The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-11-03
T. e.. Luckie.
Proprietor
Building formerly occupied by Idea,
Theater.

grateful. while they looked at him
askance. wondering at his disordered
appearance.
There he sat, slowly recovering him
self and medita ting what he ought to
do. His first idea was to invoke the
police; to enter a formal complaint
and return to the car with a posse of
constabIes. But as he thought it over
the wisdom of this course grew less
apparent. His story was not likely to
be believed; indeed. his cunning foes
might turn the tables on him and in
vent a complaint of their own, with
him as the culprit. 1t might resolve
itself into his word against theirs-the
word of people in a private car against
that of a lunatic prating of 100000
and of a stolen ruby ring worth for
tune Thus analysed his case was
ridiculous-a fantasy.
He FASTENED home in some trepida
ton and only felt safe when he had
snuggled into bed.
The next day there was note from
Chris. brought by messenger:
You Dear You'll was so foolish of me
to be i'll and spoil everything, though L
got so cross at your being turned away
that l improved instantly and ate whole
plate of calfS foot jelly. This is to ask
you to come and share some more with
me on a sofa, and call it an invitation to
lunch. Papa is going to New York on
business. and we can be all by ourselves,
and I'm awfully glad and excited, though
suppose l oughtn't to tell you so-or ask
you at all, for that matter But come
"a
should get your beautiful wavy hair all
covered with plaster. Twelve-thirty, please.
and don't think I've changed. because L
haven't, and all last night l was thinking
and-I am awfully. deliriously happy, ana
somehow it is your fault, and l just lie
back and shut my eyes-and If you are
minute late / shall hate you. CHRIS
1t would be impossible to describe
the heartrending effect of this letter
on Matt When his debts were PAID
he would have exactly SIP left in the
whole world. True, many man had
succeeded with as little-with less
but that took time-years-and Matt
had no years to spare. The only thing
he could look to. the only thing that
offered him a living was the sea.
He went out to search for the prl-
vate car. impelled by forlorn hope
of regaining his ring. Somehow. per
haps. this might happen. Seen in the
retrospect. Mr.. Kay appeared to be his
friend. At any rate. Kay had defend
ed him and held the door against his
enemies. Mr.. Kay might be terrified
or persuaded into returning the ring.
Matt stopped at a pawnbroker's and
bought a cheap revolver for So; stop
ped at a hardware store and bought
ten .3S cartridges for % cents: loitered
under a tree and surreptitiOusly shov-
ed six of them into the chamber and
then went on with his right hand peck
ct bullying.
He was ready for anything-was cool
and determined. But there was no
private car to be found. He searched
the entire yard and questioned every
one. but the private car had vanished.
Nobody knew anything about a prt
vate car-nOthing.
Matt idled about till it was time to
start for Fair Oaks. Idled and smoked
pipe after pipe and wished he had
never bought that COMPOUNDED revolver
which weighed down his pocket like a
brick. He walked all the way to save
the hire of q carriage and waited again
at the entrance to the grounds to time
his arrival exactly for half past -.
She had said she would hate him if
he arrived n minute late. So, watch in
hand. he dilly dallied until he could
make his appearance with the preci-
sion of Monte CriSto.
Miss MarShall?'
"Oh, yes, sir! This way, please"
tContinLed Tomorrow