The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-30
5elTIME
|||I|||||| LOCK
By CHARLES EDMoNDs WALK
Author of "The Silver Blade"
"Ths Paternoster Ruby" etc.
(Copyrisht 1919 By 4 G. Necius / cA)

&tsESE;E2E;HE;EIE;SS;SES;S
tcosyhzh. 1919 By A. c. Aeclnu ! ca
gravely asked.
"Delia"-Tom's voice lowered per
ceptibly and serious note crept into
it-"you ought to know-you ought to
see-where my chief interest lies.
Hang 1t all! wish I could express
myself better. But If you can't see
that my first concern is for you, it's
going to be dashed hard for me to ex.
plain"
Captain Phinney," returned the girl
after moment, "I sought, this inter-
view deliberately. wanted to tell
you that have seen just how harassed
with anxiety you have been, and that I
have deep appreciation Of your fldel.
ity to a project about which you know
so little, and which at best you fear is
Observation-Disclosures, perhaps. But
please Colby this time tomorrow all
cause for worry will have been re-
moved; and If my word bears any
weight, you have nothing to cause you
any concern or misgivings."
That" Tom interjected, removes
the last doubt. You're a brick!"
But she was not through; she con.
tinued, haltingly now and with slowly
frightening color:
II am telling you these things be.
cause It is not right that my influence
should govern you, as it seemed to be
doing, and you ignorant Of my very
identity"
In this mien the girl was so utter
ably sweet and charming that Tom
could scarcely contain himself. He
darted scowling look at the incur
tanned ports, at which her color all at
once deepened still more, and she
dropped her gaze with a nervous little
laugh. 1t was just that easy to follow
his train Of thought.
That's something soon remedied,"
he urged her eagerly.
And now the beautiful face took on
a tantalizing expression, the lashes
dropped and she regarded him quiz
zically.
Captain Phinney. hasn't even the
tiniest suspicion entered your head as
to who I am she asked.
"Why should there" he returned.
"And why Is 1t Captain Phinney' to-
day? Night before last I was Tom
easy enough"
swell, then-Tom. ! have no espe-
cial reluctance to calling you Tom; I
have known you for years."
He stared at her in open-mouthed
establishment. And she watched him,
smiling, hooking, altogether bewitch.
ing.
Gradually Tom recovered himself
"Coine, now" no protested. Il really
thought you were in earnest"
OF sudden she dropped upon a
lockerseat and motioned him to dc
likewise. Slowly and dazedly, he
obeyed.
Listen" she pursued. IT know 6
girl who has lived nearly all her life
abroad. She has a man cousin Of
whom she has always been awfully
fond; whom, as q very young girl, she
looked up to and regarded as quite the
personlfication Of wisdom and ever,
manly virtue.
Nov, that cousin had q chum o
whom he thought so much that he new
er tired Of singing his praises to tn,
girl cousin. She was fourteen year,
old, l believe, and very impression
! able. Anyway, she became so interest
ed in her Cousins chum-she had nev
or seen him, mind--that he assume,
in her fancy the place of a hero. Sh,
even stole one Of his photographs an,
kept 1t hidden away where nobody els,
could see It, but where she could TAX
a peep at It whenever she wanted to
The expression that was slowly over
spreading Toms visage was almost Ia
dicrous. By degrees he was oompre
hending; but conviction, had not ye
come.
Cant you guessi" she asked.
He rose inertly to his feet. HI
spoke thickly, like a man stupefed.
4 you are that girl. You-you are
paige Carew.r she said.