The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-13
A MONTH TOO EARLY
BY DEAN CARRUTHERS.

Cicely Meredith re-read the letter
from the manager of the Pebble Beach
hotel. 1t informed her that her appli-
cation for position as hotel stenog- |
rapher had been accepted and that the |
salary would be sixty dollars a month |
with board
Please report for duty May 49, it
ended.
The Pebbleton station was porchcd |
on rise of ground and from 1t a road
slanted down to the sea. There was
a board walk along the beach and
several great caravansaries lifted their
bulk above the high-water mark.
81 want to go to the Pebble Beach
hotel" explained Cicely to the station
master Isn't there 4 stage or cab
to take me there?"
He shook his head.
You can walk it easy, miss. It's
that last hotel on your right. There,
hear that thunder. You better wait
here or run"
I'll rum" said Cicely as she scurried
down the road.
She hated thunderstorms and so she
fled before this one like thing pos
sessed of gres. fear. 1t was with
shortened breath and throbb!ng heart
that she reached the last hotel and
ran up on the broad piazza.
A jagged flash Of lightning streaked
the gray sky to the horizon.
Mercy" painted Cicely, her hanc
on the front door knob But it refused
to yield to her touch, so she hurried
around to the western wing of the
+ hotel and discovered another door.
The door was slightly ajar and she
pushed it wide and then closed it.
She found herself in small office,
desolate and untenanted. The closed
desks and the safe were covered with
last years dust There was curious
feeling of loneliness about the place
that frightened her
! rs anyone here?.", asked Cicely.
But another crash of thunder shook
the building oh, dear" she cried.
in panic of fear; what shall dc o.
While she Quivered there. she heard
another sound-a sound Of footsteps
echoins through empty rooms.
She opened one of the desk draw
Her fingers closed on something cold
and hard. 1t was a revolver A feel
ing of security stiffened her courage.
And then the door opened and closed
again and another presence entered
the hall.
The man stared at her in open-eyed
amazement. He was young and trim
with dark, clean-cut face, fine eyes
and a humorous mouth.
It'll shoot" she threatened in a
small voice.
please don't" he said lightly.
Then she added menacingly, ITS
loaded"
Then don't point 1t at me-" he said
sternly. Don't be frightened. I be
lieve you're the very person I'm look
ing for. Are you Miss Meredith"
YES" said Cicely, lowering the gun
I'm Harry Charlson," he explained
my fathers been away from his Of
fee for a week and just returned this
morning. On looking over his mail
he found your letter saying that 20,
would report for duty here on the 15tf
of May You are month ahead o.
time and SO father sent me down pos
haste to bring you back. The car
penters and cleaners are in charge a
present and some of them are rather
rough characters. We we're worried
about you"
But" protested Cicely. "Mr. Charl
sons letter distinctly stated May Is
Mother and wondered about It," Sh'
took the letter from her bag and CAV
/. It to him.
II IT'S one on dad all right" h
, grinned. HE meant June Is. Whel
: couldn't find you l supposed you''
discovered your mistake and gon
, home l was going around by the sta
tion to inquire. came down In mr.
motor. Where were you hiding?"
Cicely explained her adventures dul
j, ing the last hour and then togethe
!. they left the hotel, young Charlso
: locking the door carefully after then
At the foot OF the steps a great me
!. tor car was purring you will alloy
> me to drive you back to town." h
asked.
), II really should take train" e'
4 planned Cicely. I'VE have given u
a our fat and mother is staying at m
grandmother's in Underwood"
Underwood? Oh, that's on tn
north side about opposite Pebbletol
Well take the cross-island road an
r make 1t in a couple of hours"
During that two hours ride acros
n the rain-drenched island he told he
e that he expected to spend the summe
J. in Europe After that he was to TAX
g his fathers place as manager OF til
5, Pebble Beach in summertime and {
r their Florida hotel in winter.
, He left her at her grandmother
= gate, and with a pressure of the han
9 he was gone. He motored over o
II casionally to give Cicely news of tn
e progress of repairs at Pebbleton an
l. one day he said he had decided to az
T. as clerk at the Pebble Beach tn;
summer
But | thought you were going
Europe" protested Cicely.
a. That can wait" he said slowly.
u flush came into his dark face II
\. save it for a wedding trip-some day
n oh" said Cicely and changed ii
Al subject; but his words rang in HI