The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-04-06
Way HOME
BY KATHERINE HOPSON.

We're sorry to lose you, Stewart
but don't blame you for going It's /;
good clAance-better than we can of
fer you here, perhaps for years"
Mr.. Denham, managing editor Of the
Recorder, shook hands with Dick Stew
art cordially. The younger man, aft
or thanking him, passed out Of the
office with little glow Of pride and
happiness
odd Denham's a mighty good sort
and he's right I'm q lucky chap to
get the place." he mused as he left
the private office. The outer office
which had been well occupied when
Stewart paused for hts interview with
MI. Denham. was now practically de-
serted. The men had gone to AL
their assignments-except Fred Da-
Wis. He was clicking away at his
typewriter.
Good luck to you.' he said. look
Ing up with his keen, peculiar smile.
Stewart left the office to fill his
last assignment before taking his new
position. He was sent to cover the
suburban territory Of Rockbridge, and
departed with more than usual alac-
rtty. Margaret Wheaton's path lay
in the same direction today.
When she came six months ago to
fill the position of society reporter
for the office, he had fallen in love
with her big brown eyes, her kindli-
ness, her spontaneous gayety, and the
general dearness of her. But he rec
ognized the fact that Fred Davis
also had fallen victim to her charms.
NO wonder he congratulated me so
heartily on my new job; for it leaves
the way clear for him." Stewart
thought with a cynicism foreign to
him.
Well, at last have man-size job,
and ! am justified in speaking to Mar
garet."
He Quickened his steps toward the
interurban station, and was so occu-
pied that he failed to notice a tall,
keen-eyed man dodge into the
room, and then watch to see
which car Observation-Disclosures be-
Tore getting on himself and entering
the smoker. Nor did he see him re-
peat the same watchful perform
ance before they both alighted at
Rockbridge.
Stewart hastily covered his own ter
1tory, then fastened to the church
where the Patton-Whitney wedding
lad just taken place, the reporting of
which was Margaret's object in COM
ng to Rockbridge She had come
Town on an earlier car, and Stewart |
lad timed himself so that he might |
lrrive on the scene when she was fin
shed with her work. Then he could
eturn to town with her.
He found reporters from other pa
'ers there and stood few moments
n the fragrant flower decorated
hurch In which strains of the we'd
ing music seemed still to linger.
Margaret was not there and he
nade inquiries. Some one told him
he had just gone; but whether to
ne station or to the Whitney home
here the reception was to be, he
ouldn't say. Stewart looked at his
latch.
There won't be another car for
lree- Quarters OF an hour yet. l
uess she's gone to the house."
Accordingly he made his way to the
lace in question. 1t was one OF the
lrgest, most pretentious homes in
le suburb. Many persons in we'd
Ing attire were streaming to the
sception when he reached the house,
I'D he made his way through the
lests and onlookers with which the
ak was lined. From one OF the care
'kers he learned that Margaret had
zen there. BY announcing himself as
representative of the Recorder he
lined entrance. Everybody except
70 girl he was looking for seemed
be there, and the most careful
arch failed to reveal her.
Say, how many people does your
per send out to write up these so.
al affairs? asked one of the guests
hom he knew.
"One-usually. Why?"
We'll, you're the third this after
on who has presented himself Ia
at capacity. ! believe the first one
IS her." laughed the man.
Miss Wheaton, of course. our reg :
ar society reporter But | don't
ow any other from our office who
,uld be here" 9
oh, he was a tall, slim chap. with =
fifty dark eyes" +.
The description fits Davis, but he :
% sitting In the office when | left" :,
Stewart rapidly retraced his stems y
the station, and found to his cha =
n that In his search he had not al. 81
we'd himself enough margin to catch y
next car, and missed it by about =
'ee minutes. He could see 1t dis 8
pearing In the distance. -
Yes, Miss Wheaton got on the
:" drawled the station agent In an u
er to the question. a.