The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-17

Where did you drop from?"
From that freight" Judith ex-
planned carelessly. neglecting to eluci-
date the exact fashion Of her drop. Il
judged you'd be along presently. and
thought I'd like to learn the news.
Well-what luck?"
Her father shrugged with his one
movable shoulder. Mr.. Marrophat
grunted Indignantly. The others shut
fed uneasily and looked all ways but
one-at the girl In mans clothing.
Monet" Judith interpreted. "You
don't mean to tell me that after had
taken all that trouble-cast the ca
bose loose in the middle Of that
trestle at the risk Of my life-you
didn't have the nerve to 80 through
with the business!"
I'VE went through with 1t all right"
replied Marrophat defensively; but
~ usual, they were too quick for US.
They jumped out and dropped of the
trestle before our engine hit the ca
boose. We smashed that to kindling
woodruff they got away just in time
to miss the crash. And by the time
We had stopped and Gained down the
| engineer-well. 1t was dark and no
way Of telling which way they had
rum"
The girl started to speak. but merely
dropped limp hands at her sides and
rolled her eyes helplessly.
I'VE do our best" Marrophat OBJ
served. I'VE can't be blamed II
something = somehow = always hap
pens to tip the others OF"
The girl swung to face him with
blazing eyes. "Just what does that
mean?" she demanded in . dangerous
voice.
Marrophat lifted his shoulders.
"Nothing-much,"h he allowed. II am
only thinking how strange It n that
Mr.. Law can't be caught by any sort
Of stratagem-when you are on the job,
Miss Judith"
The girls hands we're clenohed into
fists. white knuckles showing through
the flesh. you contemplate puppy!"
she snapped.
But on this her voice failed; for her
tyes travelled past the person Of Mr..
Marrophat to the doorway of the draw
ing room and found it framing q
stranger.
Excuse me, friends" he offered In
a lazy, semi-humorous drawl. 1T pains
me considerable to butt in on this
happy family gathering, but business
is business, same as usual, and I got
to asst you-all to please put up your
hands!"
What do you want?" the invalid de-
manded.
why" drawled the bandit, nothing
in particular-only your cash. Shell
out, II you please-gents all and the
lady, too" He ran an appreciative
glance down the figure which Juditha
disguise revealed rather than con-
cealed. "If you'll pardon my takin
notice." he amended. perhaps
!, wouldn't II the lady's clothes didn't Al
her 80 alfred quick!"
;. Keep q civil tongue in your head
!. my mani" Judith counseled, without
any show Of fear.
AT LILO odulo llul0 uOA A0Iu0A . vOlCS
brought her to her senses.
:, judith! Be quiet. Let me dea
!; with this gentleman. I am sure VIZ
. can come to some arrangement"
. you bet your life," agreed the gen
tleman as the girl mutinously stepped
back. II know what want, and you
!. all know you got it: SO the name o
the said arrangement is just 'shel
out"
"One minute" the invalid inter
- posed. Don't misunderstood me:
- guarantee you shall be amply salts
=. fed. give you my word-the wore
:. of Seneca Trine."
~ The eyes Of the bandit widened
mo? Is that SO? Seneca Urine, tn
"A railroad king? Sure's you're borl
10 you're him: I've seen your pictur
in the papers a dozen times. We'll
h now, it looks like I'd drawn q full
n house to this pair of deuces, don't it
N You ought to be able to pay something
handsome"
IL "Ill pay you far more handsomel
than you dream Of IL you'll do as
,e J WISH" Urine interrupted quickly. ID
n. me the service l wish-and nam
e. your price: whatever 1t is. you sha
have i'll"
ID Nothing could be fairer'n that!
,e the two-gun man admitted Suspicion
d ly. But what's the number of thi
10 here service-like you call it,"
m Listen to me-" Urine bent his hea
" forward and jabbed the air with a
" emphatic forefinger. Whats the III
m of a man worth in this neck Of tn
C. woods?"
"How much you got?"
N. "I'll pay you ten thousand dollar
v. for the life of the man l will name"
BY The eyes of the bandit narrowe
oy Hold on, my friend: is that what yc
he call my naming my own price?"
,e. Name 1t, then," said Urine.
ly "Give me thousand on accuaat, So
the other, land a paper saying you
ok pay me nineteen thousand more in e
es change for it and one dead man, Pre-
To- erly identified as the one you want
OF signed by you--and your mans
In COED as dead this minute, proyidil
he's in riding distance of this he
he car"
m Urine waved his hand at his secr
mt tary. Jimmy, find thousand dolla
OF for this gentleman. Make out Il
elf paper he indicates for the balanc