The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-10

Querade-Staln1ng them snooo
ebony upon which soap and water and
scrubbing had no effect whatever. Ana
he had invented a most excruciatinS
method of revenging himself upon the
druggist who had taken advantage OF
his confidence and sold him the in
eradiable dye-when he was reused by
the sudden fight of magazine across
the car. missing his head by bare
two inches. and the bang OF chair
overturned by Judith as she jumped
up and flung herself furiously toward
the door.
Just what had happened on the OBJ
servation platform Barcus didn't know
but he could readily believe that the
lovers had Just INDUCED in some espe-
cially provoking and long-drawn-out
caress.
He overhauled Judith none too soon.
In another moment she would have
had her sister by the throat-if her
purpose had not been to throw Rose
bodily overheard, as Barcus suspected.
Happily, he was as quick on his feet
as Judith on hers; and almost before
he had grasped the situation, he had
grasped her-had seized her arms and
drawn them forcibly behind her back.
at the same time swinging her round
and endeavoring to propel her back
through the doorway.
It was q man-size job. For the ensu.
ing five minutes he had his hands full
of violently resentful and superbly
able-bodied young woman. Only with
the greatest difficulty did he succeed
in wrestling her up the aisle and to
the door Of her compartment, where
an even more furious resistance for
some additional minutes prefaced the
ultimate closing Of the door upon the
maddened Judith. Even then he might
not draw q free breath: there was no
way Of locking that door from the out.
side; and he dared not leave 60 the
handle, lest the girl again fly out and
renew the battle.
Waving aside Alan's proffer Of as
sistance. he acidly advised that gen.
tleman to return to his post of duty
and not let his infatuation blind him
to what might at any moment loom
up on the track behind them, Barcus
stoutly held the door against the girls
attempt to pull it open and through
another period when she occupied her.
self with kicking its panels as II hope
full Of breaking q way out. A long
pause followed He heard no sounds
from within. And wearying, he won.
dered what the devil she was up to.
Then her voice penetrated the barrier,
its accents calm and not unamiable:
"Mr. Barcus!"
"Hello!" he replied, startled. What
is 1t, Miss Judith"
please let me out"
mot much"
"Oh-please!"
Struck by the fact that she hadn't
lost her temper on hearing his refusal,
he hesitated. 1t was very true that he
couldn't stay there forever, holding on
to that knob.
"Will you be good II let you out?"
Perfectly"
mo more shenanigan?"
II promise"
Word of honor?"
III my word of honor means any.
thing to you-you have it."
We'll Z" he said obviously.
In the same humor he turned and re-
leased the knob: promptly Judith
opened 1t wide and swept out into the
corridor, her mood now one Of really
fetching mockery.
THANK you SO much!" she laughed
into his face Of discontinue; and drop
ping him an ironic curtsy, she turned
forward and swung into the drawing
room occupied by Urine.
wonder what she put that on for"
he specialized, with reference to the
ankle-long Pullman wrapper which Ju.
dith had seen fit to don during her
period Of captivity. Heaven knows
it's hot enough without wearing more
clothing than decency demands
But you never can tell about q WON.
an I bet a dollar I've made q
blithering ass of myself-letting her
loose at ALL"
He took his doubts aft. communi.
eating them to Alan and Rose.
And his long conference with Alan
and Rose on the observation platform
afforded Judith ample opportunity in
which undetected to suborn the train
crew to treachery.
Whether she did or not, this IL what
happened in the course Of the next
hour: the special was forced to take q
siding to make way for the California
limited. east.bound; and when this had
passed. the. engine Of the special
coughed apologetically and pulled
swiftly out. leaving the Pullman stalled
on the siding.
From the rear Of the tender the
brakeman and fireman waved affectins
farewells to the indignant faces Of
Alan and Barcus when they showed in
the front doorway.
CHAPTER xxxlv.
Hand Car.
Welt" Mr. Barcus broke a silence
whose eloquence may not be translated