The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-11
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Bridoe of Jeheunam.

The Bridge Of Jehennam.
Griswold took final look at himself
In his dressing case mirror before 60
ing to keep his evening appointment
at the Doctors downtown Office 1t
was comfortably reassuring. So far as
he could determine, there was little
In the clean-shaven, square-shouldered,
correctly garmented young fellow who
faced him in the mirror to suggest
either the bearded outcast of New Or.
leans or the unkempt and toil-sodden
roustabout Of the Belle Julie. If
only she had not made him speak to
her. He had sharp conviction that
the greatest of all the hazards lay
in the chance that she might remem.
Der his voice.
He found the CHEEKY little doctor
waiting for him when he had walked
the few squares to the Main street
Office.
81 was beginning to be afraid you
were going to be fashionably late"
said the potential host; and then. with
humorous glance for the correct gar.
menting: "Regalia heb? Hasn't Miss
Grierson told you that Wahaska is still
hopelessly unable to live up to the
dress coat and standing collar? I'm
sure she must have But never mind ;
climb into the buggy and we'll let old
Bucephalus take US around to see If
the neighbors have brought in any
thing good to eat"
The drive was short one. Broffin
was once more shadowing the house
in which. first or last, he expected to
trap his amateur MacHeath; and when
the buggy was halted at the carriage
step he was near enough to mark and
recognize the doctors companion.
mot this time" he muttered sourly,
when the two had passed together up
the graveled path and the host was
fitting his latchkey to the front door.
It's only the sick man that writes
books. ! wonder what sort of book
he thinks he's going to write in this
inforgotten. turkey-trodden, come
along village of the Reuben yaps?"
Griswold, waiting on the porch while
Doctor Farnham fitted his key, had
nerve-tingling shiver of apprehension
when the latch yielded with a click
and he found himself under the hall
lantern formally shaking hands with
the statuesque young woman of the
many ima6;nings.
You are very welcome to Home
Nook, Mr.. Griswold. we have been
hearing about you for many weeks"
she was saying when he had relin.
duished the firm hand and was hang
ing his coat and hat on the hall rack
And then. with half-embarrassed
laugh: Il am afraid we are dreadful
gossips; all Wahaska has been talking
about you. you know. and wondering
how 1t came to acquire you"
1T hasn't acquired anything very
valuable" was the guests modest dis.
claimer, its readiness arising out of a
grateful easing of strains now that the
actual face-to-face ordeal had safely
passed Its Introductory stage. And
you mustn't say word against your
charming little city, Miss Farnham."
he went on. 1T Is the friendliest, most
hospitable-"
The doctors daughter was interrupt.
ing with an enthusiastic show of an
plause
Tome out to dinner, both of you,"
she urged; and then to Grisw6ld: 81
want you to say all those nice things
to Aunt Fanny"
In the progress to the coy, home
like dining-room Griswold found the
contrast between the Farnham home
and the ornate mansion three streets
away on the lake front strikingly ap-
parent; as clearly marked as that be-
tween Margery Grierson and the
sweetly serene and conventional young
person who was introducing him to
her aunt across the small oval dining
table.
So far, all was going well. But a
little later. in the midst of a half
uttered direction to the serving maid
Miss Farnham stopped abruptly, and
Griswold could feel her gaze, wide
eyed and half-terrified. seemingly fixed
upon him --.-. -