The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-16
striving to define what impulse was
stirring the witless Margaret

STRIVING TO denne wnat Impulse was
stirring the witless Margaret.
Never mind. I'll tell you when 1
come back" replied the woman WIN
sly laugh, and she darted away
Neva was on her feet in an instant
She was greatly alarmed. She mace
out the object Of her anxiety disap-
pearing through a hedge and ran IN
rapid pursuit of her.
Margaret darted through a row OF
lilacs fringing the rear Of the Man.
vile place. Neva halted, hesitatlng
and undecided. She shrank from
meeting Portia Manville. 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 lilacs Neva witnessed startling
scene Preceded by 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 glittering
scissors threateningly.
Don't you cry out again. her voice
sounded harshly. because if you do
will stab-stab!"
"What-what do you want?' fal
tered the frightened and trembling
Portia, shrinking in dread from the
brandished weapon
II am going to cut off your hair"
declared Margaret determinedly. ITS
so beautiful. Besides that, I've got
to have it. Little Nellie wants it, and
must always get anything for her
that she wants"
Portia dared not stir Her heart
sank at a sense of her certain help
lessness She sickened at the thought
of chance mar from those glittering
scissors on that faultless face To
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 I will go to
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 to
have your hair I've made Nellie a
great rag doll and | want to put real
hair on its head Light hair, golden
and shining, just like yours
The scissors made snip, With a
frightful scream Portia tried to tear
aWay from bor parcacutor Jnctantlv
Margaret jerked her back, never re.
taxing her hair, but holding her head
tightly, raised the scissors, the blades
crossed till they became a dangerous
dagger.
mot the hair now" she cried, los
ing all control of herself. ITS you
If let you go now, you'll tell on me
and shall be locked up again.
mo, 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. She
grasped Margaret by the shoulders
with all her force, tore the scissors
from her hand, and threw them as far
as she could away from her.
Then placing her arm about the
poor distracted creature, she soothed
her gradually, promised her some
false hair her aunt had, and gently
drew her away from the place
Just before dusk that evening Por.
tia Manville came over to the Throop
home. There was strangely subdued
expression in her face. Well there
might be! BY some strange fate, one
hour after her rescue by Neva, a let
ter had come that had changed ali
the tenor of her emotions.
1t was from the only man she had
ever loved, still loved, just released
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 restless
soul volcano. Il am going away
from here tonight forever. and give
you back-Dolph Merrill"
100 10,