The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-11

| to make inquiries regarding the route
over the range. seriously advised Ter
not to make the journey alone
You should not attempt it, unpro-
tected." she warned Eleanor. The
country is wild and infested with vi
cious half-breeds and even outlaws"
/ but Eleanor was fearless and willful.
She equipped herself in stanch walk
ing trim. and noontide saw her pass
ing down lonely mountain gully and
/ ecognizing marks in the landscape
| described to her which indicated that
she was nearing Crofutt pass. Sud
denly. turning past a dense thicket,
she recoiled with a start as a tawny-
skinned woman darted directly in
front of her.
The stranger. a half-breed squaw.
was slovenly. half-intoxicated and vi
I cious looking. Her eyes glowed as
she made out the small Melted hand
bag suspended from the belt that
Eleanor wore She thrust out her
hand, seized it and tore it loose. FL
eanor put out a OBTAINING hand. for
the bag contained some money and
valuable jewelry.
The squaw produced a keen. bladed
knife and showed her teeth. Then
she quickly uncoiled a stort lariat
from her waist Eleanor read her pur-
pose, to bind her hand and foot
and leave her helpless while she fed
safely with her spoils.
Eleanor sought to defend herself
She stopped suddenly, seized heavy
stick lying in the path. swung it
around and swept her despoiler on
her feet With an angry snarl the
squaw regained her feet. but Eleanor
fled precipitately. She fancied she
beard masculine voice shouting cut
after her but she feared an accom-
plice of the squaw and terror lent
fleetness to her actions.
Eleanor deviated from the gully
seeking shelter in rushing up a side
path. At the top she paused breath
less. A view of the spot where she
had been robbed was now shut out
from her view. Eleanor made out q
cabin. its door open. She rushed
through the aperture and sank to 6
; chair in a rudely furnished room
J nearly at the point OF fainting.
Her eyes opened wide as, wander
J ing about the room, they fell upon {
: picture on a stand 1t was her own
, Near to it was tiny vase and il
: this, as if replaced fresh every nor
ing was mountain daisy, her favorit.
: flower.
' She recalled having her pictur,
taken the year before in this yer,
district by a travelling photographer
Was this one printed from the sam
: negative? Lest in anger. half.guess
! ing the truth. she started up as sta
, wart form crossed the threshold. |
: was that scamp" Warren Brill!
= He greeted her with manifest re
:. preston ard respect. She wondere
if Fate was in all this, as he told @
witnessing the robbery. of recoverin
the booty from the squaw
Il found this on the ground h
explained, and he handed Eleano
with the handbag the letter she ha
. received from her father the da
previous. There was a queer twink
. in his eye. She flushed deeply
1T is just year lacking three day
since your father loaned me the none
to purchase the old mine, Mis-
Wynne," he said. 1t turned out
heartless swindle, but my defeat urge
me up tc new efforts to make amend
to my generous hacker. struck
new rich prospect. See and he e
hibited receipts frcm the trar c!. Tnil
for over fifty thousand dollars.
Brill saw her safely back to tow
He saw her. too, every day after TIL
during her stay. Then. the last ev
ming but one. he told his love-
Dear papa" spoke Eleanor, kom
returned week later. after the
greetings were over, you asked 4
to find that scamp, Warren Brill, +
. you
! Yes. Eleanor"
= We'll, have brought him with n
to explain all about his terrible d
ed plicity!"
And Eleanor went into the hallw
and beckoned to Warren Brill, al
e. led into the presence Of her amaz
"a. sire her future husband.