The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-10

| oA6ly.
AS for the man, he stared back at
her with increasing surprise. One
does not expect to find on the roof of a
studio building at eight p. m. beau
tiful girl, clad in silk and velvet and
furs, with golden hair tumbling from
under an ermine turban and a sofa
pillow clutched toiher breast.
II am Miss Colson," said Leone
coolly. II was locked in my brother s
studio and didn't want to wait-so |
jumped down here"
The man glanced up at the open
window in Jim Colson's workshop.
you jumped from there?" he asked
incredulously, and as she nodded, he
added quickly: you are hurt-wait a
moment and will fetch you cup of
coffee-then, perhaps you will let me
carry you downstairs"
At the kindness /: his altered tone
Leone promptly sat down on the sofa
pillow and sobbed while her rescuer
disappeared.
II hope you will pardon my rude
ness he said when she had finished
the cup of hot coffee and could smile
| at him; but, you see, when chaps
up against 1.-THE lost egg and the end
of the loaf mean a whole lot. Oh,
there'll be plenty more tomorrow" he
went on hastily as pitiful little cry
escaped her. only it was inconvenient,
you know. I'll run out and get bite
to eat by and by
Leone smiled again, but wave Of
pity swept over her heart for she felt
very sure that his light tone covered
heavy heartedness and that he would
go to bed supperless now that she had
ruined his omelet.
But there was nothing she could say
or do to mitigate the circumstances;
although the gold mesh bag was
crammed with money, she could not
offer it to this perfectly fierce looking
man whose supper she had spoiled.
Leone would not let him carry her
down stairs, but she leaned on his
arm, and as they made slow progress
down four flights Of stairs to the street
he told her something about himself.
1t seemed that he was an illustrator;
he had turned out some fair stuff, he
told her modestly, but progress had
been slow. While he was awaiting the
payment for some magazine sketches
he was illustrating advertisements.
Shocking, isn't it," he laughed.
II think it's splendid" cried Leone.
"Why. always look at the advertis-
Ing sections Of the magazines the very
first thing"
Il am encouraged" he cried almost
gaily; some Of them pay very we'll
but you know, 1t isn't the sort of stuff
I really want to turn out"
"Of course not" agreed Leone 80
berly.
They became better acquainted as
the moments flew while they waited
for the taxicab summoned by the art
list. He told Leone that his name was
Loomis-Carl Loomis-and she was
startled at the vague familiarity Of it.
or course he was one of Jims friends.
II am sure that have heard my
brother Jim mention your name," she
told him.
Very likely. We were classmates"
Leone blushed holly because Of the
thrill OF delight she felt. II he was
one of Jim's friends, she would meet
him again.
The taxicab came and Mr.. Loomis
tucked Leone inside, handed her the
gold bag, held her hand In his biz one
for brief instant, and then watched
the machine bear her from his visit
full sight.
In the Colson mansion. James Col.
son, Jr., was plunging into his over.
coat in remorseful search for his pref
ty sister. He had entirely forgotten
his dinner engagement with Leone un-
til long after the appointed time; then
he had arrived home to discover that
no one had seen Leone and no one
knew where she was.
When Leone came limplng into the
house it was to fall into Jim's arms.
In the warm library, where her father
and mother had taken anxious refuge
Turing Jim's absence, Leone told her
story and tossed the sofa
pillow at her brother.
"Loomis-Carl LOOMS? Well Il
should say did know him. Best chan
n the world Didn't ever tell you
about the agreement he made with his
ather? You know old Loomis is roll.
ng in money-could buy the governor
ut several times, couldn't he, sir?"
yrinned Jim.
Mr. Colson smiled indulgently and
passed hand over Leone's bright
lair
is he the youngster who wanted to
'e an artist and his father told him II
'e could support himself for one year
y his pen and brush he would settle
hundred thousand dollars on him and
end him abroad to study?"
That's Carl Loomis," exclaimed
i'm, He told me the other day that
he year would be up next week-said
e had been on the ragged edge of
tarvation half the time, but he had
iorried through. Carl said he'd been
ooking for himself when funds were