The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-12-20

| My WIloS ] nave moduI ~ dII e1AOu6 ,
I.mean 1t now more than ever. And
by God! you ehan't turn me down IN
this way! won't-I can't stand it!"
There was pause. The stiffness OF
the mouldering corridors and empty
chambers seemed to gather and weigh
down upon the listener like palpable
substance. What should he do; re-
treat without letting his presence be
known, or open the door and inter
fere? So far the girl had demonstrated
her ability to handle the situation, and
he shrank from appearing as an Of
ficious meddler; yet, for the life OF
him, until he was vouchsafed at least
hint Of the alterations outcome. he
could not depart.
The silence was quite abruptly
broken by the girls voice. cold now
and biting.
John, stand away from the door
and let me by"
No response from the man.
Are you going to let me pass?"
And again, apparently, he was un-
able to contain himself.
moi" he burst forth. IF all my
months Of waiting and giving-myself.
y'unGerstand-giving the best Of me
for you-if my only payment is to be-
scorn and contempt suppose you'd
call it-then, by heaven! I'll make
you suffer! I'll break your spirit; l
Ill"
"John!" In a shocked voice.
He did not heed; all restraint was
thrown to the winds, and he drove on
in reckless frenzy of speech.
you think l care what happens to
me, do you? Huh! Blame little you
know about John Calls. II l can't
have you / don't care a whoop in
hades what becomes of me. If can't
have you nobody else shall. Scream,
If you want to-yell at the top Of your
voice-theres nobody to hear you"
"John!" The girl was now genuine
ly alarmed. Don't talk SO wildly!
You'll regret this. And don't-don't
look at me like that" Another brief
pause and she concluded pleadingly:
Please, John, let me go!"
Il shan't"-doggedly.
what do you mean to do with me,
JOhn?'
II don't know. haven't made up
my mind. Maybe I'll kill you-if you
drive me to it."
The girl must have rushed toward
the door, desperately striving to win
past him, and just as certainly he
must have caught her and stayed her
steps. What followed was pretty much
confused in Van Vechten's mind. There
was sound of scutfling; the incensed
listener in the hall heard the girl cry
out in an agitated voice: "Oh! You
are hurting mel" which was immedi-
ateiy followed by stifled shrek that
chilled the blood In his veins.
Next instant he had grasped the
knob and thrown all his weight against
the door.
1t was unbolted and crashed open
with explosive violence. His irrup-
tion promptly quieted the disturbance.
The man-it was the sandy-complex-
ioned man-stood with dropped jaw,
staring blank,y at the intruder.
And the girl? His heart leaped. His
whole being was suffused with a warm
glow. The girl that he had despaired
OF ever seeing again, what unhappy
mischance had brought her to this
rer.l? And what unrecognized mes
aage had prompted him to arrive upon
tae scene SO opportunely?
After the first shock of pleased sur
prise, Van Vechten famed, then
turned TO ice. His regard travelled to
the mar in q narrowed look of anger
that LETT him white to the lips. It was
a hard look, an ugly, wicked look that
spelled danger.
But his lifelong habit of repression
checked any violent display Of feeling
On his part. The spell was broken
whea he composedly advanced step
farther into the room, not for an In.
slant moving his steely regard from
The man Al OF o sudden his thin lips
twisted in an odd little smile that
was not at all pleasing to see.
"Well?" he said quietly. Save for
he unmistakable undercurrent OF
menace, the tone might nave been af.
able
So profound was the other mans
that he mechanically re-
eased the girls wrists and fell back
! pace. Only quick anticipation of
lis act saved her from falling to the
ioor; as 1t was she staggered back.
gard until dust-coated library table
tayed her. At this she clutched.
liaging to its edges, and, wide-eyed,
tared from one to the other of the
nen. Her tormentor's brain, obvious
7, stirred only sluggishly; but eli at
nee the sullen features we're congest.
d with blood, the veins On his fore
cad swelle6, and ali his tury-now re-
directed at Van Vecb-
en-.
Where in hell did you come from ?"
Q snarled venomously.
Anyhow, not the same neighbor.
ooS thaf hrad