The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-22

Jersey City with god ha hour to
spare before his train was due to
start. He sat down in a corner of
tbs wai'ing-rcC:u ard pulled out his
timetables. But. instead of porting
over them as he had intended, he gave
himself up to his thoughts.
Somehow, he could not get his land
lady's pretty daughter out of his mind.
He had tried hard to forget her, but
his thoughts always came around to
her again before long, and every now
and then he would ask himself how
she would regard him after she had
heard the news.
He glanced up at the line of people
sitting facing him on the opposite
benches. and over their heads to the
big clock on the wall. It seemed to
him that the minutes we're dragging
terribly. He was getting nervous.
He gave startled look over his
shoulder toward the entrance. He
could feel his heart humping against
his ribs. and as he looked down again
at the timetables he saw that his
hands were trembling.
And then a vision of the gray. bleak
prison came before him. He heard
the changing of the great steel doors.
the sharp orders of the keepers. He
Strengthened up with a frightened gasp
and locked about In alarm. It was
reassuring to find that no one was
watching him. But would his train
never be called?
How he wished he was safe across
the Honduran border! What a relief
it would be to feel that he need have
no fear of capture!
Again his eyes wandered about the
room, keenly observant of the crowd
this time. He glanced from one to
another of the long row of travellers
in front of him, slowly turned his gaze
to the doors where the passengers
were filing in from the ferries, and
then
"Dwyer!"
He choked back the cry that rose to
his lips and sank back in his seat.
white and trembling. Far down at
the other end Of the room was the
man he had robbed.
For a moment canyons nerve de-
serted him completely. He felt that
he was lost. that Dryer would surely
search the room until he had discov-
cred him. and that escape was i'm
possible. Probably Dryer had not
come alone. At any rate, there were
always policemen near at hand in
such place.
Dwyer came forward very leasurely.
For man on the trail of a thief who
had relieved him Of a fortune, he
seemed to be singularly unperturbed.
, He even stopped to laugh at crow.
ing baby on one Of the benches. Still,
, 1t was just like the old man never to
betray his true feelings.
} Never before had Lanyon been
, through such agonizing moments of
, suspense. He felt that the strain was
more than he could bear, that his
nerves would give way, and he would
cry out II he had to endure 1t much
longer.
At last Dryer saw him.
1--WE been looking for you. Lanyon,"
: he called. as he stepped up to the
! bench.
The old man seated himself by Lam
yon's side, and, lounging back, chewed
thoughtfully at an unlighted cigar.
Apparently. he was dividing his at
tention between the cigar and the
clock on the wall, but Lanyon knew
that the tail Of his eye was upon him
all the time. At last. he said slowly:
/ II know all about that prison rec
ord. I.anyon. Your friend Berrian has
r just given me the whole story"
"Berrian! He told you!" cried Ian.
I yon. and in that moment the remnants
Of his faith in human nature van.
3 ished.
: Eyes, he told me-" Dryer CONT
nued. "And. I've come here to let you
! know won't hold 1t up against you.
You've done good, faithful work for
me for ten years, and believe can
{ trust you.
"You weren't much more than boy
when that happened. You've learned
good deal since then. guess"
Lanyon felt as II he were in a
dream-a dream that had brought one
fleeting glimpse of hope. and then had
plunged him in despair. A mist came
into his eyes.
3 At last his hand went into his peck.
ct, and he pulled out a roll Of bills.
: "Mr. Dwyer." he said. this money
. is yours. Even though am a thief.
. couldn't rob a man that's treated
: me as you have. But. you see. you
made a mistake about wanting me
back"
: Without the'least show Of surprise.
3 Dwyer took the bills and counted them
] very slowly. Then he put them care
. fully away in his pocket
> II guess when man goes wrong
more than once there isn't one person
in hundred who'd be willing to trust
: him again." he said.
Il don't believe there u.s." Lanyon
assented. leaning forward and cover
{ ing his face with his hands.
Yv~l -