The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-19

striving to define what impulse was
stirring the witless Margaret.
Never mind. I'll tell you when I
come back" replied the woman with Q
sly laugh. and she darted away.
Neva was on her feet In an instant.
She was greatly alarmed. She made
out the object of her anxiety disap-
pearing through a hedge and ran in
rapid pursuit of her.
Margaret darted through a row of
hlacs fringing the rear OF the Man
Vile place. Neva halted, hesitating
and undecided. She shrank from
meeting Fortfa Manviiie. The very
name caused a great pang of pain at
her heart. Then. recalling some VIC
lent escapdes Of the mad woman, she
ran on again. As she peered through
the liiacs Neva witnessed a startling
scene preceded by a wild shrek.
Mad Margaret had come up softly
behind Portia Manville. Just now
she stood grasping in one hand the
long luxuriant braids Of hair. In the
other she waved the keen glitterine
scissors threateningly.
Don't you cry out again." her voice
sounded harshly, because II you do l
will stab-stab!"
"What-what do you want?" fal.
tered the frightened and trembling
Portia. shrinking in dread from the
brandished weapon.
Il am going to cut of your hair
declared Margaret determinedly. "It's
so beautiful. Besides that. I've got
to have it. Little Nellie wants it. and
I must always get anything for her
that she wants"
Portia dared not stir. Her heart
sank at sense of her certain help
lessness. She sickened at the thought
OF chance mar from those glitterine
scissors on that faultless face. Tc
be shorn of her chief glory. those long
silken tresses, was to bid adieu to a
marvellous adjunct to her rare beauty
See, Margaret" she faltered. "the
pretty brooch I wear-or l will go tc
the house and get you some money
Please don't cut off my hair"
Take care! take care!" warned her
captor, you're stirring. I've got t.
have your hair. I've made Nellie 9
great rag doll and want to put rea
hair on its head. Light hair. COLDER
and shining, just like yours"
The scissors made a snip With 6
frightful scream Portia tried to teal
away from her prosecutor Instant,
Margaret jerked her back never re
taxing her hair, but holding her hea(
tightly, raised the scissors, the blade.
crossed till they became a dangerou,
dagger.
mot the hair now" she cried, los
ing all control of herself ITS you
II let you go now. you'll tell on mt
and I shall be locked up again"
NO, no" choked the nearly in
sensible Portia
1--we got to kill you
Just as the cruel blades were de
scending, Neva reached the spot. Sh,
grasped Margaret by the shoulders
WIFI all HeT IOTCe. TORE tne SCISSORS
from her hand. and threw them as ia
as she could away from her.
Then placing her arm about tn,
poor distracted creature, she soothe,
her gradually, promised her som'
false hair her aunt had, and gentl.
drew her away from the place.
Just before dusk that evening Por
tia Manville came over to the Throol
home. There was strangely subdue'
expression in her face. Well Their
might be! BY some strange fate, on
hour after her rescue by Neva, lei
ter had come that had changed al
the tenor of her emotions.
It was from the only man she hat
ever loved still loved. just releases
from penal institution. He had en-
bezzled to make her expensive pres
ents now he was free. He appealed
to her for the sake of the old love.
| You saved my life" said Portia
coldly as ever, but with her restles
soul a volcano. Il am going ava
from here tonight forever, and l Civ
L.. IL V-l,,