The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-25
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me-"
'"Those men, she said In a way that
made him writhe.
"Wait until think. l must think"
Perhaps in the morning we can see
a way out"
THAT'S it" He nodded. "You 20 to
bed and I'll think. I'm trying to think
now, but this heat is suffocating me
and my head is tired"
Despite the breathless oppression of
the night. she shivered ~ never can
meet them now, and l don't see how
you will dare to. knowing that you
We're wrong"
Don't" he pleaded. "The other was
bad enough, but this Tell me what
to do"
II can't. don't know myself All
l can see Is that those men will never
cease to believe. no matter what you
tell them"
As she prepared for bed an hour later
she heard him still stirring about in
his quarters, but afterward she did
not detect his cautious footsteps when
he stole out Of his chamber, closing the
door softly behind him.
Kirk was reused from a heavy,
senseless slumber the next morning by
vigorous rapping at his door, He
opened the door and Runnels rushed
In.
"Where did you 60 after I left you
last night?"
81 came here, of COURSE" AS the
memory of the previous night swept
over Kirk he scowled.
'.Did you stay here?"
mo. went out again, and was out
nearly all night trying to walk 1t off"
Runnels' face blanched, and he drew
back
"Then, of course. you know"
"What?"
"About Cortlandt. He's deadv'
Dead? When? Where? How did 1t
happen?"
Nobody knows just how. He was
found on the sea wall near Alfarez's
house, shot,"
"Shot! Good Lord"
ibid you see Cortlandt again after l
left you?" Runnels swallowed hard
Kirk whirled about and faced him.
"Great heavens! No! See here, that
idea is ridiculousv'
Runnels sank weakly into chair
and mopped his face. when you
said you'd gone out again it knocked
me fiat, understands"
II can prove where was, for Allan
was with me- couldn't sleep, so l
tried to walk off my excitement. No,
no; couldn't do thing like that!
thought last night that l could, butt
couldn't really"
"I'm afraid Wade will tell all about
the party if we don't stop him."
"Then we'd better hunt him up"
Kirk resumed his dressing. while Run
nels consulted his watch.
mo. 5 is due in twenty minutes.
Well probably find him at the office"
Together they FASTENED to the rail
road building. Runnels telling all he
knew of the tragedy as they went
along. Cortandts body, it seemed. had
been found about daylight by Spig-
goty policeman. who had identified it.
Becoming panic stricken at the impor-
lance of his discovery. he had sounded
the ALARM then reported directly to the
governor, whose house was close by.
The whole city was alive with the
news. The police were buzzing like
bees Rumors of suicide, murder. rob-
berry. were about, but no one seemed
to know anything definite.
1T was suicide" Kirk averred. with
conviction. THE man was insane last
night. and that accounts for what he
said about me. He's been sick for
long time"
IF those boys will only keep their
mouths shut" Runnels said anxiously. |
There's no telling what these Spig-
goties might do if they heard about
that row."
"Cortlandt was an American"
"But 1t happened in Panama, and 1t
would be their affair"
Although it was Sunday. the four
young fellows who had taken part in
the entertainment on the night before
had gathered in the office and at the
appearance of Runnels greeted him
eagerly. Toward Kirk, however, they
a disheartening constraint.
The acting superintendent began to
caution them tersely.
ITS bad business" said Runnels,
"and it's something l for one don't
want to be mixed up in. I've heard
rumors already about some sort of
quarrel at our party, so I'm afraid you
fellows have been talking"
Wade acknowledged it recklessly
yes. I'll answer for my part, and I'm
not going to make any promise Of Sc
crecy either"
Into the office behind them came Ra-