The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-20
BY
LLOYD OSBOURNE

Matt shook his head
1T is here" he said, laying his hand
to lii, heart II don't know what's the
matter with me; but I'm tired Of 1t all;
home>rk. perhaps. dissatisfied. de.
pressed
And you are determined to leave
me-"
DO not repr"lrh me. sir told You
this before my last trip. not wishing
to take you unaWare>.
I'm sorry" said John Mort With
emotion Sorry for myself at losing
one | liked and admire, who for six
years has always been so faithful, SO
loyal Sorry, too, for YOU, my friend
that you should choose to 20 back
among strangers back to that ac-
cursed civilization where none fares 81
we'll rs the greedy and unprinripled
Is 1t that you prefer? SO. is it that
for which you will surrender this ??
Mort raised his hand to the tropic
moon What choice" he muir,
INJURED What a choice"
1T is an impulse stronger than
am" returned Matt after a silence
After all, am a white man, and
those are my people. Have you never
felt that sudden longing to get back
that overpowering, irresistible, unrea
sOning -longing?"
NO retorted John Mort savagely.
mo, no. no, To me it is a hell have
left forever"
Il wonder at myself said Matt.
There is not a soul in the world | re.
Spet more, admire more-yes. love
than ! do YOU. Yet | am going.
John Morris eyes glistened, and he
put out his hand. which the other
grasped.
well. so be it," he said.
Then, may | sail tonight with land
breeze"
Yes, you may sail"
"And my accounts, my vouchers, and
all that? You ought to pass them, sir.
as well as arrange about the North
Stars return. Pardon my insistence.
but you have put it off and Off
What amount have you In the ships
safe?"
Nearly $500, sir, in French, English
and American gold. besides the chest
Of Chile silver"
MY friend, it is yours, and the
schooner also, it is yours. 1t is small
enough return for such loyal service
All, indeed, much too small, and | will
increase 1t with this AS he spoke
he drew from his finger superb ruby
ring and forced it on Matt. whose
stammering words of thanks were cut
brusquely short.
There's another matter much more
pressing" he exclaimed "a pledge to
be given and by you sacredy kept
and
But. sir, how will you manage with
out vessel" eNpostulated Matt, alto.
gcther hewildered. You can not al
low yourself to be marooned here-ut.
terly cut off from all
"Oh. fear not that. We are self
sustaining now, and besides in con.
pie or years look forward confidently
FOR your return. Isolation has no ter.
rors for me-rather charm, pictur.
esqueness and a greater sense Of Sc.
curity"
John Mort paused on the last word,
peering strangely at his companion.
DO you realize, Broughton." he con
inued at last, that during our six
years close association. intimacy. Won
have never asked me a question; that
you have never betrayed the least In
quisitiveness; that you have seen me-
draw forth whole packets of Bank Of
England notes, often thousands and
thousands Of pounds, and never once
have you disturbed me by even a
look?"
Your private Affairs were none NJ
my business, sir. have always made
1t point OF honor to keep my curl.
osity to myself"
And even now, when You are going
away, perhaps forever. with tbo r,,n
still unsolved. are you not tempted 70
ask"
well, suppose it's just this. sir. !,
you wished me to know you would tell
me-"
John Mort unused as though. indoas
be were very near to making coma.
dant OF bis companion. The smell q,
the moon, the beauty and stiffness q,