The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-11
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER II-Several persons at regu-
lar intervals enter No. 1913.
CHAPTER III-Van vechten expresses
concern to his friend, Tom Phinney, re-
garding the whereabouts of his cousin
| and fancee. Paige Carew fashionably
attil ed woman Is seen to enter the House
from the house. Van Vechten and Tom
follow the man and find him dead in the
street.
CHAPTER Iv-van vechten is attract
| ed by the face Of girl in the crowd OF
onlookers surrounding the body. Later
| he discovers the girl gazing at him with
| look of scorn from the windows Of the
mysterious house.
The young man shrugged his shout.
ders. "Sjt down." he CURLY bade, re-
Stunning the seat he had occupied ear.
lier in the day, while Mr.. Flint sank
into the one lately occupied by Tom
Phinney. IF you can make anything
Miss Jessie did not answer this
| question. 1t seemed to Tom that a
number of people had crowded into
the hall during this brief colloquy
He heard rustling of feminine
dresses and excited feminine whisper
! ings, denot!ng that at least two wom-
en- were talking nearby. Then Calls
commanded the other two of his cap
tors to hold him tight" as if they
we're not doing 80 already After this
he sensed that Calls moved away
from him, and he remained standing,
as sodden as drowned man, while
the water trickled from his clothes
and onto the floor.
! Manifestly he was being made the
subject of quite lively debate, which
came to sudden end when Calls ad-
dressed him.
Say, you, who are you? What's
your name?"
Damn you'll" leaped holly from
Toms lips. Free my hands and I'll
print it on your face, you dog!"
Here! None Of that" another
masculine voice warned sharply.
There are ladies here"
They're in deuced poor company"
snarled Tom.
Gag him." Calls briefly command
ed. Here, take this"
But there was an interruption. Tom
heard a girls voice-not Jessie's, who.
ever Jessie might be, but one infinite
ly sweeter, say: Wait" The request
was made composedly. And then
Tom fancied that the sweet voices
owner was approaching him. Next
second he was sure Of 1t.
Twill you not tell US who you are
and why you were following Mr..
Callis?"
Toms sole concern at that moment
was a profound regret that he could
not see the speaker. Her voice was
80 sweet. so soft and well-bred, that
he knew she must be beautiful.
II would be only too glad to tell
you," Tom returned. IF it would not
at the same time give sore satisfac
ton to the thugs and : crooks
who are present. Plea nlDe-
In the circumstances
There was sile a
gasp from the
1T can't be! - >-'
in whisper ,uo ...-., ,...
with aston;
It did Il - = T."
what ST.
"But j ,'':' ="
me?--, .
dage?"
No reply
further speech
ing voice. In
ton of her skirt
that signified grace .l T.
carriage; in the faint. fra
GRANGE of her presence him:
that rose to his head with the subtl,
intoXication of ether. She had lief
him.
He heard Jessie, in a subdued voice
ask: What did he say to you?
Whether or not the other girl re
sponded he did not know. The situa
ton was brought to an abrupt clos
by the man called Calls.
"Take him upstairs" that worth,
J gruffly ordered-"the front room. Yo
may take off the bandage after he's il
the dark. Tie his feet with it. An
make sure his hands are good an
fast"
He was being pushed forwar
again. He stumbled against the boz
tom step, was rudely jerked to hi
feet, and then propelled upward.
There is no use being so rough,
he heard the sweeter.voiced girl CRY
with note Of indignation. "Mr. Ca
lis, tell those men to be more gentle.
After this the ascent of the stair
was made easier. Up two flights wen
captive and captors. Presently
door was opened, and under the in
petus OF violent shove Tom wer
sprawling to the floor. The bandag
was whipped from his eyes, and hi
ankle deity bound.
The rough tumble hurt and daze
him. Dimly he heard the door shu