The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-07

"The matter? Everything but"
mo evasions, please" continued the
man still cheerfully but with a grow.
ing misgiving. His suspicious. in abey-
ance for the moment because of his
Joy at seeing her alive and well. arose
with renewed force Il left you prac-
tically pledged to me-" he resumed.
! "Not so fast" answered End Matt
land. determined to combat the light
est attempt to establish binding
claim upon her.
isn't it true?" asked Armstrong
"Here. wait" he said before she could
answer, Il am half frozen, have been
searching for you since early morn.
ing in the storm" He unbuttoned and
unbelted his huge fur coat as he spoke
; and threw 1t carelessly on the floor by
his Winchester leaning against the
wall. "Now." he resumed. Il can talk
better"
You must have something to eat
them" said the girl.
She was glad Of the interruption
since she was playing for time. She
did not quite know how the interview
would end, he had come upon her so
UNEXPECTEDLY and she had never for.
mulated what she would say to him,
that which she felt she must say. She
must have time to think, to collect
herself, which he in his part was quite
willing to give her. for he was not
much better prepared for the inter-
view than she. He really was hungry
and tired, his early journey had been
foolhardy and in the highest degree
dangerous. The violence of his admir-.
alton for her added to the excitement
Of her presence, and the probable near
ness of Newbold as to whose where.
abouts he wondered were not conduc.
i've to rapid recuperation. 1t would
be comfort to him also to have food
and time
"Sit down." she said. II shall be
back in moment"
The fire of the morning was still
burning in the stove in the kitchen; to
heat a can of soup, to make him some
buttered toast and hot coffee, we're the
tasks OF few moments; she brought
them back to him, set them on the ia
BILE before him and babe him fall to.
"By jove," exclaimed the man after
a little time as he began to eat hast
lily but with great relish what she had
prepared while she stood over him
watching him silently. This is coy.
A warm, comfortable room, something
! to eat served by the finest woman in
the word, the prettiest girl on earth
to look at--what more could man de.
sire? This is the way it's going to be
always in the future"
you have no warrant whatever for
saying or Loring that" answered the
girl slowly but decisively.
Have ! not?" asked the man quick
ly. Did you not say to me q little
while ago that you liked me better
than any man you had ever met and
that l might win you if could? Well,
l can, and what's more, | will in spite
Of yourself, Enid, he laughed. "Why,
the memory Of that kiss | stole from
you makes ne mad" lie pushed the
things before him and rose to his feet
once more, Come, give me another"
he sad, ut isn't in the power of wo-
man to stand against love like
mine"
"Iaa't it?"
mo, indeed"
Louise Newbold did" she answered
very quietly bat with tie swiltness
and the deXterity of sword thrust
by master hand. mighty arm.
Armstrong stared at her in open
mouthod establishment.
What DO you know about Louise
Rosser or Newbold?" he asked at
last.
"All thct / want to know"
And did that damned hound tell
your"
IF you mean Mr. Newbold, he new.
er mentioned your name, he does not
know you exist"
where is he now" Numbered the
man.
Have no fear" answered the wo-
man calmly, "he has gone to the set
Elements to tel them l am safe and
to seek help to get me out Of the
mountains"
"Fearl' exclaimed Armstrong,
proudly, Il fear nothing on earth. For
years. ever since heard his name In
fact, | have logged 20 nee: liz. I
want to know vLo told you about that
woman-Eirl;by?"
"He never mentioned your name In
connection with her"
Put you must have heard 1t some
where" c:.cd the man thoroughly be-
wi.tored. The bros Of the air didn't
tell it to you. id tAey?"
"She told me herself" answered
End NJ. al.
she tod YOU? WhY She's been
dead in her save Eve years, shot to
death by II laVrlerous dog of hus-
band OF Ler3."
Ito Be Continued.l