The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-07

door. He felt his fingers close upon
a watch. But his own watch was In
his pocket. He felt for q match hast
lily, struck it-and suddenly perceived
a young lady dressed in a Japanese
klmona who stood in tho other door.
way, looking at him.
He had Numbered into the wrong
cottage.
The match flared out as the wind
rushed in. Too embarrassed to speak,
Richard turned for the door and hur-
ried out into the darkness. As he did
so he heard the girl scream, and q
moment later lights began to flicker
In the adjacent cottages.
He stumbled down toward the lake.
But again fate was against him. He
could not find his boat.
There was nothing to do but to
make for home. Happily he now
had fair sense of his location, and,
more happily still, he knew that, once
he was beyond the farthest cottage,
the country round the lake was open.
There was a broad trail, in fact, which
led almost to his own door. He had
just reached the confines of the trees
when he heard shouts behind him.
1t takes a man of more than ordi-
nary courage to explain himself I'M
der such conditions Dick ran as fast
as he could go without unduly betray-
ing his whereabouts. AS he ran he
heard his pursuers following him.
Hes in those trees" be heard one
yell to another
Got your pistol, Bill?"
Sure! I'm not taking any chances
with the man that robbed Mills place
last week"
What did he do?"
Broke into Miss" The voices
died away and Richard redoubled his
pace
1t was long distance, and when at
last he reached his cottage he was ex-
hausted from his wild plunge through
the underground. while his coat was
badly torn by briers. He threw off
his clothes and tumbled into bed, to
iall into an uneasy slumber for an
hour or two When he awoke the
sun was just rising above the trees
Dwight put on his clothes and Was
amazed tn see how torn they were.
Black marks from tree branches
spangled his coat, almost like the bars
on convict's tunic. He walked down
to the waters edge and stood there,
wondering how he could explain to
the girl without admitting that he
was her nocturnal visitor.
His problem was to be solved very
quickly, for at that moment a boat
containing three men and tho girl in
question shot from under the trees
and pushed into the bank. The men
sprang out, leaving the girl to hold
the boat to the shore.
Who are you. what are you doing
here, and where do you liver de.
manded one OF the men.
My name is Dwight. | am taking
stroll, and live in Mrs. Temples cot.
tage over there" answered Richard
You're up early, Mr.. Dwight.
aren't YOU" inquired the other.
Eyes. like to get up early" said
Dwight
Been having a walk through the
woods, perhaps?" the man continued.
glancing at Dwight's coat. well, I'll
be frank with you. This cottage was
closed yesterday morning, because I
came past here and saw it. There
have been several robberies round
here of late, and last night a lady's
cottage was broken into and a gold
watch taken. With or without your
permission we are going to look for
It," He turned to a friend. Bill, you
keep him here while 60 through the
cottage" he said. Then perhaps, il
we don't find what we want, he will
consent to be searched. Don't let him
get away"
The men departed on their mission,
leaving Dwight prisoner. He
shrugged hts ehouIdera and fhruat HI.