The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-08-19
CHAPTER !.

which he had just arrived was late.
It hurried away from the station, and
was swallowed up in the blackness OF
the tunnel, as If 1t knew its own short
comings and wished to make up for
them.
It was five minutes Of six, and as
the young man looked back at the
long flight Of steps that led to the
bridge across the tracks, delicate
penciling of electric light flashed into
outline against the city's deepening
dusk, emphasizing the lateness Of the
hour. He had dinner engagement at
/ seven, and 1t was yet some distance
to his home, where rapid toilet must
be made If he were to arrive on time.
The stairway was long, and there
were many people thronging it. A
shorter cut led down along the tracks
under the bridge, and up the grassy
embankment.
Under the center of the bridge a
slight noise behind him, as of soft,
hurrying footsteps, caught his atten.
ton, and a woman's voice broke upon
his startled senses.
"Please don't stop, nor look around"
It said, and the owner caught up with
him now in the shadow. "But will
you kindly let me walk beside you for
a moment, till you can show me how
to get out of this dreadful place?
am very much frightened, and I'm
afraid l shall be followed. Will you
tell me where can 60 to hide?"
After an instant's astonished pause.
he obeyed her and kept on, making
room for her to walk beside him, while
he took the place next to the tracks.
He was aware. too, of the low rumble
Of train, coming from the mouth Of
the tunnel.
His companion had gasped for
breath, but began again in tone OF
apology:
II saw you were a gentleman, and
I didn't know what to do. l thought
you would help me to get somewhere
quickly"
Just then the fiery eye Of the oncom
ing train burst from the tunnel ahead
Instinctively, the young man caught
his companions arm and drew hel
forward to the embankment beyond
the bridge, holding her, startled and
trembling. as the screaming train tore
past them.
The mans frsttthought was to gel
out Of the cut before another train
should come. He grasped his compan
IONS arm and started up the steer
embankment, realizing as he did &C
that the wrist he held was slender
and that the sleeve which covered Il
was Of the finest cloth.
As they emerged from the dark. thu
Z man saw that his companion was {
young and beautiful woman, and tina
she wore light cloth gown will
4 neither hat nor gloves.
At the top of the embankment the,
4 paused, and the girl, with her hand a
her throat, looked backward with
shudder. She seemed like q youni
bird that could scarcely tell whicl
way to fly.
! Without an instants hesitation, tn
young man raised his hand and halle
y q four.wheeler across the street.
h "Come this way. quick!" he urged
helping her in. He gave the drive
3 his home address and stepped in afte
X her. Then, turning, he faced his con
) panion, and was suddenly keenl
aware Of the strange situation l
which he had placed himself.
"Can you tell me what is the ma
ter" he asked. land where you woul
like to go?"
= The girl had scarcely recovere
n breath from the long climb and tn
fright, and she answered him
broken phrases.
mo, l cannot tell you what Is til
matter"-she paused and looked {
him, with sudden comprehension {
what he might be thinking about he
-"but-tEere is nothing-that is
have done nothing wrong" Sh
paused again and looked up with eye
whose clear depths, he felt, could hid
no guile.
"Of course" he murmured with d
cision, and then wondered why he fe
90 sure about It
"Thank you" she said. Then, wit
frightened perplexity: II don't kno
where to go. never was in this ci,
before. II you will kindly tell me no
to get somewhere suppose to raj
road station--and yet-no, have 4
money-and"-then with sudden Ii
tie movement of dismay-"and I hay
/. no hat! OH"
The young man felt a strong desil
n to shield this girl SO unexpected
thrown on his mercy. Yet vague fea,
I lowered about the margin OF his ind
/ ment Perhaps she was thief {
! IN adventures.
ii The girl was speaking again: But
! must not trouble you any more. Yc
/ have been very kind to get me o,
! OF that dreadful place. II you wi
| Just stop the carriage and let me on
! am sure can take care Of myself
/ II could not think of letting yc
! get out here alone. Ii you are In da
1 ger. / will help you" The warmth
! his own words startled him. He kne
/ he ought to be more cautious with
t