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

personnel Of a frontier drama, car
ried, the very poor rest Of the daily
tent entertainment.
She had been toasted and cheered
and made love to by the rude rustlers
and miners, but she was as stone, as
ice to fulsome praise, and in her for
bidding eyes there was ever far
away glow, as though her thoughts
were with some dusky lover she could
not forget
Arden sketched Ziatina, unnoticed,
in one of her most graceful poses.
He made studio for two days of his
little, obscure room at the settlement
tavern. The canvas finished, was a
somewhat florid. but very recogniza-
BILE portrait of the star of the circus.
Arden went after Jim. He had not
mounted the canvas, but carried 1t
on a roller. He sought out Jim at
his usual haunts.
He's gone" was the report he got
from the proprietor of the principal
gaming place of the settlement.
Gone, when? Where?" questioned
the disappointed Arden.
Last night-cleaned out, and made
| for the mines to get new stake"
Arden took the portrait back to his
room, and showed it in his kit and for
got all about it.
He had money enough as it was tc
buy a horse, but he made the mistake
of starting off on the trail alone and
unguided. He Numbered in following
| it, got lost in desolate wilderness
For six days he had no sight OF habi
tation or human being. The morning
of the seventh he was awakened from
sound sleep on bed of green in
ravine to the accompaniment of say
age yells.
Half-a-dozen dusky warriors sur
rounded him. Their fierceness wa
emphasized By the way in which the,
brandished knives, rifles and toma
hawks at him. His horse had beel
appropriated by one savage, anothe
was ransacking his travelling kit.
His despoiler passed around to hi
comrades article after article. Fina
" he came to the rolled-up portrait
1t came loose in his hand. and n
stared agape at the picture of the hal
breed circus star.
Arden had noticed stalwart youn
brave who seemed to be the leader
the party He had certain princel
and dignified mien and took no pal
in the differing going on. Just
this juncture, however, as two of tn
savages, in turn, with hooking laug
ter drew each knife and poised
for a fling, as If to see how near the
could Craze the ear of the bound al
helpless Arden, this young India
: rushed forward with a tumultuo,
cry.
| He halted the two sanguinal
braves with a gesture. He snatcht
, the portrait from the hand of the ms
who held it, He stared at 1t, his fa'
: betraying the most sentient emotion
He waved his companions away,
relaxed the bonds securing Arde
Then in an animated pantomime
| pointed at the portrait, he crossed b
. hands upon his heart as though see
ing to express a mute vivid adorati
for the fair half-breed girl it count
feited.
;, Not a word of his jargon could
den understand, but he guessed c
- the riddle from the expressive pan
= mime of the young brave. Ziatina h
a been his love, they had Quarreled.
20 had sought her vainly.
:, II Arden could lead him to the VI
ished girl he should be enriched, a
~ the young chief led him from the 81
into deep cave and showed him
"a vast treasure house of gold gather
-, up by the tribe for their leader.
= summoned member OF his tribe.
horse was brought. Two stout bu
~ skin bags were filled with gold a
slung across the back of the amin
ID "Ziatina,' he said simply, indicate
20 that II Arden should lead him to
10 lost love the gold should be his.
Arden Wales eyes brightened-tf
II expressed more than hope and co
40 age-assurance positive. For to f
% Ziatina was an easy task, and the
al ward for the same meant the st
of a fortune, and, therefore, Bettina