The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-16
ONE KIND OF REVENGE
~ CHARLES HocsHEAD.

~ CHARLES HocsHEAD.
Bruce Rankin, colonel OF the All
sab irregulars. frontier force Of wild
tribesmen, was self.contained man.
and little given to pleasure and so
ciety. But the life that had been dor.
mant in this man for the last ten
years seemed to flow back into his
veins as he watched the changing face
Of Monica. the girl he loved.
He came to her side daily. meaning
to say: Il love you. IL there any hope
for met" But he left her at night
with the words still unspoken.
One day Bruce was 20 troubled BY
his own dumbness that instead Of
seeking Monica on the terrace over.
looking the lake. he set OF 70 climb
among the hills, and walked himself
into . more courageous frame OF
mind.
With hope making him feel young
again and almost gay. hs began to run
down the slopes ct the hack Of the
hotel. He passed quickly onto the ter.
race-cast . swift glance around. For
him II was deserted. He FASTENED to-
ward the ratings. for Monica some
times wandered close to the edge Of
the lake.
He cast but one glance and started
back with q great oath. for he saw
Monica there, but not Monica alone.
George Vance was helping her into
one Of the little row boats. Bruce
threw up his arms. It was well that
he was alone on the terrace for he,
the silent. self-contained colonel Of
the Alisajb Irregulars. cried aloud in
his wrath.
"As I live" he swore again. II will
be even with this man yet"
He ran quickly toward the pool. de-
manded a boat, the lightest. the fast
est, for hire, and shot out into the
open water.
Then he all at once rested on his
oars, bent forward. listened. A cry
came to him, q cry over the smiling
water, cry for help, an urgent ap
peal and in English. too.
Once again he heard that cry. He
get OF towards the sound. He swept
along; he rounded a little island and
passed into the deepest part Of the
lake. There he saw before him an
other boat. but a size larger than he
had been In: and. a. he caught the
CLEAN OF red cushions In the stern.
he knew what he had hoped for had
come to pass. It was Monica and
George Vance. They were In distress;
they were making frantic signals for
help: their boat seemed low down In
the water.
A few more strokes brought Bruce
alongside. BY an act Of objectionable
carelessncss, the boat. which must
have been warping for months. had
been sent out as soon as she had been
placed in the water. In consequence,
It was leaking badly.
Il was his hour now: the hour he
had longed for. had clamored for.
His boat at the most would hold but
two people.
He did not tell this at first His
first care was to transfer Monica. At
length she was safely In, huddlad
down in the stern OF his boat. He
picked up his oars. and shot out OF
arms length.
Vance looked at him: he looked
back at Vance.
Bruce rested on his oars.
my boat will hold only two" he
exulted.
Vance did not expostulate: he did
not beseech.
Bruce looked long at him. He saw
that the boat, lighter now. was making
LEES water. He saw that Vance sud-
denly marked that-that % quickly
the 1oomed man picked up his oars.
and swung HIM head round to glance
at he island. Rankin saw that he
Was measuring The distance. that be
was about To try to row against death.
Z will keep By you." he cried out.
for be had no doubt who would win.
The water" called Rankin. after q
few strokes. lest his enemy should
miss . single pang. "is gaining on
you"
II know It." came the answer.
The next minute Bruce heard an
other sound. Vance was In distress
while he was hardly hot.
You are used up" Rankin called
across.
Yes" acquiesced Vance, Il am OFT
Of condition. was in my berth most
OF the way home With fever"
"Then." concluded Bruce, stating
what he had known all along. you
, cannot reach the island"
Rankin stayed his stroke. He look
ed at his enemy. He was even with
!, him at last, but when his turn came
would he face death half az well?
Vengeance was his, but not such
vengeance as he had dwelt on, brood
ed over.
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