The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-20

his feet, Clyde Rawson seized her
swaying form.
Miss Denison-Lura!" he cried in
coherently, what has happened?
was asleep. l fancied | heard an ex-
plosion--"
Yes faltered Lura, withdrawing
from his clasp. "Oh. Mr.. Rawson!
you must go away from here. Some
one just now tried to kill you. A
dark-faced, tall man with head of
crisp curly hair. He fired at you. l.
got in front of you. The bullet must
have struck the hard wooded tennis
racket 1t rebounded to my check"
you risked your life-for mel"
voiced Clyde, his tones trembling
with vivid emotion Poor, dear
cheek! 1t is marred! You might
have been killed-for me! Oh. my
friend. my more than friend!'
He had clasped her in his arms
with fervor that made her helpless.
Gently, reverently his lips swept the
abrased cheek. Then he held her at
arms length. his eyes met her own
fairly scintillating with the overpow-
ering emotions that filed his grateful,
loyal soul.
Listen to me, Miss Denison-Lura,"
he spoke, you have described man
whom know. For only one reason
would he seek my life. The existence
of that reason I must at once explore.
Please let me see you safely to the
hotel
In moment he was the calm, cour>
| teous gentleman he ever presented.
He spoke no other word. He only lift
ed his hat politely as they reached the
hotel. Half an hour later, in her room
Lura was handed a large envelope,
sealed. A note accompanied it and it
read:
Il am handing you my will. If any
thing happens to me, and / really have
anything, it is left to you to battle an
evil genius who seeks my death.
expect to return tomorrow. must
see you then, at all hazards"
What Strange circumstance was
this Lura was fluttering, amazed,
mystitied When she went from her
room again she wore tiny patch OF
adhesive plaster over the spot on her
cheek. The bullet had barely grazed
it, but had left visible abrasion on
the skin Her friends rallied her as to
her beauty spot" but Lura made nc
explanation.
Her fair cheek tingled whenever she
thought of Clyde Rawson, with Joy
life, with longing hope because the
memory of that kiss at least presaged
heartfelt gratitude and devotion.
She was in the garden Of the hote
that next evening, wondering wher
Clyde would return, wondering, too, II
came hurrying towards the garden
bench where she was resting
It was Clyde Rawson. bright, brisk
eager, light spirited. He sat down be
side her. He caught both her hands
and looked her in the eyes. Hi
| lIdIlhIlcoS uSi' Nh'
could not resist the magnetism of hi
presence.
II have come with great news, will
strange news" he said at once. IN.
one thought was of you-of you, VIII
saved my life at the risk Of your own.
His assailant had been his renegad
cousin. AS Clyde had suspected. tn
motive had been to put him out of tn
way as the heir to the property q
Mr.. Griffith that the cousin and hi
friends might inherit.
II am rich now, Lura," he told hel
IL have given it out that in case @
my death the disposition Of my prof.
erty is left to the woman l love, tn
woman to whom l have fastened t
ask her to become my wife"
You mean-you mean" fluttere
Lura, poor little humble mel"
who else?" questioned Clyde
. "only you would have known that Ion
: ago, but | was so poor. But now
: and he kissed the beauty spot thf
> was a reminder of the unalterable d.
. votion Of noble soul.