The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-02

Wis. II cant SnOut. W6ut .
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of girl on
the table beside my bed. viii you
get it for me?"
"Of course l WILL" said Hanson
cheerily. Now, you lie still. Davis,
and I'll be back as soon as possible"
God bless you!" Davis muttered.
grasping Hanson's hands between his
own.
Hanson hurried away upon his mis-
sion. Davis shack was only a short
distance, but the way to it was a
stiff climb among the crags and loose
boulders which strewed the slope, and
in that fog it would take the better
part Of an hour to go there and return.
Hanson did not spare himself The
fog was still dense, and 1t was almost
by instinct that he picked his way
among the crevasses until he saw the
outlines of Davis shack loom indis-
tinctly before him. Then he entered.
Upon the little table was the pho
tograph of a beautiful English girl.
evidently Davis sweetheart. The
tears rushed into Hanson's eyes. What
a fate! What a fate! Better his own,
a thousand times!
He took the photograph and start
ed back. Although he had stayed
only few minutes inside the cabin,
the fog was lifting, and the stars that
appeared through the rift in the clouds
gave promise Of brilliant night. The
return was therefore easier than the
start. Hanson hurried through the
pines, leaping from rock to rock. all
his efforts bent upon returning to his
shack before Davis lapsed into the
final unconsciousness.
Already he had assembled the last
elevation and could see the cabin in
the distance when a shout beneath
him sent him upon his face in instinct
i've alarm. Then other shouts fol-
lowed, and Hanson perceived half a
dozen men spring up from the under
brush and surround the cabin.
Come out, Hart" yelled the leader.
the sheriff, evidently, big man wear
ing brace Of revolvers in his belt.
We've got you fair, Hart, and you'd
best come out and not make any trou-
BILE for u.s.
There was no sound within the
cabin.
Hanson, then, If you like that name
better" the sheriff continued. Come
along. boy, or we'll burst in the door
for you. Which is it to be-"
There was not the slightest re-
Spouse within. A moment of silence
followed. Then the sheriff applied
his shoulder to the flimsy door.
1t cracked and splintered, yielding SO
suddenly that 1t precipitated him sud-
denly upon his face inside.
Come along, boys, here he is,"
yelled the sheriff in triumph, and
sprang to his feet. followed by the
whole half dozen Of his assistants.
Hanson. covering among the rocks,
heard their shouts of surprise. Then
followed period Of silence, intermin.
ably long to the crouching man, but
in reality of only few seconds du.
ration. The men came trooping out
again.
Dead for ducat!" the sheriff NUT.
tered. Poor devil! It's mean way
to die. amt 1t, boys!"
They came slowly toward the spot
where Hanson lay.
We'll. boys" the sheriff said. there
amt nothing to be done. l guess. OK.
cept to bury him. We've identified
Hanson, or Hart, for sure from his
photograph, and we'll get the reward.
We can't keep him above ground until
the detectives come from the East to
identify him themselves"
That's right, Jim," answered one
Of the men.
Then let's finish the job" said the
sheriff, hating Il saw a spade out
side the shack. There's no use com.
ing back again from San Antonio"
The two men went back slowly, fol.
lowed by the rest. They almost
brushed against the rock behind which
Hanson Fay concealed. As the sheriff
passed. Hanson recognized him. He
was man from San Antonio. five
miles over the mountain, q village into
which Hanson had sometimes gone for
provisions, taking a short cut through
the hills. San Antonio did not COM
prise part Of the secluded valley be-
low. The news Of the fugitive's death
would be flashed across the continent
long before it filtered into the isolated
community among which Myra
dwelled.
1t was more than IN hour before
the party returned. They passed ST.
lently and went upon their way. Then
Hanson arose and ran toward the
cabin. Outside, where there was a
small space Of deep soil among the
rocks. was a newly-made grave The
cabin was empty.
It seemed incredible to Hanson that
his friend lay there, buried from sight
until the judgment day. His footprints
were still upon the turf: there was
the chair in which he had sat, and
the impress Of his body upon the bed
And in his hand Hanson still held the
photograph.
STOPPING down he threw some spade
fuls Of earth aside and placed the pho.
| tOgraph, face downward. above the