The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-25


long message east, breaking to his
brother the awful tidings.
And in all that they did he and
Kirkby, two of the shrewdest and
most experienced of men, showed
with singular exactitude how easy il
is for the wisest and most capable
OF men to make mistakes, to leave the
plain trail, to fail to deduce the truth
from the facts presented. Yet 1t is
difficult to point to a fault in their
reasoning. or to find anything left un.
done in the search!
Enid had started down the canon;
near the end of it they had discovered
one Of her garments which they could
not conceive any reason for her tax.
ing off. It was near the battered body
of one Of the biggest Grizzlies that
either man had ever seen, it had evil
dence of blood stains upon it; still,
they had found no body, but they
were as profoundly sure that the man.
gled remains of the poor girl lay with.
in the depths of that mountain lake
as If they had actually seen her there.
The logic was all fawless.
It so happened that on that Novem-
Der morning. when the telegram was
approaching him, Mr. Stephen Matt
land had caller He, came at an un-
usually early hour. Mr.. Stephen
Maitland, who was no longer an early
riser, had indeed just finished his
breakfast when the card of Mr.. James
Armstrong of Colorado was handed to
him.
This. suppose" he thought test
lily. lis one of the results of Ends
wanderings into that God-forsaken
land. Did you ask the man his bust.
ness, James," he said aloud to the
footman.
Yes, sir. He said he wanted to see
you on important business, and when
I made bold to ask him what bust
ness, he said it was none Of mine, and
for me to take the message to you,
SIR"
"Impudent,' growled Mr.. Maitland.
Eyes, sir, but he is the kind Of
gentleman you don't talk back to, sir"
We'll, you 60 back and tell him
that you have given me his card, and
should like to know what he wishes
to see me about, that | am very busy
this morning and unless it is mat
ter of importance-you understand"
Eyes, sir"
Il suppose now l shall have the
whole west unloaded upon me; every
vagabond friend Of Roberts and peO-
pie who meet Enid he thought, but
his reveries were shortly interrupted
by the return of the man.
IT you please, sir" began James
hesitatingly, as he re.entered the
room, he says his business is about
the young lady, sir
"Confound his impudence!" ex.
claimed Mr.. Maitland, more and more
annoyed at what he was pleased to
characterize mentally as western as.
surance. Where is he?"
I'm the hall, sir
"Show him into the library and say
l shall be down in a moment
VERY good, sir"
1t was a decidedly wrathful individ.
ual who confronted Stephen Maitland
a few moments afterward in the Ii.
brary, for Armstrong was not accus-
toned to such cavalier treatment. and
had Maitland been other than Ends
father he would have given more out.
ward expression at his indignation
over the discourtesy in his reception.
"Mr. James Armstrong, | believe"
began Mr.. Maitland, looking at the
card in his hand.
Eyes, sir"
"Er-from Colorado?"
"And proud of it,"
"Ah, dare say. believe you wish.
ed to see me about"
your daughter, sir"
"And in what way are you concern.
ed about her, sir?"
II wish to make her my wife,"
Great Cod" exclaimed the older
man In a voice equally divided be-
.ween horror and establishment.
How dare you, sir? You amaze me
beyond measure with your internal
Excuse me, Mr.. Maitland" inter
posed Armstrong quickly and with |
great spirit and determination, "but |
where I come from we don't allow :
anybody to talk to us in this way. |
You are Ends fsther and much old
er man than |, but | can't permit you
to-"
"Sir," said astounded Maitland,
drawing himself up at this bold flout-
ing, you may be very worthy young
man, have no doubt of it. but it is
out of the question. Ny daughter"
Again less excited nearer might
have noticed the emphasis in the pro-
loun--
Why, she is halfway engaged to
me now" interrupted the younger
man with certain contemptuous