The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-04
HIDDEN HOUSE
BY CLARISSA MAckIE

out IN Dig steal. Tie uOIlS llIut dlu
now he is out What is he going to
do with the rest of his life? Bring me
the story-and you'll get yours, seer"
The chief smiled ard Jack hustled
away to catch the first train for re-
mote Long Island village. where it
was said Roberts was in hiding.
At Sandyways Jack guardedly ques-
toned the host of the solitary hotel.
He reasoned that Lawson Roberts
would seek sanctuary under an as
sumed name.
MANY strangers in town." repeated
the hotel man, thoughtfully nibbling
a toothpick. Cant say as there are
all the boarders have gone. l reckon
you're an agent of some kind-maybe
selling books?"
Jack smiled evasively.
'Ill bet there's one old party you
couldn't sell book to-not if you was
to take off 80 per cent Of the price"
went on the man.
"Who is he?"
Names Robin son-taken the old
Hidden house-used to be Judge Hid
dens place. Celia Hidden married
Lawson Roberts, the politician; he's
in prison now for crooked dealing.
His wife died ten years ago and the
place belongs to the daughter. It's
never been rented until recently. when
Mrs. Hester Bird rented it. No one
ever heard of her before; and now
her brother, old man Robinson. and
his daughter have arrived. And
they're all as close-mouthed and up
pish as can be; as If Sandyways folks
weren't good enough for them. And
stingy-whew!
well, you're not very encouraging,
responded Jack with bored air as he
moved away. But when he was out
Of sight his pace quickened The
first urchin he met directed him to
Hidden house on the outskirts of the
village.
He approached the side entrance to
the gloomy old house, passing small,
! rustic summerhouse smothered in
woodbine.
| Halt" said determined voice.
Jack halted to confront a wicked
! looking shotgun leveled by a sweet
faced, wide-eyed girl boyishly attired
in short khaki skirt and blouse. with
high-laced tan boots on her pretty
feet
His hat came off and his look of
inquiry was mingled with sincere ad
miration.
Perhaps you didn't observe the NC
Trespassing signs" she remarked
coolly.
/ II didn't" he honestly confessed.
''They are plainly to be seem" she
said significantly. You can read then
as you pass out"
THANK you-but l want to see some
one"
"Who are you looking for?" sht
asked sharply.
"Mr-Roberts," he hazarded.
Her face paled and desperate lool
came into the sweet eyes that SHOULD
never have been troubled by sorrow.
You mean Mr.. ROBINSON" sh'
asked.
81 mean Lawson Roberts," he said
feeling like brute.
The gun dropped suddenly as II he
strength had failed her.
81 might have known It! You wan
to interview him, l suppose? He hal
paid the price of his sin-let hin
alone!" she cried passionately.
"My-my paper he stammered
abashed at her emotion.
"Your paper!" she mimicked. "Wha
is 1t to your paper what my fathe
does now that justice has been salts
fed? No one would listen to hin
when he protested his innocence II
those old days" How scornfully sh
looked at him!
Hardly that" he said brusquely
He looked sharply down the path. Tn
fully down the walk.
"He Is like a child" she said tremu
lousy. "He has been shut away froI
the world so long, and now everythin
, is strange to him. will not have hir
bounded by curiosity seekers! / vii
. kill the first man who tries to intel
view him!" She ended in a fierc
, outburst that was strangely unlik
her gentle personality.
81 will go, Miss Roberts" he sal
slowly. Some day I'm coming bac
| again, not as reporter to interview
, your father, but as a friend to hel
prove his innocence!"
2 "Ah, thank you-but stay now an
hear his story of the guilty man" sh
cried eagerly.
| He shook his head. Il must thro'
! up my present job before l can tackl
| another one," he smiled and wen
away.
Afterward, when great crimint
, lawyer took up the Roberts case an
. proved the innocence of the old maj
all credit was given to Jack Shirle
. for his strenuous efforts in the cas-,
and when Jack married Celia Robert
people said he had his great reward
The editor of the Chronicle mu
, tered maledictions on womankind |
general and pretty girls in particula
Il wondered what queered thu
Roberts assignment" he frowned. q
was the girl in the easel"
copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Newsps
per Syndicate)
3 The Idea.
What's a philanthropist pa?"
J. He's a variety Of things, my so,