The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-25

out avail Now he mad come to me,
believing that his presence in the dis
trict would cause Thorpe to remain
in concealment.
Twice Thorpe has been seen in the
last week-once in a range of hills
near the coast, once running out In
the lake in his launch but at q distance
and speeding to cover when hailed.
These facts ] verified within a few
hours after my arrival at Clyde.
Dacre had searched the hills in vain.
l wasted no time in that direction. 1t
was the man who had seen Thorpe in
the launch to whom l paid the most
attention. He was a fisherman and
he was positive of his Identification
of the man | was after
You see," he observed to me,
there are one or two charges
against Thorpe for violating the
game laws. and of course he is under
cover to evade arrest With a steam
craft. though, you can make up your
mind he won't take much to over
country rambling
That looks reasonable" l acceded.
Where did he disappear to when you
hailed him the other day?''
Between Point of Rocks and the
Pay. as we call it. There's a mile
stretch Somewhere along there he
disappeared Cave or secret path
up those steep cliffs, | don't know
but when | ran in shore there was nc
sign of either craft or man."
You are sure it was Thorpe?"
"Humph. | guess so. That yellow
sweater and red fez of his are not tc
be mistaken" was the confident re
ply.
secured a small row boat an(
spent the better part of two succeed
ing days on the lake. / particularly
lowered about the points of location
designated
1t was late in the afternoon and
was midway between Point of Rock
and the Bay, when | saw light gaso
line launch making from the open wa
ter for shore. ] saw, too the man II
charge-yellow sweater, red fez.
was on my way to Clyde. for the SIX
had become overcast and a sudde
stiff breeze threatened.
My man Reuben Thorpe, sure 4
fate," | breathed.
steadied the yawl as best I coult
The little launch was headed 70
shore straight as an arrow. ! sa
spellbound II was curdling. At flu
speed it seemed to crash into grea
mass of grim gray rock and-disal
pear,
Particularly had | noticed a prom
nent challiy line in the rock direct
where the launch had vanished.
doubted not that | could keep it
sight and took up my oars to sta
direct for the spot I was off in m
calculations A tempest of win
drove one oar from my grasp. TT
same fierce source drove me Ian
wards with Incredible rapidity.
As neared the frowning wall
rock, I prepared to jump to evat
being dashed against it. To my l
finite amazement the yawl dove into
soft, yielding surface.
It was a canvas curtain painted
resemble rocky surface on its OF
side and the deception discoverab
! only at close contact!
Just beyond this masked entran'
| was a cavelike apartment. The
> Thorpe and his stepdaughter h;
found refuge. I fingered unsuspect'
until I learned the situation. TT
poor girl was pining for her love
but her stepfather was arranging
90 far off to some isolated spot wi
the morrow His great contenti'
seemed to be that her sutton was t
. high above her to mean really to W
her.
But of that he was convinced. VIII
later that night I sent for my ellie
and led him to the cave.
= What came of it all? Happine
q complete. Dacre gave up socie
time-serving friends, hollow plans
fame In a quiet hamlet he built
- pretty home. Thorpe was welcol
there, and as time went on some
the roughness left his rugged natu
and he became a really presental
member of the contented group
three.