The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-16


entered the young mans life. He had
love affairs-but with each successive
establishment he returned to may
Earle in his hearts fealty. He naa
known that she would never tell MIN
her love had changed; he had done
the only thing possible. in his opinion.
He thrust the recurring image away
and strove to forget in the wild fron'
tier life he led
Ned was one Of q posse that had set
out to capture band Of notorious OUT
laws which had terrorized the region
for several months. A general battle
ensued after the gang was sighted IN
the hills. Ned found himself in .
duel with one of the outlaws. he
emptied his revolver. While he was
hastily recharging it the fellow, with
q triumphant shout. raised his WIN
chester at a distance of fifty paces'
and covered him. An instant later
later the weapon fell from his hand
he spun round and fell.
A stray bullet from another part OF
the field had pierced him through the
lungs.
Ned ran to him. He could see at
, glance that the man was dying. But
to his establishment he seemed to
know his face. And the dying man
knew his.
You're Ned Ward" he exclaimed
"Of the hank back h-what was that
little town."
YES" said Ned.
often thought of holding up that
place. Wish I'd done 80 now and
made a haul. Don't you know me!'
mot by name" answered Ned.
my names Whiting-Phil Whit
ing" mumbled the outlaw. Say! Am
l dying"
Ned bowed his head. The bitter
shame overcame him and robbed him
Of all power of speech; added to this
was the horror that Mays lover
should be such a man as this one.
IF my times come I can stand fol
it," mumbled the bandit philosophical
ly. after coughing spell which racked
him. "But you don't bear no malice
| You'll send message for me to the
only girl I've ever thought much Off
"Your wife," Ned burst out impetu
ously.
Lord, no. / never married-nevel
had the coin, worse luck. But she was
dandy girl, back in-what was oul
little burg's name?-and | want hel
to know II hadn't forgotten her
You see, I've been living on her fol
months past-years, now come tt
think"
Living off hor9"
Yes. She thought | was going Il
marry her when l got a job. She
| didn't know the life l was leading
She kept sending me money AND
honest, l did mean to marry her JUS
as soon as l could pull off another
trick and go East. But l guess In
done for now"
Her name?' asked Ned, kneelinl
! over the man, and shuddering at thu
thought of hearing Mays name pro
nounced by him.
| You'll tell her I was killed in al
accident, friend" he whispered
You'll never let her know the truth
Promise? Then write her name. Mis-
Bessie Reid. :"
The man had grown delirious. H
was muttering now, and Ned kneele
beside him, waiting, while darkness
fell. The rest of the band had lon
since surrendered and were being cor
veyed in the sheriff's charge to tn
county seat. Ned and the dying man
hidden in the sage brush, had escape
notice.
She was sumner, q real dandy,
muttered Whiting. There wasn't
girl as smart as her anywhere. l r.
member how we laughed over a trio
she played on somebody-odd I can
remember his name now. She got m
to write a letter to a friend of hers
to break up a match with a young foe
Bess hated. I wish you could hav
seen the way Bess laughed when sh
told me"
Yes, 1t must have been amusing,
muttered Ned, wiping the froth fror
the lips of the dying man.
He buried him in the sand at dawl
Then, returning to the settlement
Ned realized his holdings and, wit
twelve thousand dollars in his pool
cts, returned East. He hardly hope
that May was still unmarried, bu
he meant to see her and ask her To-
giveness.
When he approached the garden
the little town he saw a woman cliI
ping the hedge. But it was not Ma.
1t was Bessie Reid. She was dresse
in deep mourning, and, seeing Net
she recognized him at once and "a
to him with startling cry.
Il got your letter. It was 80 goo
of you," she murmured, her eyes fl
ing with tears. Poor Phil-such
dreadful end in that mine disaste
and how strange you being there an
recognizing him."
YES" answered Ned. Where
Miss Earle?'
why, l believe she's inside. Sh
doesn't know you are coming? Ne,
listen l played q dastardly trick o
you one day"
Il know it," answered Ned.
When you wrote about poor Phil
saw how wicked had been.
told her only this morning. Ned, sh
she has gone in to write you le
ter"
At that instant May emerged. til
letter in her hand. Ned saw that sh