The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-29

Bdt nave evidence Look" And.
pulling Oft her glove, she showed wed.
dlng RING upon a very pretty finger.
! didn't doubt" began the consul
weakly.
And look" continued Mrs. Gray.
ana, opening her reticule, she pulled
out most convincing proof of John in
the shape OF rank and well-colored
meerschaum pipe, with gold band,
On which was engraved from Doris
to dear john"
Now do you doubt me?' she CON
tinued.
NO. said the consul briskly. "A
question or two. You are sure that
you went back to the right hotel!"
OF course | am" cried the girl in
dignantly. That's what the police told
me. They wanted me to inquire at
every hotel in the city. am absolute
ly certain-why, didn't | find Johns
pipe under the table, where it had
rolled, and the thieves didn't notice 1t
when they removed his things. o, can't
you help me? He has been kidnapped,
perhaps murdered, and ! am alone"
The tears came into her eyes again.
Now, now, Mrs. Gray" said the
consul soothingly, pray don't distress
yourself. am going to probe this
mystery to the bottom. -
He broke off as the sounds of VIC.
lent struggle came from the adjacent
room, and moment later the little
clerk appeared at the door.
Mr.. Sichel! Help!" he shouted.
There is crazed assassin wants to
enter"
He disappeared suddenly, and the
sound of the struggle was renewed.
An instant afterward the door burst
open and there appeared a wild-look-
ing figure attired in a silk hat and a
pair of pajamas, to which latter the
clerk chung desperately.
With a cry of rapture Doris Gray
ran to the apparition and, laying her
head upon its shoulder, sobbed from
joy.
John! Oh, John, it's you!" she
wept
It's all right, Monsieur Jean. You
can go now" said the consul to his
secretary. Perhaps | can offer you
suit of clothes" he continued to Mr..
Gray.
Thanks! Thanks!' painted the ap-
partition. Il had an overcoat-took it
from the jailer-but lost it en- route
here. knew they wouldn't dare to
follow me inside this office, over which
floats the American eagle"
John! What happened?"
Why" said John more calmly, 81
hadn't got as far as the drug store
before two men came up behind me,
pushed me inside, gagged me, tied me,
opened the door again, and pushed me
into a cab that was waiting. 1t was
all done 80 quickly that nobody saw
anything except the drug store clerk.
Then they put me down at the door of
q sort of big Jail, whisked me inside,
and flung me into private bedroom
with barred windows. lay there all
night, except when the doctor came to
feel my pulse. He tried to take my
temperature too, but broke the Their.
mometer. In the morning looked out
and the first thing saw was the Stars
and Stripes floating from this build.
Ing. | knew where l was then, so
when the jailer, or whoever he was,
came in, l got him into corner.
knocked him down, took his overcoat-
they'd taken all my clothes away-and
made for the door. Luckily it was un.
locked, and 80, after knocking down q
couple of watchmen l reached you"
Can such things be in a civilized
country" exclaimed Doris. "Mr. Sichel,
you must cable to Washington at once.
You must present an ultimatum to the
Dutch government for Mr.. Gray's
clothes and cane All in the con-
spiracy; drug clerk, police, hotelkeep-
er, clerk, matron, housekeeper, maids
what does 1t mean? Ia this nation
Of lunatics?"
The consul clapped his hand to his
Il have it," he exclaimed delighted.
ly. you came from Zurich? Your bag.
gage was labeled Zurich?"
YES Well--?"
Wasn't there cholera at Zurich
when you left?"
That's why we left In a hurry.
But"
This is the exposition year. A case
Of cholera in Maasdorf would ruin the
show, cost hundreds of thousands Of
dollars. You complained of head.
ache, Mr. Gray. The Dutch are CON- /,
nercial nation. Don't you see?"
You mean they fixed all that be-
tween them while Mr.. Gray YVES being
inquired the girl.
Not kidnapped" said the consul.
Why that vas only the quarantine
station for this district. No doubt the
doctors know by now that Mr. Gray
hasn't the cholera. Now If you take
ny advice"
"A package for a Mr. Gray, sir"
said the clerk, entering, and Mrs
Tray opened it.
john" she exclaimed. Your suit.
Your hat Your shirt and collar, fresh
rom the laundry. Your shoes pol
shed! And what's this?" she contin-
led, holding up glittering bauble.
lnt I