The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-30

90 Wnere women are cOnCerneu.
She stared at him blankly, uncom-
prehendingly.
Honor bright" she presently de-
clared, II do not understand. cannot
see why you should be SO affected"
He reached forward with quick,
impulsive motion and caught one of
her wrists.
IT suppose 1t means nothing to you
that I have learned to love you. l
suppose 1t means nothing to you that
you are the fiancee of my best friend.
and that l must give you up. / sup
pose it means nothing to you that /
will keep right on loving you because
l can't help myself, but must put on a
grin to hide it from him-from every.
body. God! How l do love you! l
have the satisfaction, anyhow, Of
knowing that you know 1t.
Her regard had remained steadfast.
ly locked with his throughout this i'm
FASHIONED TRADE, nor did it waver now.
Gently she told him:
"You are hurting me, Tom"
In swift revulsion Of feeling, he
dropped her hand.
Forgive mel" he begged. II am be-
side myself. A fellow can't get used
to thing like this all in a minute.
But, believe me, Miss Carew, I'll never
bother you again. It's all been like
fairy dream-from the second l first
heard your voice as stood blindfold-
ed before you; when you came to me
where lay helpless in the dark, and
yet could not see your face; when you
led me out into the night and left me,
still blindfolded; when we came face
to face here-well, it seems that have
been blindfolded all along until this
moment; but don't want to forget
single detail Of my dream. Now, am
awake"
She surprised him with an abrupt
cry Of impotence, emphasized with
stamp Of one foot. Her eyes were
swapping.
"Tom Phinney! Stop that sort of
talk. You make me tired!"
= Pardon me-" He bowed politely. II
have nothing more to say"
' well, have" All at once her
voice broke. "You are the stupidest,
most exasperating man I ever knew!
And I-I-dont know whether to
laugh or-or cry!" And doing both.
she darted suddenly from the room.
I Miss Carew had not been gone q
minute before the stranger he had &C.
costed the previous day appeared In
the doorway.
"Can l have word with you, cap
tain I" said the man.
Tom was impatient of any Interrupt
ton just at this juncture. He favored
the intruder with scowl and bluntly
asked him what he wanted.
The man stepped inside and closed
the door.
81 have learned" said he, that nc
one is allowed to 60 ashore: I don't
particularly mind about that; but
came away rather hurriedly, and
would like to send message to my
my people Would there be any objeo'
ton to that?"
The fellows manner was furtive
and clandSstine. and Tom was a bli
puzzled. Before he could reply, thu
other drew a sealed envelope from his
pocket and laid it on the table ant
upon this he laid a ten.dollar bill.
Whoever taxes that letter ashore,
said the man, 'and finds trustworth!
, messenger who will deliver 1t RICH
away, can split the ten-spot with him
!, fiivverS not picked up for an hour
, easy work every day, but it's wort
something to keep ones folks iron
worrying"
Sweeping aside the bill, Tom me
| chemically picked up the envelope an
, glanced at it.
He did not start or betray by an
, sign that the address gave him a dit
, tinct shock Of surprise; his suscept
. bilities were become calloused to an
: fresh sensations of this nature; bu
. nevertheless he was amazed to Sc
that the name upon the envelope wa
! none other than Mr.. Phineas Flint
The street number--which Tom coul
not identify-was police headquarter
, my uncle" explained the mai
glibly.
" Very carefully Tom replaced the Ell
velope and upon top Of it the bill
then he leaned back and fixed the ma
with look.
See here" he demanded with al
rupt authority, "just how do you com
: to be on this yacht, anyhow"
1 The mans countenance expresse
t establishment. Hasn't Mr.. Willar
, told your" he asked.
, 1T makes no difference what M
Willard has told me-I'm asking you
r This abrupt manner left the man Vi
: rufled.
; why. it was this way" he ga,
I easily. my uncle learned Thursda
that Mr.. Willard was in town, lookin
t for q young man to take the place {
Z somebody that had been hurt; / va
J. wanting q Job, and he put me wise
I it Mr.. willard was in something Of