The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-10
his MYSTERIOUS way
! ANONYMOUS.


tread, a voice SO low that at times it
sunk almost to a whisper. He very
seldom addressed himself to the gen.
eral company at the boarding house,
but conversed in some chosen ear in
an undertone.
The morning after he arrived at
Mrs. Grandine's boarding house he
made pretense of eating long after
his appetite was. satisfied-or it
seemed that he did so-in order to get
an opportunity to speak to Mrs. Gran
dine alone. Then he approached her
with a mysterious air that fluttered
the good woman considerably. Mrs.
Grandine," he murmured, with a sus-
picious side glance at Hilda, who was
removing the dishes.
What is it, Mr.. Effelrode?" asked
Mrs. Grandine, anxiously.
Il directed that my mail be sent to
me at this address," breathed Effel-
: rode. Gould you tell me if any has
: been received?"
Those were his actual words. In ef-
feet he said: There exists a power
full conspiracy to prevent my mail
from reaching me. If anyone should
suspect that it is likely to come here
the most dreadful consequences might
! ensue. Please observe the strictest
secrecy in regard to the matter"
Mrs. Grandine, much agitated, said
| she would inquire. She found that no
| mail had arrived for her ledger and
came back to tell him so with a nerv-
GUS anticipation of some further dis
! closure. But Effelrode only thanked
her and glided away. 1t was just his
manner.
The boarders all got used to him in
time. They discovered that there was
really no mystery about him. He had
been manager for branch of a Chi
cago paint firm in good-sized Illinois
, town and his firm had called him to
| the city to become superintendent Of
| the factory. He had mother, a
! brother and married sister in New
Hampshire, was independent in his
church and had a taste for music One
could hardly wish to know More of a
| man.
! Still, that manner of his always
| seemed to crate on Mrs. Callonby.
She was widow-a very attractive
one, too. She was of lively dispo-
sition and Observation-Disclosures
! about thirty. probably. Electrodes
| place at table was next to, her and
she naturally came in for most of his
| confidential asides. Only she declined
to treat them as confidential. 1t was
little more than a week before she
began publicly to divulge the nature
! of his whispered communications.
, "Oh, you needn't giggle," she said
one day to the Starker girls, across
the table. 1T wasn't anything of a
: tender nature. Mr.. Effelrode has Just
been telling me that he likes the bis
cult and gravy that Mrs. Grandine
gives us with our chicken. There
really no secret about it"
Effelrode colored little and looked
embarrassed.
Don't blush, Mr.. Effelrode," said
the widow Its nothing you really
need be ashamed of. | don't mind
Mrs. Grandines knowing that like
them myself Thank you just one
That discouraged Effelrode for a
time, but before the meal was over he
again murmured something in the wild
owl ear. She replied in clear, pene-
trating tones. Thereupon Effelrode
looked offended.
Il don't care" said the widow when
someone demonstrated with her later
on. 1t may be his way, but don't
like it. 1t makes one look ridiculous
think it time that someone took him
in hand. I'll do it il nobody else will
Effelrode did not give her a chance
for some days but she smiled on him
and he forgave her. Nevertheless
she persisted in announcing to all and
sundry the substance of his remarks
when they were addressed to her in
a voice below the ordinary conversa-
tional pitch. 1t certainly had an eff
| feet on Enelrodc. He began to speak
up, as Mrs. Callonby said approvingly,
like little man, though he had his
relapses.
One evening when he seemed near
] ly cured he came into the parlor,
where Mrs. Callonby happened to be
sitting apart from the rest. took seat
beside the lady and with his old fur
tive look around the room said some.
thing to her.
Yes. it is rather warm in this room
tonight called Mrs. Callonby in an
explanatory way.
| Effelrode rose Immediately and
STROBE over to the elder Starker girl
He did not speak to Mrs. Callonby for
two days, but when he did he repeat
| ed his whispering offense, or rather
was about to do so.
"oh, speak OUT" said the indomit
able widow.
Shall II" asked Effelrode, quite de-
family. Il meant to tell you first
but if you insist
All in a moment Mrs. Callonby
seemed to lose her customary self-pos
session. She arose. Ooh, well, If it's
a real secret this time" she said. and
taking his arm. walked over to the
| piano-where the lights were not
burning. There she stopped What is
| it?" she asked.
/ Il want to ask you to marry me,
| said Effelrode, but l didn't like to