The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-18

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
a triumphant shoIt, raised his Win
chester at a distance of fifty PAGES,
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 astonishment he seemed to
know his face. And the dying man
knew his.
You're Ned Ward" he exclaimed.
"Of the bank back m-what was that
little town."
Yes" said Ned
Often | thought of holding up that
place Wish I'd done so now and
made haul Don't you know me?"
Not 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 man as this one.
IF my times come can stand for
it," mumbled the bandit philosophical
ly. after coughing spell which racked
him. But you don't bear no malice?
You'll send a message for me to the
only girl I've ever thought much Off"
Your wife," Ned burst out impetu-
ously.
lord, no, never married-never
had the coin. worse luck. But she was
a dandy girl, back in--what was our
little burg's name?-and | want her
to know II hadn't forgotten her.
You see, I've been living on her for
months past-years, now ! come to
think"
Living off her."
Yes. She thought l was going to
marry her when | got a job. She
didn't know the life | was leading
She kept sending me money. And
honest, | did mean to marry her just
as soon as | could pull off another
trick ard go East. But ! guess I'm
done for now"
Her name?' asked Ned, kneeling
over the man, and shuddering at the
thought of hearing Mays name pro-
nounced by him.
You'll tell her was killed in an
accident, friend,' he whispered.
You'll never let her know the truth.
Promise? Then write her name. Miss
Bessie Reid. :"
The man had grown delirious. He
was muttering now, and Ned kneeled
beside him, waiting, while darkness
fell. The rest of the band had long
since surrendered and we're being con-
veyed in the sheriff's charge to the
county seat. Ned and the dying man,
hidden in the sage brush, had escaped
notice.
"She was a sumner, a real dandy"
muttered Whiting. There wasn't a
girl as smart as her anywhere. l re-
member how We laughed over trick
she played on somebody-odd can't
remember his name now. She got me
to write letter to a friend Of hers.
to break up match with young fool
Bess hated l wish you could have
seen the way Bess laughed when she
told me-"
Yes, it must have been amusing
muttered Ned, wiping the froth from
the lips of the dying man.
| He buried him in the sand at dawn.
Then, returning to the settlement,
Ned realized his holdings and, with
twelve thousand dollars in his peck
cts, returned East. He hardly hoped
that May was still unmarried. but
he meant to see her and ask her for
giveness.
When he approached the garden in
the little town he saw a woman clip
ping the hedge. But it was not May.
1t was Bessie Reid. She was dressed
in deep mourning, and, seeing Ned,
she recognized him at once and ran
to him with startling cry.
Il got your letter. 1t was so good
of you," she murmured, her eyes fill
ing with tears. Poor Phil-such a
dreadful end in that mine disaster,
and how strange you being there and
recognizing him."
Yes" answered Ned Where is
Miss Earle?'
Why, l believe she's inside. She
listen. ! played dastardly trick on
you one day"
Il know it, answered Ned.
When you wrote about poor Philip
saw how wicked l had been.
told her only this morning. Ned, she
she has gone in to write you a let.
ter"
At that instant May emerged, the
letter in her hand. Ned saw that she
was trembling as she went down the
steps. He strobe toward her; she
raised her eyes, stared incredulously,
and fell weakly into his arms.
Ned! You-you know she whis-
pered.
Yes, dear. That our wedding is
three years overdue and that we are
going to pull it OFF tomorrow he an.
swered, kissing her.