The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-09

personnel of a frontier drama, car
ried the very poor rest of the daily
tent entertainment.
She had been toasted and cheered
and made love to by the rude rustlers
and miners, but she was as stone, as
Ice to fulsome praise, and in her for
bidding eyes there was ever far
away glow, as though her thoughts
were with some dusky lover she could
not forget.
Arden sketched Ziatina, unnoticed,
in one of her most graceful poses.
He made studio for two days Of his
little, obscure room at the settlement
tavern. The canvas finished, was
somewhat florid. but very recogniza-
BILE portrait of the star of the circus.
Arden went after Jim. He had not
mounted the canvas, but carried 1t
on a roller. He sought out Jim at
his usual haunts.
He's gone," was the report he got
! from the proprietor Of the principal
gaming place Of the settlement.
Gone, when? Where?" questioned
the disappointed Arden.
Last night-cleaned out, and made
for the mines to get new stake"
Arden took the portrait back to his
room, and showed it in his kit. and for
got all about it.
/ He had money enough as it was to
buy horse, but he made the mistake
of starting off on the trail alone and
unguided He blundered in following
it, got lost in a desolate wilderness.
For six days he had no sight of habi'
tation OF human being The morning
of the seventh he was awakened from
a sound sleep on bed of green in
ravine to the accompaniment OF saw
age yells.
Half-a-dozen dusky warriors sur
rounded him. Their fierceness was
emphasized by the way in which they
brandished knives, rifles and toma
hawks at him. His horse had been
appropriated by one savage, another
was ransacking his travelling kit.
His despoiler passed around to his
l
ly he came to the rolled-up portrait
1t came loose in his hand, and hi
stared agape at the picture of the half
breed circus star.
Arden had noticed a stalwart youni
brave who seemed to be the leader o
the party. He had a certain princel!
and dignified mien and took no par
in the pilfering going on. Just a
this juncture however, as two of tn
savages, in turn, with hooking laugh
ter drew each knife and poised
for fling, as if to see how near the
could Craze the ear of the bound an
helpless Arden, this young India
rushed forward with a tumultuou
cry.
He halted the two sanguinar
braves with a gesture. He snatche
the portrait from the hand of the ma
{ who held It. He stared at it, his fac
betraying the most sentient emotion!
: He waved his companions away, h
relaxed the bonds securing Ardel
Then in an animated pantomime b
pointed at the portrait, he crossed hi
! hands upon his heart as though seel
ing to express a mute vivid adoratio
for the fair half-breed girl it counte
feited.
Not a word of his jargon could A
/" den understand, but he guessed OF
the riddle from the expressive pant
n mime of the young brave. Ziatina ha
t. been his love, they had quarreled,
s. had sought her vainly.
Is II Arden could lead him to the va
s ished girl he should be enriched, al
the young chief led him from the sp
le into a deep cave and showed him
$. vast treasure house of gold gather'
Id up by the tribe for their leader. /
sy summoned a member of his tribe.
a horse was brought. Two stout buc
n. skin bags were filled with gold al
IN slung across the back Of the amin;
"Ziatina," he said simply, indicatil
ed that If Arden should lead him to b
ne lost love the gold should be his.
as Arden Vaile's eyes brightened-th
expressed more than hope and col
ri age-assurance positive. For to fl
he Ziatina was an easy task. and the
re. ward for the same meant the sta
ed of fortune, and, therefore. Bettina