The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-03
HER CHARM
By cLARlssA MAckIE.

s: By cLARIssA MAckIE. !:
Observation-Disclosures:
The village streets rang with merri-
ment as crowds of young people in
fantastic costumes wendell their way
to the Hendryx home, a large colonial
structure GROWING q wooded slope.
The guests were masked.
Derry Hendryx. CARRIED as Puritan
maiden, was without . mask, and she
gave gay greeting to her unknown
guests as they filed before her. Some
she recognized by voice or gesture.
Henry Tuttle she knew by familiar
ring on his little finger; otherwise she
would never have distinguished him
from Ned Allen, for they were both
of the same height and general appear
ance, and by singular coincidence
both had chosen to assume the dress
of century ago.
There was another stranger pres
emit, q mender, whose identity no one
could guess.
Then came Ned Allen. holding his
head with the same confident air that
marked his bearing before papers had
been missed from the bank and Ned
Allen, the cashier, had been accused
Of making way with them. The Tut
tles-Mr. Tuttle was president OF the
bank and Henry was vice-president-
had exonerated Ned, but he had not
been reinstated, and the finger OF sus-
picion still pointed at him and the
tongue of gossip still babbled about
him.
Masquerade parties are much alike,
and Dorry's was no exception to the
general rule. They played the same
old games and danced the old-fash-
toned dances to the playing OF the
Hecker family.
The old umbrella member created q
diversion by stepping into the middle
of the floor and lifting his hand.
81 am a fortune teller, friends" he
cackled shrilly. "Who consults me
may receive a charm against good or
evil fortune, and l will read the past
and the future for him."
At once he was surrounded by tho
gay crowd, and his fortune telling was
so wittily enlivened that the room
rang with laughter. Once he came
close to Henry futile and whispered
please point out to me young
man named Tuttle."
And Henry coolly nodded toward
Ned Allen, who stood near by. Five
minutes afterward Henry Tuttle had
disappeared from the rooms.
Derry Hendryx had heard question
and answer, and Henry's duplicity had
startled her. Who was the umbrella
member and what did he want Of
Henry and why had Henry lied?
The umbrella member was gradually
making his way toward the spot where
Ned Allen, brave in knee-breeches ant
coat Of blue satin. was waiting hi
turn to have his palm read by thu
uuasi-fortune teller, who was giving
tiny metal trinkets right and left.
A little silence fell upon the room
as the fortune teller bent low owe
Ned Aliens hand. Perhaps curiosit.
prompted some to wonder II the for
tune teller might not reveal the gull
or innocence Of Ned Allen.
Young man." said the fortune tel
Ter briskly, 81 can see that you ar
going to propose to some charming
girl before the clock strikes mid
night-you will live long and happil
-and-just favor me with your thum
print, sir, you know l am making
collection of them--a hobby Of mine
even an umbrella member may ride
hobby. Thank you. sir-ah!"
Amid subdued laughter the UNI
brella member held strip Of glass t
the light, and turned and stared a
Ned Allen through the eyehole Of hi
mask, then hastily tore off his ow
mask and revealed a nut-cracker fac
convulsed with anger and surprise.
Henry Tuttle," he commando
sternly, remove your mask"
Ned tore off the mask and faced tn
room.
Ned Allen!" A score Of voice
breathed his name convincingly.
"Where Is Henry Tuttle" demand
ed the umbrella member.
"He is not here" said Mrs. Hendry
with much displeasure. MAY II
quire who you are, sir"
The little man whipped out q car
and gave 1t to her.
Mrs. Hendryx gasped. "A d.
tective?"
Eyes," he said brusquely. II war
Henry Tuttle-for the theft OF tn
Waybrook securities"
Somewhere outside was the throl
, bling of a motor engine.
Z "Then you better beat i'll" laughe
; a masculine voice. That's Hen Tu
ties automobile and it's racer, too!
/ The detective disappeared and afts
r while excitement was subdued an
the dancing went on. Suddenly Dorr
) found herself standing in curtaine
bow window with Ned Allen.
, Look, Dorry," said Ned quietly.
r Derry looked at the tiny object
t his extended palm.
THAT is my charm, Dorry," sal
| Ned. THE fortune teller predicte
2 Fthat | would ask someone to marry n
. tonight-and that we would live Tor
and happily. Oh, Derry. as IL needle
; his advice! You know | have love