The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-04-11

all. made a mistake, that's all
Big Jim heard the words only vague
". He had turned and stridden out
of the saloon and now. outside, ne
was seeing the past six years OF MS
life In review before him.
Six years before James Turner, the
eldest son of Sir Edwin, ninth baronet
and rich landed proprietor, had been
one Of the most sought-after heirs III
England. He had just come home
from the university; he was engaged
to Lady Mary Hamilton, a charming
girl and the only daughter Of his ia
theirs oldest friend, whose estates az.
Joined his own. James Turner had
never loved Lady Mary; he had drift
ed into the engagement at his fathers
wish, and thought himself happy
enough until Kitty Munroe appeared
upon the scene. Kitty was girl or
good birth in reduced circumstances;
she was Lady Mary's companion.
It was the old story Of love unhal'
lowed by the sanction Of church or
law, or Of society. When the dlscov-
cry came about Sir Edwin was furi.
Gus. He cut his son out Of his will,
except for hundred pounds, with
which to go to the devil" as he terse-
ly expressed himself. James Turner
packed his belongings and started for
Capetown He worked his way up
! the coast, and there were few frontier
! settlements in that vast land that did
not know him either by sight or else
by reputation as a brawler and a
neer-do-well.
James Turner had gone to the
devil" indeed, but Kitty Munroe had
been a, mighty factor in that event.
He had sought her everywhere before
he sailed. But the girl, cast off and
dsowned, like himself, and not wish
ing to become drag upon him, had
hidden herself from prying eyes. No
body knew what had become Of her.
| She had not become submerged, but
she had quietly effaced herself and set
herself to earn her living as wait
ress In a London restaurant. Bear
ing the indelible stigma Of her shame,
but carrying in her heart also the un-
forgotten memory of her love, she
had lived in London alone until the
lure Of Sheeley's lying advertisement
Undue ed her to venture in Balboa.
which she imagined to be a flourish
ing and settled town. Her two weeks
there had been a terrible nightmare.
But there was no refuge for her until
she had worked out the passage
money.
A year ger Jim's departure Lady
Mary had married his younger broth
er, and she now held rule over the es-
tates which should have been Jim's
Big jim stood outside, remember
ing mournfully the past. What an ass
he had made Of himself. And now,
the girl he had sought so long had
stood face 70 face with him once more,
and they had looked into each other
eyes again with shame and terror, and
yet not unforgetful Of those days Of
passion and selfsacrifice SO long ago.
a hideous tumult in the saloon be-
hind him recalled Big Jim to his sur.
roundings. A woman's scream rang
out He turned and hurried back. As
he entered the door he perceived one
of the Portuguese traders standing
with one arm round the waist of the
struggling girl. while with his free
hand he flourished an ugly-looking re-
volver and G1fied every Englishman
in the place TO take her from him.
Jim STROBE up to the man and struck
him in the face, knocking the revolver
to the floor Dominguez fell forward.
half stunned, but the trigger of the
railing weapon struck the corner Of
the counter and exploded the charge.
Big Jim felt singing sensation in
his shoulder. Next moment, with a
Wild cry, in which were contained all
the hatreds and all the despair OF the
past years, he had leaped forward
into the group of threatening Portu-
guese, knocking their knives aside
and dealing mighty blows with his
big fists. A general melee arose i'm.
mediately. Lamps were overturned.
and the struggling mob, inflamed with
drink, fought and hacked at each 9th.
er In the darkness until smolder Of
smoke and the flicker OF flames an.
nounced the end Of Sheeleys.
1t was pitch dark, save where the
lurid rays Of the burning buildinr cast
glow upon the demon-like forms that
fought and battled. All the evil ele.
ments In Balboa seemed to have
rushed to plumber and destroy. Halt.
castles, with swarthy, abominable
races, crept in among the struggling
men, reaching out for bottles of wine
and dealing stealthy blows. Big Jim
was IN the thick of it, but he no longer
knew friend from foe. He was bleed.
Ing from. three knife wounds. he was
stunned and Keeling back against a
uoor' and they were leaping at him
Ike hounds at a noble stag. Sudden.
~ the door opened behind him A soft
nand reached out and CROPPED for his.
JIM plunged forward blindly into the
darkness, and the door slammed to
behind him. "