The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-02

read you something" said he; then
he fixed his attention upon the memo.
randum book. and continued:
Nothing in the world could be
more absurd than to imagine the girl
l saw being engaged in anything Grim.
inal or even entertaining a suspicion
that she may be surrounded by a
criminal atmosphere She is young;
she Is beautiful, she is refined and
gentle; the stamp Of purity and ad.
herence to right ideals Ia unmistak.
able in her countenance. Whatever
comes of your Investigations, you will
find to be unqualifiedly true all that ]
now assert concerning her."
He methodically closed the book,
snapped the rubber band around it,
and returned 1t to his pocket, while
Jessie stared at him in blank amaze
ment.
That" Mr. Flint pursued. his eyes
crinkling In a smile, lis What Mr.. Ru.
dolph Van Vechten told me at a time
when ! honestly believed you to be a
crook"
After reciting the circumstances, no
went on:
you see, hadn't Mr.. Van vecht.
ems faith. ] had never seen you, and
appearances were all against you. I
might say, the odds were against the
correctness of his estimate-in which
case ! meant to show him these
words"
Jessie was breathing fast; her eyes
were very bright and their regard was
very steady.
And If you had been wrong?" she
asked
The creases at the corners of Mr..
Flint's eyes deepened
why, felt that he would need a
champion. and | determined to bring
the memorandum to you. You know
now, that from the very first. at least
one person has retained firm belief
in the innocence and purity of your
motives"
The two in the bay window could
see the color rush to Jessie's cheeks;
she blushed furiously.
Have you" she said falteringly,
Shown this toto him."
"IIe doesn't even know that | pos
sess such thing"
The girls eyes were dawy. Her
voice lowered
Then" said she, this is your way
Of telling me that all your doubts are
removed Thank you"
Well" returned the impressive de-
tective, that's one way o. looking at
the matter. If Mr. Rudblphs judg-
ment had been in error, ! would just
as freely have shown the reminder to
him. Here he comes now"
Van Vechten came eagerly forward
and took the girls hands into his Mr..
Flint slipped unobtrusively away.
Jessie Willard" said Van
Vechten, I'VE do not have to wait the
week: am more eager now than ever
understand everything. dearest"
Very deliberately she disengaged
ler hands, looking at him desperately
Truly" she said with an evident
effort at sarcasm You seem indeed
10 be very sure Of yourself"
He caught her hands again, and as
ner head dropped drew her toward
him.
"Sure of myself" he exclaimed.
why, God bless my soul, yes! It's
all up to you, girl. . j.. What was
hiatt"
1t was Paige Carew trying -vainly
to break loose from Tom Phinney's
ecstatic bear-ike hug Swinging her
clear from the floor and between the
curtains, they stood confronting the
gaze of the other two.
"Iooky here, Ruddy," said Tom
MIR Wizards got yacht on his
hands that he has no use for what
ever; what's the matter with the four
Of us"
"The very thing" Van Vechten de-
cisively interrupted, looking intently
at Jessie Willard Jessie averted her
gaze, and her color mounted again.
and listen here" Tom went on Gag
prly "She's all ready to put to sea-
steam's up this minute-suppies all
on board-crew's drawing pay for loaf
ing-why, Moses and green spec
tacles! it would be an outrage not to
take advantage Of such an opportuni-
ty. What do you Think"
What otherwise could Paige and
Jessie think? Here was an argu-
ment that even woman could not
successfully oppose. And so, the next
day, the Kohinur weighed anchor,
dropped down the river, and by sun
set had lost the Statue of Liberty BE-
hind her.
THE END.