The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-01

mob was lett behind m Z moment to
shout the inquiries at each other:
Who is she?"
Where's she taking him?"
Where's the woman that scream
ed?"
Say, fellers, who begun it,"
And in three minutes the mob had
dissolved and one could not have told
that human passions had been let
loose there.
Home, as fast as you cant" said
the girl to the chauffeur.
There was an object on the floor OF
the tonneau. One had to look twice
to make sure that it was human
being, or the remnants of one. Rags
blood-dirt! The mob had made a
football of it. Men who had kicked
it were now quietly seated in their
offices.
Faster! Faster! Now stop here
until l telephone mother and the doc.
tor"
They could not say whether they
were carrying q dead or living man
into the house. 1t was half an hour
before the doctor could say:
There's a spark Of life left, and
he's got about one chance in twenty.
You must have q nurse here"
please telephone for one," replied
Miss Hope.
"Have you any idea who he Isl"
Not the slightest"
Then he may be tramp for all
you know, but can tell you he isn't.
He's q gentleman. for sure. There
are dozen points to prove that, What
had he done?'
4 didn't ask and didn't care. II
I'd had q pistol I would have shot
some Of them down."
The doctor had an evening paper
with him when he made a call at 9
o'clock. He handed 1t to Miss Hope
without a word When she had read
the article relating to the mob she
exclaimed:
Il don't believe it! There's some
mistake!"
"Mobs are often mistaken. Your
patient is making fight to live. We
ought to find out who he is
mot Just yet, doctor. took him
from that mob, and / feel that I own
him"
"Romance-romance!" laughed the
doctor as he went his way.
1t was the fifth day before the
patient opened his eyes to look about
him and then fall into a restoring
sleep. 1t was the ninth before he
whispered his identity. Yes. he was q
gentleman, and had Miss Hope kept
track Of the papers as we'll as she
kept track Of her patient she would
have seen all about the Mysterious
Disappearance" and further learned
Of the efforts Of the police to solve
q mystery.
I'VE must speak now" said the doc
tor as he brought a paper.
mot quite yet" she pleaded. Il
want to hear his story from his own
lips. Besides, when a girl has faced
mob to rescue young man"
I'D feel that way myself, young
lady. His broken ribs are bothering
him. and the bruises and cuts are
fine assortment to look at, but he may
spin his yarn in q couple Of days
more"
It was told to eager listeners. Ev.
cry word carried conviction, and when
1t had been finished there was some
thing more. The patient had to ex.
press his gratitude. and that's where
he broke down and the lip trembled
and the tears came. Perhaps there
were tears in other eyes as we'll.
IT'S so queer that my folks haven't
come" he said.
"Why-why. I didn't want 'em TOT"
replied Miss Hope in the frankest
sort of way.
"Oh!"
I'D rescued you, and-and-"
We'll, let it go for few days. They
haven't much to worry about. They
may offer reward for me-"
"Oh. but they have. and of course
| shall claim it. can't go round fac
Ing mobs for nothing, you know"
It was six weeks before young
BENEDICT departed for his widowed
mothers home. She had been to see
him, and 1t was she who took him
away. still limping a bit. She was
grateful. too. and she had come pre-
pared to say to her son:
II was in hopes you'd wait q year
or two more, but when a fool-woman
and a heroine Of a girl get mixed up
with the life Of young man"
I'm coming back in a fortnight to
ask her fathers CONSENT" he cut in
as they drove away.
(CopyriRht, 1912. nv Associated Tyt.rsrv