The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-09
Book 1.
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER II-several persons at regu.
| lar intervals enter No. 1873
| Van Vechten turned his attention
to the man with something like resent.
ment stirring in his bosom, for the fel-
lows manner suggested proprietary
relationship toward the girl, which, for
reason he did not attempt just then
to explain, made him angry. AS far
as attire went, the man was present
able enough; but Van Vechten was not
favorably prepossessed by the sullen,
battered countenance, the coarse,
sandy hair, nor the big, loose-jointed,
powerful body.
Then the cautioning glance was of a
sudden accounted for; the man, salts
fed that the girl had caught his mean.
ing, showed that he had noted Van
Vechtens more than casual regard, by
vindictive look from a pair of steely
gray eyes-a look at once so keen and
truculent and challenging that it's re.
cipient was for the moment dunn
founded.
However, Van Vechten's puzzlement
over this strange bit of byplay, his en-
crossing admiration Of the girls
beauty, was broken rudely in upon by
sudden confused movement Of the
crowd. With changing bell and a
noisy clatter of iron-shod hoofs upon
the asphalt, police ambulance drew
up at the alley. Phinney and Van Vech-
ten were jostled with the others, and
the latters attention was distracted
from the girl and the sandy-haired man.
He watched second officer and the
young surgeon leap nimbly down; the
first to join his comrade in holding
the crowd in check, the other to rem
der such aid to the stricken man as
any faint indication of life might call
for. The motionless figure, however,
was beyond the reach Of any surgeons
skill; it required but a cursory inspec-
ton to determine this.
Van Vechten saw, hazily, the young
physician indicate the mark on the
mans temple. and lay the tip of fore
finger upon another spot behind the
left ear, the while he talked in under
tones to the two policemen. Then the
crowd quieted, and he had an oppor-
tunity to look at the girl again.
1t was with something of shock
that he realized she was no longer con-
fronting him. His glance few quickly
hither and thither-even hoping for
the sandy-haired man, as sort of
clue-but she was nowhere to be seen.
Both had vanished.
The ambulance was now departing
with its silent burden, the crowd was
dissolving or breaking up into little
groups to discuss the tragedy, and the
two friends were walking at a leisure
ly pace back to the Powhatan. Once
more to themselves, and Tom Phin-
ney's volubility returned.
why the dickens didn't you want
to tell him what you known" he de.
manded.
The answer was uttered softly.
tom, whatever reasons may have
couldn't put into words. At least,
sha'n't attempt to just now. You sure
ly know what bunch is: your
scheme of life seems largely to be gov
erned by them"
Huh" grunted Tom, without under.
standing, but inadvertently hitting up
on part of the reason for his friends
reticence. 1T is the yelled lady in the
taxi; you think you are on the scent
OF an adventure. Rats! No adventure
there. She was lady, l can tell you
that"
The other gave him sharp glance,
as II estimating the degree of his per.
spicacity. How much could Tom tell?
Tom"-after moment, If you
must falkland l know your limita.
lions as compared with your inten.
tions-promise me that you will not
mention the lady in the taxi-to any.
body"
Van Vechten's manner was 80 DELHI
crate and grave that Tom favored him
with . questioning stare.
why, sure. Ruddy," was the prompt
and hearty response-"if it's as seri.
GUS as all that. You know her-what?"
mo. ! don't. But I think that
should-which is quite a different
thing"
He knew that one phase of the morn.
ing's happenings would not be too
much for Tom to keep to himself. and
for some unexplained reason Van
Vechten wanted it to be the mysteri.
GUS lady of the taxi-cab.
AS they were turning into the Pow.
hatans granite archway, Van yech.
ten bent an inquisitive glance toward
Number 1913. His curiosity was now
UNNECESSARILY augmented by a fresh
interest And he received another
shock-one that fairly staggered him.
For the first time in all the months
that he had surveyed the silent facade
ne caught a movement at one of the
blinds. 1t was drawn aside, and he
was Afforded a momentary glimpse of
girls face-the face OF the girl in
th1 60 - 4