The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-31

Rufus drew his thousand dollars out
Of bank. He was to meet the sup
posed thief four days later. Worth
was up and about. The brightest spot
In his experience was the knowledge
that Mae had shown great anxiety and
Interest concerning him during his
illness.
When he came to put on his clothes
Worth discovered his possessions all
right except in one PARTICULAR
small locket that had been attached
to his watch chain, was missing. 1t
had contained picture of Mae. That
was enough to him to give it an in
estimable value.
The haze began to clear away in his
mind. Dimly, at first, then more
strongly memory began to develop the
chain of circumstances, obscured until
now since he was struck down. He
was not yet strong, but he went out
into the warm sunshine, walking slow
ly, bent on reaching the spot where
he had been assaulted. Half the dis
lance progressed, his face frightened
and his pulses stirred deeply as he
saw coming towards him the woman
he loved.
Mae was overjoyed to see him con-
valescing, and told him so. She was
solicitous as to his over-exerting him
self; learned that he was bent on
some specific mission, and insisted on
acting as guard and helper.
For the first time she learned from
his lips the story of his recent mis-
hap. 1t seemed that while nearing the
spot they had now reached he had
seen light among some bushes. AS
Worth investigated, he observed a
man take from the hollow of dead
tree a box. He opened it with a
chuckle. Evidently it had been hid
den there some time before. The mo-
ment Worth caught a dazzling glitter
he guessed that they must be the
stolen diamonds.
81 don't know what possessed me-"
he told his fair companion, but some
impulse made me seize the box. ran.
There were wild shouts, and the first
man and two others just arrived.
probably to share the hidden plumber,
pursued me. Just about this rugged
spot stumbled and fell. The box flew
far from my hands. The men came
up, dealt me stunning blow and
this is the spot where it all occurred"
'They probably regained the box
and fled" theorized Mae.
Probably that" rejoined Worth.
but he began looking about the spot
aud poking in the grass with his cane.
Mae asked him what he was looking
for. She flushed quickly when he told
her that it was for the locket wrenched
from his watch chain in his fall, which
contained her picture.
Mae aided him in his search. silent
and impressed. A sudden cry from
Worth brought her to his side. Crop
ing beside a big boulder, his hand
had brushed back dense growth Of
grass and had touched-the box Of
jewels. where it had rolled the night
of his adventure!
Together they proceeded to the of.
flee of the lawyer who had advertised
the reward. 1t was to face a vast sur.
prise. There, dismayed, speechless.|
stood Rufus. He had just brought inl
the jewels he had purchased from a
scheming thief.
Paste" said the lawyer-"a fair
counterfeit, even to the initials. You
have been cleverly swindled. my
friend"
If l could only find that lost lock.
et!" said Worth, as, the reward surely
his, they left the lawyers Office.
"You value 1t SO much?"' murmured
Mae, wistfully.
He caught the expression of her
face, then her hand. And Mae did not
take it away until he had told his
love.
Copyright, 1913. by W. G. Chapman.l