The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-31

neatly dressed, but his attire was not
fine of texture or fashionably cut. He,
however, lifted his hat most politely
to Mrs. Walters.
Who was that?" inquired her sis
ter-in-law.
1t is the gentleman your husband
wished to stay to dinner that day, you
know"
Gentleman" scoffed Mrs. Meade.
That elevator conductor! The idea,
Recognizing usi"
Not to you, Marie. He bowed to
me. thinking I was Mrs. Meade"
"Humph!"
Martin Brill made himself no fur
Their obtrusive. About noon the
weather changed. a chill mist came
up. They were among the small is
lands dotting the land now, and the
absence of a clear course made some
Of the passengers anxious.
Suddenly there was Q shock. Peo-
pie were knocked from their seats.
Mrs. Meade. who was highly excitable.
sprang to her feet just as her COM
panion was tipped sideways and
struck the deck floor with a violence
that stunned her.
my pocketbook-I have lost my
pocketbook w!id!y cried out Mrs.
Meade, but before she could search
for it the affrighted passengers swept
her along in the mad current of hu.
manity. She forgot all about her re-
cent companion amid her wild terror
The steamer had struck a rock and
was disabled. The crew managed to
run the boat ashore. The passengers
were hurried upon a barren island.
Mrs. Meade was overcome She
could not find her friend, but was re-
assured when advised tAt quite a
number of the passengers had been
taken to the mainland in the small
boats.
For two mortal hours, with several
hundred others. Mrs. Meade was
forced to stand under dripping trees,
beaten and soaked by a pouring rain
Then a relief steamer came Her
anxious husband, advised of the acct
dent, met her joyfully at the wharf.
He had an automobile to take her
home as speedily as possible.
Your sister, Lucy?" was her first
question.
"Oh, she got here in a small boat
three hours since. I sent her home
with a friend,
"She is all right"
"Oh, yes-she was most fortunate in
being saved from the onrushing mob
She was stunned by fall and brave
man rushed to her rescue. lifted her
to one Of the small boats, restored
her to consciousness and when they
reached the wharf saw that she was
safely taken home.
How fortunate!" exclaimed Mrs
Meade, But. oh. Robert! what do
you think? My pocketbook!"
What about it, Maria?" inquired
Robert, a queer, secretive smile upon
his lips.
Il lost it. You see, l had it in my
lap. When the collision came 1t was
swept to the deck"
was there much III IL! asked HOO-
ert.
1.-THE fifty dollars you gave me this
morning. It isn't that, Robert It's
my diamonds. I had put my brooch
and diamond rings in it. Oh, dear!
l am grieved to death about it."
HIM" observed Robert. Suppose
I should tell you It was found?"
"Oh, Robert. never!" broke out Mrs.
Meade ecstatically.
We'll, It was" replied Robert. ut
seems that the man who rescued Lucy
saw the pocketbook where 1t had
fallen near to her. He supposed it
was hers. He placed 1t in his pocket
and when she recovered conscious
ness gave 1t to her. Lucy has it now"
And who was this splendid gentle.
man?" cried Mrs. Meade breathlessly.
HE wasn't . gentleman" replied
Robert enigmatically-"only q man.
His name is Martin Brill"