The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-08
THE MOMENTS SPUR
BY cLARISSA MACkiE.

A dozen motor cars waited at Rose
! bush station for the arrival of the 6:3
train from town.
Marjorie Stone sat at the steerin
wheel of her own little runabou
waiting for her father. A train whis
tied and presently the air vibrate'
with sound as it Numbered into tn
station. Immediately there was
chorus of shouts as a man jumpe'
from the train and ran across the plat
form.
stop him-stop him!"
The fugitive darted around thu
building, fairly hurled himself int
the tonneau of the Stone car ant
crouched in the bottom.
start OF anywhere! I'll explain q
soon as we're on the way" he begged
For answer Marjorie pulled thu
starting lever and the beautiful biz
car glided away from the platform
just as the pursuers painted around
the building.
| In a moment the big machine purred
swiftly away from the depot and dis
appeared around the bend Of Bushy
road.
When they were ten miles from the
station the man raised himself and
stepped over the seat to sit beside
Marjorie.
For the first time she took a good
look at him and noted that he was
young in spite Of the gray hair that
edged his temples. He was we'll
dressed, but his clothing was covered
with dust.
why did you save me?" he asked
abruptly.
Il believe 1t was your gray hair"
confessed Marjorie, with a swift
glance in his direction. Il thought
you we're old. and II do pity old
people"
Il feel old enough today" NUT
tered the man.
"You are in trouble?" she asked,
softly.
He nodded. 1T seems there was
some trouble in Benton-the large
town beyond here. l was there on
business for my firm when l received
q telegram saying that my father was
dying in Albany. sprinted for the
railroad station in order to catch the
express. The whole town was out
chasing a bold thief who had been
working in daylight. crossed his
trail and they thought I was the man,
and couldn't persuade them to the
contrary So shook them of and
l held EN- on with my revolver until
they reached here. saw you sitting
there and jumped in, and you know
the rest!"
And You want to go to Albany"
asked Marjorie without questioning
his statement.
He nodded gratefully.
I'VE are near the Central railway,
which will take you to Poughkeep-
sie," she said I'VE can reach there
In time for the 7:30-and | do hope
you will reach there in time"
you are good" he said with deep
feeling.
In few minutes they drew up at |
The Central depot and she watched
him board the train and answered |
The wave Of his hand with a fiutter-
ng handkerchief until the rear car
disappeared in the woods.
Then she drove swiftly back to the
station, to find that her father had
Irrived and was waiting. As they
lrove home in the twilight she told
lin the story of the fugitive and how
he had helped him to escape.
Mr. Stone laughed skeptically and
hook his head.
"Oh. my romantic daughter he
eased her.
Marjorie blushed divinely. IF you
ad seen his eyes, daddy, you would
ever have doubted him." she pro.
ested.
The next evening he showed her
ne newspaper he had brought from
own. In 1t was a full account of the
'enton burglary and picture of the
hief, who had been caught. III
Daddy, it's not my passenger"
ried Marjorie; so he did tell the : II
ruth, after all" I'll
several weeks later Marjorie
'aited once more at Rosebush sta
on for her fathers arrival from
,wn II
When the train came in Mr.. Stone II
as accompanied by a man whose II
'rm was familiar to Marjorie. II
1t was her fugitive, II
Tawny eyes and violet ones met II
glad glance and then the mans II
and went out in greeting as Mr.. II
lone introduced him. II
Marjorie, this is a son of my old II
lend, Arthur Gray. Gray died in
loany short time ago-and you II
Ill be glad to hear that you helped III
'ung Arthur to reach his father In III
me to bid him farewell" HI
Thanks to YOU" said Arthur. Ill
Marjorie said she was glad, and HI
en- she became suddenly very shy, Ill
that the two men were compelled III
talk to each other as the big car HI
nirled them toward home. III
That was the beginning of MANY III
les for Marjorie and Arthur GRAY. III
d with each return of her strange IlI
ssenger he appeared to grow lI
unger. Hi
At last they took one important Hi
lie together, and when thew returr.a Hi