The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-07

51dsTbi5s6 af the Bottom Of the can
Won. In all probability. then. the as
sassins had assumed that Alan nau
hurried on; and since their own nrst
business was concerned exclusively
with them, they had done likewise,
re..onine that they could return and
deal with his unfortunate friend al
their convenience after overhauiine
their quarry, whose life they most
coveted.
A. for Rose and Alan-heaven alone
tnew what had happened to them. 80
parcus set himself to find out what
aver Providence knew without more
delay. The racing car was barely out
Of sight when he sprang from the
sheltering trees and. Judith at his
heels, pelted headlong down the slope
to the spot where the others had van
ished.
To find them not only alive out
practically unscathed affected tnst
loyal soul almost to tears.
But when congratulations had been
mutually exchanged, there fell an
awkward pause. The eyes Of the four
sought one another's ruefully. eacn
pair quick with the unuttered but In
exorable inquiry: What next?
In the outcome, it was Mr.. Barcns
who advanced the suggestion which
was adopted-though this was its re-
ception more through lack OF better
than for any actual appeal intrinsic
in the proposition.
when we broke down, ! saw" he
ventured, with a backward jerk OF
his thumb to indicate the road. - can
/ yon branching of from this one about
q quarter OF mile over yonder. II It's
all the same to you people, We might
stroll round that way and see what its
natural attractions may be-if any.
But it's sure q mighty poor sort OF q
canyon that doesn't lead anywhere
and nothing could possibly be more
fatiguing to our mercurial and rest
less tempers than to squat down here
and fold our hands in our laps and
wait for something to turn up-and
anyway we can't be worse OF than we
are-and-"
! "Suficient!" Mr.. Law interrupted
with a bleak smile.
/ Crooking a deferential arm. Barcus
offered it to Judith.
Everything is lovely In the formal
garden" he insisted-"so sweetly ro-
mantle. Are you game for an idle
saunter. Just to while the idle hours
away"
The woman found spirit enough for
wan smile as she tucked her hand
gratefully beneath his arm.
met" she said demurely. What I'm
going to do without you when-if ever
we get out OF this awful business,
| goodness only knows"
Let's talk of something else." he
suggested hastily.
Unless, of course" she pursued
with unbroken gravity, Il marry
you. :"
Heaven" the young man prayed
fervently, "forfend!"
That is hardly gallant"
Il mean-heaven forfend that you
should throw yourself away"
"Humph!" she unused. Perhaps
you're right
Their banter was not without q
subtle object. namely. to reassure the
girl who followed, supported by her
lovers arm.
In the course Of the last "a hours
Roses jealousy Of her sisters new.
found friendliness with Alan had
become acutely evident. The least
courtesy which circumstances now
and again demanded that he show
Judith or seem a boor, was enough
to cloud the countenance Of Alans
betrothed.
Nor. indeed. was Rose altogether
destitute Of plausible excuse for this
feeling. 1t was undeniable that be
tween Alan and Judith a bond Of sym
pathy had grown out OF the trials and
hardships they had Of late suffered
in common. 1t was undeniable-but
even In his most private thoughts
Alan denied it fercely. Judith, on
the other hand. not only acknowledged
1t freely to herself, but secretly de-
rived strangely sweet and poignant
pleasure from the knowledge that she
loved SO madly and hopelessly.
That her love was hopeless she
knew but too well. Even though Alan
might not be altogether Indifferent tc
her, after all that had passed between
them. his loyalty to Rose was un
shakable. And not for worlds would
Roses rival have had 1t otherwise
She could not have loved him as she
did had he not been so unmovabl,
true. AS 1t was. since she could no,
hope her love might be returned, she
was content to love and to promise
herself that, if opportunity ever of
fered. she would not prove unready t.
sacrifice herself for her love.
And at times she caught hersel
praying that such opportunity woult
be accorded her. and quickly. and
that the sacrifice 1t should demand
would be complete.
! Now prayers are sometimes an
swered when the boon craved is goot
for the soul.
Slowly and painfully these foul
toiled along an obscure trail tina. fol
lowed the windings of the little river
until branch struck into the mar
| stream and 81 diccoyaraa - ,. -.