The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-08
FATEFul FOOTSTEPS
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB.

Copyright. 1915. by w. C. Chapman)
1t was hard pulling, for the bust
ness was a petty one. The stock con
sisted mostly of candies, cakes and the
more common and popular delicates
, sen commodities. However, there
came from the trifiing sales sufficient
to keep the two children in comfor,
and the patient mother was content.
How she longed to have them with
her and how she hoped that such q
contamination would soon come tc
pass! The echoing footsteps of pass
ing pedestrians brought her rare
dreams.
This night the dreamer aroused to a
new sound. 1t was at the echo of q
strange. unfamiliar football. First
| there was the sliding swish of a halt
ing foot, then weird echoing as of an
iron ferrule striking on the hard
smooth concrete pavement.
J Mrs. Howard leaned beyond the
open doorway to observe a man pass
swiftly by. despite a hindering infirm
| ity. One lower limb was missing and
he wore wooden stump. metal shod
and propelled with decided CELEBRITY
She noted that he used haste. He got
past the little shop and stared excited
ly in all directions. He suddenly OBJ
served her and ran up to her.
Have you noticed a tall, thin, dark
young man pass by here carrying q
bundle done up in a shawl?" he shot
out quickly, forcibly.
NO" replied Mrs. Howard, recoil.
ing from a sinister face set with evil
eyes that seemed to glow into her very
soul.
The man disturbed her-nay, more
alarmed. She closed and double locked
the front door. The rear one had been
LEFT open to insure circulation of air.
She fastened through the unlighted
rear room to secure it also. AS she
closed 1t Mrs. Howard felt some wet
cold substance upon its knob smeared
across her hand.
Blood" she gasped and trembled
all over. Then she carried the store
lamp into the middle living apartment,
1t was to confront new amazing dis.
closure. Upon its floor lay man
tall. thin, dark" Across his fore.
head was a lurid cash. In one arm he
shelteringly held shawl-enveloped
burden. She made it out to be a
cherub-faced infant. slumbering peace
fully.
The spectacle dumfounded her and
then appealed to her deepest emotions
as would thrilling and enhancing
picture. The man suggested a poetic
nature. In sense his face was beau.
tiful. The child was like some stray
cherub dropped from the skies. II
was clear that the young man was in.
sensible. He stirred and she drew
back. He raised up and stared about
in dazed way. Then he shivered and
covered.
The footsteps!
Plainly, across the pavement in
front of the store echoed the sharp
clamp of that metal-ended false limb.
1t passed, repassed, faded away in the
distance.
1t was just here that the wounded
man discovered the woman.
Madam" he faltered, forgive! See,
have affrighted you. The intrusion
the shock-the blood-oh, forgive!
Because of the little one, as you love
children, protect this dear innocent
child She is pursued-by murder! She
Is the last of doomed family.
Madam, do not be terrified. Allow us
shelter here till the scourge has
passed-the dread, menacing foot
steps,"
Mrs. Howard went for towels and a
bowl of water. He seized her hand
and kissed It fervently when she had
dressed the wound.
BY sections his tragic story came
out. He, Arlo Baden, had been the
friend and companion of one Victor
Ramonez. An old world vendetta pur.
sued Ramonez and his lovely wife.
The man with the false limb had To-
Gated them, had murdered them.
Nearly at the cost Of his life BADEN
had saved the child.
There was but one thing to do. he
told Mrs. Howard. He must remain in
hiding until he could get word to the
grandfather Of the little orphan in
Portugal. Would she shield him, pen
niless. until Don Castro Ramonez ar
rived to take the menaced child out
Of the country? All. surely the don
would reward her!
Because of her good heart and wom-
anly sympathy, Leila Howard consent.
ed. BADEN aided her in making can.
dies for the little store. He assumed
the domestic cares.
Then one day the don came. He
took the child away, but not until he
had talked long and earnestly with
BADEN. They departed together, but
with an eager lovelight in his eyes.
Arlo Baden promised Mrs. Howard to
shortly return.
She sat listening to the footsteps
that evening as usual. Suddenly her
heart beat fast. Tripping feet crossed |
the pavement. In another moment her |
two darlings, brought by BADEN, were
In her arms.
Il have brought them to you and |
five thousand dollars from the gener-
Gus don." he said. And oh. dear
lady! Those dreaded footsteps"
you mean?" queried Leila Howard.
That the assassin, still seeking the
child. the don. carried dynamite
in his false limb. II ex.