The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-05-06
VIVlEN'S CAPTURE
Not a Bank Robber as She
Thought, but a Willing Serv.
ant and Lover.
By CARY DELoNE.

plleQ the man III loAo VI 6entAo
irony.
He paused in his efforts to get him.
self and a pair of saddle-bags over
the rude fence, and turned calmly In
the direction Of the voice. A black
haired, black.eyed girl Of about twen'
ty stood at the edge Of the clearing.
not two rods away. She had on .
serviceable brown suit and leggings.
her cloth cap was slightly askew-
and she was pointing straight at him
Z light but businesslike rifle. Her
cheeks were aflame with EXETER eat.
and the man could see her bosom RS
ing and falling rapidly.
Excuse me for referring to 1t" he
said quietly. standing motionless BY
the fence. but II you keep up that
careless, unsociable way Of pointing
guns at people. some day there'll be
IN accident"
III you resist, or try to draw your
gun. I'll shoot you sure q fate" e.
claimed the girl. and can shoot
straight. too. Put up your hands!"
Before you get utterly foolish. and
do anything you may be sorry for"
said the man. disregarding the order.
and still leaning easily against the
fence. stop and think whether you
hadn't better tell me what IL on your
mind, and why you threaten to MUIR
der an unarmed stranger"
AS II you didn't know. and you
standing there with the saddle-bags
themselves-my own saddle.bags. and
the money proba bly, still in them"
oh, as for these saddle-bags, we'll.
perhaps there Is more method in your
madness than there seemed to be at
first Do these belong to you?"
"Of course they do; and you are the
robber who stole them from our sta
Bile last night; and there is my silver
monogram on them; and what have
you done with my horse? And oh.
you rob5er and murderer, ought to
shoot you anyway. But II you will
keep your hands up and walk ahead
Of me, I will take you back to Gin.
ton and give you up. don't know
but they will hang you as soon as
you get there. They ought to.
my dear young lady," said the
man, with unruffled calm. to the pant.
Ing girl, whose eyes blazed anew 1t
this address. Il can see that there Is
some reason back Of your mistake.
But you are making a complete blund-
er. am no robber. And these sad.
dle-bags l found"
mo doubt" said tho girl. with
raging sarcasm; found them growing
on huckleberry bush probably. And
you didn't shoot at the cashier Of the
Clinton bank; and you didn't steal
my horse and saddle last night to es.
cape with; and there aren't 4 hun.
dred men with guns looking for you
this minute. Now. tell you what.
mean business! Will you surrender.
or shall l shoot?"
well. on reflection. think I'll sur
render"
Put up your hands then. shall
make you walk ahead Of me and car.
ry those bags"
How can carry them with my
hands above my head?"
We'll, you know what mean. Yer
must-Oh, aren't you hirrid villain!
You smile as If 1t was all a Joke
Take up those bags at once and 60
ahead; and remember, my rifle will
be pointed at you o., iue time. And
| shall be close behind you"
She started toward him. But she
had not fully counted on the difficulty
Of keeping steady aim and at the
same time walking over the very
rough ground. Her foot caught In q
root, and she fell fiat. the rifle going
of as 1t struck In three leaps the
man was at her side, one hand grasp
ing her weapon, and one held out 10
assist her. She sprang to her feet;
and her brave, bewitching little face
went deathly white.
Now, fortunately. you will be com
PEELED to listen to me-" said the man
in the same quiet, commanding tone
that he had used throughout. See
my mistaken young friend. | have
your rifle, You are powerless now
Pray, keep your self-control, and just
listen reasonably to what have to
say. l wouldn't harm you for the
world. And am no more bank rob
Der than you are"
The girl stood white and motion
less. her lips trying not to tremble.
Il am a lumber surveyor. 9
stranger in this part of Michigan.
walked over from Port Coleman this
morning. More than an hour ago
down the road, met a riderless
horse, a white horse. with one darl
stocking. tried to catch him, bu,
he was shy. These bags found
while l was prospecting through the
: woods; they lay near the body of 8
man in that clump of bushes ovel
there. You can go over and look a
the body, If you don't believe me.
guess he is your robbor all right; anc
| judge he didn't Get away without
carrying some lead n him. looked
in the bass and found they wer,
1 stuffed with hankhillS apd 7 o,,o.