The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-23

Adds removed both dovessfrom tnt
cage. Venus cooed in a. melanchoi,
way as her partner was carried into
the house by Marie. The bird wouie
have flown frantically to the compan!
of it's mate il Adds had not restrained
ii.
Some day." said Adds softly, as ne
arose to take leave of Marie, lam go
ing to send Venus with a message.
have every reason to believe that
within a month the great family law
suit, which involves a large fortune,
will be decided in my favor. Should
that come about. as say. II shall send
Venus with a message to you under
her wing"
Marie fiuttered, herself, like some
frightened dove. She hung her head.
understanding. but mute.
When do, Miss Powers" proceed
ed Adds in an intense tone, will yoi
send Juno back with reply?"
"Yes!" whispered Marie, and he was
gone with tender pressure of her
hand, carrying away her heart with
him and leaving his own behind.
One month, two months-no word,
no glad visit for Juno from her absent
mate. That evening. however, as ev-
cry evening, Marie sat by the open
window, thinking, hoping that the flut-
ter of welcome wings might break the
long vigil
Then the clouds came up, rain was
presaged, and with a sigh Marie re-
clined on her bed, dreaming once more
of the golden week In her fair young
life when she had met Love; and well
coined him to an abiding place In her
heart.
Marie had closed the window as the
rain began to- fall. Suddenly there
seemed to- be a louder sound than the
splatter Of the drops. It was like q
tap.tap-tap! Then some heavy object
beat against the pane. Marie went to
the, window, opened it. With rain
splotched wings. draggled and storm
beaten. the carrier dove, Venus tapped
into the, room.
One. hour later Marie was speeding
down the road leading southwards,
mounted on bicycle. She had found
under the wing of the carrier dove
was \ card in the writing of Adds
Blake. Il am . prisoner at the Cas-
cade MILL" it read, near Riverton.
Help"
Marie had heard Adds speak of des-
perate enemies more than once. She
did not dare to wake up her aunt
There was no telephone in the dis
trict. II she telegraphed to Riverton,
would her strange message be under.
stood and needed?
Her cousin and herself had been
regular bicyclists In the past. Her
suit was in the garnet. her machine in
the stable loft. Her dauntless mind
was soon made up, and now Marie
was dashing down the country high.
way.
1t must have been II o'clock when
she saw the crossroads lights . mile
away, and the city glow beyond. Then,
nearer, towards the riverside, a spark
Of radiance recalled something.
THE Cascade MILL" exclaimed
Marie, in a sudden fash Of memory.
why, that lonely building where the
light is must be it. Cousin and I
made this run more than once, and
l remember now!" ...
Marie approached the old rookery.
A light guided her. She traced It to
room on the lower floor. She saw
a ruffianly faced man trying a lock.
ed door. Then he took up a bottle
from table. put on his hat and start.
ed apparently for the tavern at the
cross roads.
Marie was in the lighted room "a
soon as the man was out of sight. She
noticed the padlocked door beyond.
found a heavy iron bar, burst in the
door. and, extending the lantern saw
her lover. handcuffed, lying on
heap of straw.
"You!" shouted Adds in amaze.
YES" tluttered Marie-"your mes.
sage-the dove"
What! Venus few to you, instead
OF home, as l expected?" exclaimed
Adds. "Ah. see-for her mate"
Just as Marie had sought hers!
she led him from the place and to
the nearest farm house. The tele.
phone was called into requisition.
some officers arrived in an automo.
bile from the city. Then Marie re.
turned home, and-waited.
1t was fortunate that Adds Blake
had his pet dove with him when can
tured. A scheming lawyer had plot.
ted for his absence when the law suit
came up. He was foiled. Adds gain
ed the suit and a fortune. He had
won something more precious, how.
ever ne told Marie that same day
"nen ne asked her to become his
wife o