was out Of
town few days at this country re.
sort.
Suddenly through the languid noises
OF the woods came a brisk. steady
little patter. louder and clearer, and
a great swapping Of twigs. He sat up
and there flashed toward him q girl,
rosy. dark-haired. painting. her rose.
colored frock gathered up about her.
She rushed almost upon him. breath.
less anxiety in her face. and crushed |
herself carefully behind his big tree
before she saw hin, as he rose and
stood at attention.
oh. hush!" she whispered. putting
out hand and drawing him toward
her. DO please lie fiat or something
so We won't be Scent"
There was real distress in her voice
and he obeyed promptly. The look OF
her would have made slave Of any.
hing masculine. She was breathing
hard, and he saw that she had lost
one small pump and stood on the
other foot to spare her pink silk
stocking and tender sole. She chung
70 the tree In something like terror
"rll-look after you." he ventured
in a low tone. lifting his head a bit
to look at her. She made a frantic
little gesture which hattened him out
again.
"Oh-hush!" she breathed again.
He Is coming!" She drew herself
together in sort Of little bunch, her
eyes wide and blue. bluer than eyes
have any business to be to go with
black hair. Indeed Elwood heard a
tremendous cracking. and in a mo.
nent shout, a clear call.
"Whoo-ee-ee!" And then. Where
ire you? Whoo.ee.ee!" With his
shaki clothes, tannish fair hair, and
'ecumbency. Elwood was practically
INVISIBLE at a distance, 80 he turned
Ills head bit and from his knoll saw
n the path below square.set, dark.
Eyed. determined looking man strid-
ng along, and calling at every third
stride. Where are you. Annie!"
The girl was motionless, save that
she poked out the pink.stockinged
DOT and gave Elwood's arm a furtive
poke. Then she gave herself a little
shake.
III he'd-only-pass u.s." she whis.
pered. Her eagerness spread to the
'oung fellow on watch at her feet
He'd better!" he muttered in 4
one between threat and petition.
And-he passed. but not without 4
'ursory glance in their direction
which only the protecting tree trunk
kept from seeing the girl. In a mo.
ment he was crashing on in another
direction. his call becoming fainter.
Elwood rose cautiously, and the girl
sank to the ground. her feet coiled
under her skirt She smoke as oh.
might have to brother. and Elwood
ieclded that ne would nave preferred
ner to be less friendly. He hoped he
lid not look too "safe." though. Of
course. he wished her to have coma.
1ence in him.
He might-come back" she warned
inxiously-"and you're SO tall, IN s,t
down."
IF he does I SbC,ld ho.p \ u