The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-06-01
SHORTEST Way HOME
BY KATHERINE HOPSON.

We're sorry to lose you, Stewart,
but don't blame you for going. It's
good cAance-better than we can Of
fer you here, perhaps for years"
Mr.. Denham, managing editor of the
Recorder, shook hands with Dick Stew
art cordially. The younger man, aft
er thanking him, passed out OF the
Office with a little glow OF pride and
happiness.
"Old Denham's mighty good sort,
and he's right I'm lucky chap to
get the place." he mused as he left
the private office. The outer office,
which had been well occupied when
Stewart passed for his interview with
Mr.. Denham, was now practically de-
serted. The men had gone to MI
their assignments-except Fred Da-
Wis. He was clicking away at his
typewriter
Good luck to you," he said, look
ing up with his keen. peculiar smile.
Stewart left the office to fill his
last assignment before taking his new
position. He was sent to cover the
suburban territory of Rockbridge, and
departed with more than usual alac-
! rty. Margaret Wheaton's path lay
in the same direction today.
| When she came six months ago to
fill the position Of society reporter
for the Office, he had fallen in love
with her big brown eyes, her kindli-
ness, her spontaneous gayety, and the
general dearness of her. But he rec
ognized the fact that Fred Davis
! also had fallen victim to her charms.
NO wonder he congratulated me SO
heartily on my new job; for 1t leaves
the way clear for him. Stewart
thought with a cynicism foreign to
him.
Well, at last have man-size JOB,
and am justified In speaking to Mar,
garet-"
He Quickened his steps toward the
interurban station, and was SO occu-
pied that he failed to notice a tall,
slender. keen-eyed man dodge into the
waiting room, and then watch to see
which car he-Stewart-entered be
fore getting on himself and entering
the smoker. Nor did he see him re-
peat the same watchful perform.
ance before they both alighted al
Rockbridge.
Stewart hastily covered his own ter
ritory, then hastened to the church
where the Patton-Whitney wedding
had just taken place, the reporting OF
which was Margaret's object in com
ing to Rockbridge. She had come
down on an earlier car, and Stewart
had timed himself SO that he might
arrive or the scene when she was fin
ished with her work. Then he coult
return to town with her.
He found reporters from other pa
pers there and stood few moments
in the fragrant flower decorated
church in which strains Of the wed
ding music seemed still to linger.
Margaret was not there and ht
made inquiries. Some one told hin
she had just gone; but whether t
the station or to the Whitney home
where the reception was to be. hi
couldn't say. Stewart looked at hi'
watch.
There won't be another car TO
three-quarters of an hour yet
guess she's gone to the house"
Accordingly he made his way to tn,
place in question. 1t was one of thu
largest, most pretentious homes II
the suburb Many persons In wed
ding attire we're streaming to tn
reception when he reached the house
and he made his way through thu
guests and onlookers with which tn
walk was lined. From one Of the care
takers he learned that Margaret ha'
been there. BY announcing himself a
a representative of the Recorder b.
gained entrance. Everybody excep
the girl he was looking for scenes
to be there, and the most carefu
search failed to reveal her.
Say, how many people does you
paper send out to write up these &c
cial affairs!' asked one of the guest
whom he knew.
"One-usually. WhyT
We'll, you're the third this after
noon who has presented himself 1
that capacity. believe the first on
was a her." laughed the man.
Miss Wheaton. of course, our res
ular society reporter. But don
] know any other from our Office VIII
| would be here"
"Oh, he was a tall, slim chap, wit
shifty dark eyes"
The description fits Davis, but b
was sitting In the office when l left
Stewart rapidly retraced his step
to the station, and found to his ch;
grin that in his search he had not a
lowed himself enough margin to cate
the next car, and missed it by abou
three minutes. He could see 1t di
appearing In the distance.
/ Yes Miss Wheaton got on th