The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-01

well satisfied that she had a contempt
for Shaw. She feared him, too, Pres
colt believed, and, while he was glad
that a persistent rival was out of the
way, he kept himself on the alert to
guard against any attempt to annoy
Lydia on the part of Shaw.
One evening the telephone bell in
his room rang sharply. His name was
spoken breathlessly, and he thrilled
and tingled as he recognized the tones
of the woman he loved.
us it Mr.. PRESCOTT" she asked in
tone that trembled.
Eyes, Miss Ward"
~Will you please come to the house
at once-oh, at once, pleased" and
Prescott dashed from the room, trac-
ing anxiety and urgency in the well
come summons that might mean some
thing helpful for Lydia
He found her distractedly pacing
the floor when he arrived at her home.
She was white to the lips and her
eyes bore the traces of a poorly sup
pressed anguish.
Floral" she gasped. "She is gone!"
Gone? You mean" began Pres
colt in alarm.
Stolen, kidnapped, spirited away!
She was alone in the garden for an
hour playing with her dolls" narrated
Lydia. when l went to call her in
she had disappeared.
Ir,nacc;hJoSD oriaI
Prescott. she must have wandered
away"
Il found this note on a garden
seat" proceeded Lydia. Read it,"
The crumpled scrawl was signed
with one name-Shaw-and it ran:
You will hear from me shortly. I'm
less you agree to marry me you will
never see little Flora again"
THE scoundrel!" cried Prescott.
Il will set the police on his track at
once
mo! MOI" implored Lydia. You
do not know this man Shaw. If any
such an attempt is made, he will dis
appear, and Flora with him. Oh, try
and find her! Try and bring me back
my lost darling!"
Alvin Prescott had a difficult task
before him. Shaw was not to be found
at any of his occasioned haunts. No
trace was discovered of the missing
child. The grief of Lydia was pitiable.
Prescott devoted all his time to the
mission in hand, but it was of no
avail.
1t was the fifth morning after the
disappearance of Flora, that, walking
along the street, he observed a squat
oriental figure speed across the thor.
oughfare to his side. 1t was Wang Fo.
Il find you!" he cried in extrava-
CANT joy. The pin-of the golden
bantam. You lose?"
mo, l gave it to a child"
Il have found her. You come-come,
quick"
With faint heart Of hope Prescott
accompanied the half coherent, but in
tensely excited Wang Fo. He led him
to the Chinese quarter of the city,
and through sinuous and mysterious
passages into what seemed to be a
secret lodge room.
There. on dais, surrounded by
Chinese women, was Flora. She was
supremely contented, for they had
given her all kinds of quaint toys and
seemed only bent on entertaining her.
Wang Fo told his story. The child
had been brought to some avaricious
friends Of his to hide or ship to some
other city as the order might come.
He. Wang Fo, had discovered the gol-
den bantam pin. He had removed
the child into the charge of more
trusty friends. He had guessed much.
1t led to seeking out Prescott.
They never heard of Shaw again
they" for what could come OF 1t, but
that the rescuer of the dear little one
should prevail upon sweet, loving
Lydia to give her a protector for
life?