The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-27

Ious. please do not risk it. MT.
Blaine!"
But what about those saddle bags,
Miss Alden?" proposed Roger.
"0h, they will be safe. II they were
ever SAFE a week from now. Then
the weather will let up and it will
not be so dangerous"
you don't know the average In
dian," declared Roger, shaking his
head sapiently. This fellow, vaka,
who brought back your horse, said
he had left the saddle in his home
dugout. Perhaps. and perhaps not.
Even II so, his wife, his children, his
neighbors may take occasion to rifle
1t. Vaka has promised every day for
q week that he would 60 after them"
(Which he won't do until the last
cent of that hundred dollars is squan-
dered," predicted Mr.. Alden.
It was Gladys who accompanied
Roger to the door and stood there
while he mounted his horse. She,
too, stood at the window looking
after him till he was out Of sight
Was he mistaken, or did she really
lift her hands to her lips. a. II send
ing after him q good luck kiss?
Roger loved Gladys Alden. She had
many suitors and he was not entirely
sure Of his ground. Since he had IN.
nounced his present journey, however.
Roger had fancied . new depth Of ex-
preston to her sweet eyes.
It seemed that q month before,
while out for gallop. Gladys had
left her favorite horse beside the trail
to gather some %ilsd nowerA When
she returned he was gone. Wandered
of or stolen, nothing was heard Of
the missing steed until about three
weeks later. a reward Of one hun.
bred dollars had been offered for the
return Of the horse. vaka had ap-
peared, but bareback. He had FOR
gotten" the saddle. he said. In one
Of its pockets Gladys had placed
small hand bag. II contained some
valued trinkets. once belonging to her
dead mother. She had mourned their
loss. Hence the chivalric foray Of
Roger, looking to their restitution.
Roger found his calculation as to .
speedy journey at fault The train
was forty inches under snow, the RI
vines clogged. the horse worn out
before half the journey was accom-
plished. On the evening of the SEQ.
ond day, however. he arrived weary
and half frozen at the wretched dug.
out that Vaka called home. His
squaw with her five children greeted
him. Roger made out that he was
at the right place, but the Indian
woman could not speak English. She
made q motion a. II intent on going
for . neighbor to act as interpreter.
About to depart. her eyes glittered.
her breath came rapidly. she stared
hard at the leggings which Roger
wore. Then, lowering expression
on her dusky face. she left the hut.
Roger was 30 exhausted that he
threw himself on . pile Of skins to
recuperate while the woman was
away. Before he realised It drowsi.
ness overcame him. He was aroused
BY finding himself pounced upon Viz.
orously. The squaw had lurked out
side the hut. had stealthily returned.
had bound him hand and foot.
"You kill vaka!" she shrieked
frensied. and she pointed at the leg
gings and poised q knife ready b
plunge It into his vitals.
mo! mol" asserted Roger strenu.
ously, comprehending her dark sus.
picions-"alive! Pocket-pocket!"
The sQuaw half understood him.
She CROPPED past his helpless hands
and drew from his breast pocket Q
wallet. She scanned its contents.
Then. snatching from among the pa
pers 1t contained the photograph Of
vaka, she stood regarding It with
distended eyes.
Il kill her!" she screamed in q Wild
frenzy. drawing the knife in her hand
through the smiling face Of the wom-
an in the picture.
The determined squaw was the
companion Of Roger. mounted on her
Indian pony, back to the town. She
had located the missing saddle among
some trappings and the little hand
bag had It's original contents intact.
The gratitude expressed In the eyes
Of Gladys was sufncient reward for
all Roger had done When he told
Of his narrow Craze Of death, how.
ever, this grew to concern. She drew
closer to him and her hand trembled
as she touched his arm unconsciously.
In the moonlight at the door step,
Roger Blaine frankly confessed his
love an hour later. The first kiss Of
happy betrothal was interrupted BY
the appearance Of Mr.. Alden. He
was chuckling hilariously.
"vaka." he explained, with droop-
ing feathers has just been led home
ward bound by his better half ct the
end of a lariat!
Velvet Neck Runs.
Velvet neck run and mum sets win
be worn. One that has already been
shown Is made Of deep purple velvet
There IL q tiny mum. with . large
rosette of purple ribbon. with cut
edges. and In the center Of the rosette
Is a big purple and black glass button.
The ruff Is decorated In the same way.
J Il fastens snusiy about the throat