The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-14

look as much |
travelled as the
other one. Take it easy going up.
The grounds muddy and treacher-
GUS"
He closed the door and settled back,
looking down at the face upturned to
his. She looked very young and child
like asleep. He had never seen her
asleep before, and vaguely it troubled
him.
Florence stirred and opened her
eyes, as the machine dragged heav-
lily over the uneven ground. She look
ed feverish.
Dear, darling old treasure girl"
murmured Dick, gathering her into his
arms by main force. I'm awfully
sorry. but don't you see once we'd
started, we couldn't go back? You
would be the first one to rebel at fail
ure now"
Lights ahead, sir" called De
Veaux. 1T Is re hotel in 20 dis
tance.'
dick, we mustn't They're sure to
catch US II we stop over night. !
don't mind sleeping this way, truly !
don't"
Dick smothered her protests in his
own way until they drew up before
the little mountain hotel. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY open. He had been half afraid
they would find 1t boarded up for the
winter. He lifted Florence out In
her long fur cloak, and carried her
up to the veranda where 1t was dry.
Inside the long, quiet hall 1t was alb
solutely silent except for the slow
ticking of hall clock on the wall.
A log fire smoldered in the gray rock
fireplace. In an armchair before 1t
dozed the proprietor, his spectacles
pushed back on his forehead, and q
black and white kitten curled up on
his knee. But Dick never noticed
tkSm. He looked at the two figures
seated at the long, narrow table In
tho little adjoining dining room. They
were Rollingson Robh and old Colonel
Damer. De Voux had said there were
tire tracks In the roadway before the
old inn.
Florence had seen them at the
same instant. and they must surely
have heard the machine, she thought
standing back in the shadows near the
door. All her fatigue and WEAKNESS
seemed to drop OF like magic. She
had her hand on the door knob with
a, wild impulse to get away without
being seen, but the colonel had discov
cred her. He said something to Robb
and came out into the hall.
ITS all right, Rathburn," he told
the startled proprietor. These arr
the people we were looking for. Flor
RE, will you just step into the par
lor there, and close the door. like 6
, good child?'
But Florence never stirred from thu
side Of the tall, boyish figure in the
long coat. Instead. she slipped bel
: hand in his, and waited.
80" said the colonel thoughtfully
t You have made progress In disobe
. dience." He turned to Dick. "W'
/. have a warrant out for you, sir. Mr.
i. Robb here has been sworn In as dep
uty sheriff, and Is ready to serve
. It"
l I'm nineteen, dad" Florence brok'
I in.
What's your object, colonel, in al
. this?" asked Dick suddenly. you've
been down on me ever since l CAM
! home from South America last spring
and told you wanted to marry Flor
! RE. II you'd been halfway decent t
US we'd never have gone away.
!. can take good care of her"
II believe Mr.. Robb has a prio
" claim" said the colonel dryly. HI
!, has had my full consent to marry m,
daughter for two years"
: I'm mighty sorry, colonel, you fee
that way about it. We never though
/ of this trip until Florrie told me tina
b you and Mr.. Robb here were makin'
preparations gradually for the wed
U ding"
You're an unmitigated youn1
d scamp sputtered Robb, digging dow
In an inside pocket after the warrant
s Colonel, will you telephone to tn
t nearest town for their local shel
u iff?"
Just minute" said Dick. Il hav
Q paper here that beats that one
8 Hobb. Take off your gloves, grille
r and show dad the nice, new, shin
k ring" He spread the white marriag
certificate out on the old table.
e by George, the boys right" null
9 INJURED the colonel, after minute
S inspection of the paper. Robinson
o your warrants got its back broke
t. You can't arrest man for runnin
away with his wife"