The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-23

scruopy trees ana halted to enjoy
their slender shade. In the act of
brushing her moist forehead with a
dainty cambria Handkerchief she
paused. and her eyes lighted.
From somewhere came a sound
and the sound was the voice Of Char.
ley White lifted in song.
Nell secreted herself skillfully and
waited.
Charley approached from the oppo-
site direction. Harmony welled from
him like long pent-up oil well in the
nrst nne. careless rapture Of its shoot.
ing, and the echoes wound their ture-
ful way over the smiling land.
When he had reached the knot Of
trees Nell suddenly stepped into the
road before him.
i thought" she said sternly, that
you couldn't sing! Why have you de.
ceived Mr.. Howe and me and every.
body? Explain!"
Charley removed his hat and hung
his head.
Your throat is perfectly right, isn't
it," Nell demanded.
Charley nodded dismally.
Then why?" Nell asked.
I lied about my throat" he replied
slowly. There has never been any.
thing the matter with it."
Then why did you stop singing at
the Silver Stag?"
Because, Nell, have enemies, and
because by enemies have threatened
to kill me-"
The argument then ensuing lasted
the greater part Of an hour, and when
1t was ended Charley said:
For your sake I'll 60 back. II I am
killed my blood is upon your head"
You will not be killed." Nell said.
The Silver Stag greeted its return.
Ing songbird with cheers.
All was festive, and the crowds gath.
cred about the yellow tables and spent
money with abandon.
At fifteen minutes past ten Charley
White turned into the thrilling orato.
rio known as the Wyoming Rag" and
at ten-sixteen a party Of strangers
wandered into the Silver Stag and &C.
cupied table.
There were three men and two wom-
en-, and their hilarity was unusual,
even for Silver Stag party.
Their voices rose after time, and
Charley glanced over inquiringly.
From laughter the newcomers drift
ed into earnest conversation, low In
tone at first.
One Of the men rose and made q
sweeping gesture.
The two women shrieked.
The other two men leaped to their
feet.
Revolvers were drawn in the twink.
ling of an eye, and in the twinkling of
another eye the regulars of the Silver
Stag were underneath tables and the
strange party was standing in the cen
ter Of cloud of smoke
Their guns barked viciously.
At the top of long note Charley
White ceased singing abruptly.
Quietly he sank to the stage, his
frantic hands tugging at his shirt.
band.
Apache Nell reached him first. Her
arms were about him when Howe
came into the room.
The warm blood trickled through
his coat and cclored Nell's waist.
Il told you they'd get me-" he whis.
pered family.
A few hours later, when they had
probed into and got the bullet out of
his shoulder, Charley White sat up
In Doc Meehan's spare bedroom and
cast a faint smile at Nell.
I'm going to get WE'LL" he said
cheerfNlly, and Nell patted his hand.
"Of course you are" she replied.
"And we'll be married as soon as I
can get on my feet"
Nell agreed.
you came near chasing your hus.
band-tO-be out OF the game ahead Of
his time" the patient continued. III
were q vindictive sort l might hold II
against you. wonder who that bunch
was and what they had against me?"
They didn't have anything against
you" Nell said slowly. THE bullet
that hit you was an accidental shot"
After the warning I had!" he said
scornfully. Don't kid me, Nell. You
cant make me believe that"
THE person who wrote you the
warning was not the person who shot
YOU" she persisted.
How do you know that?" Charley
asked.
Because" Nell replied.
How do you know" he insisted.
DO you remember the woman
named Cassandra?" she inquired.
He nodded wonderingly.
We'll, there was a time when she
got on my nerves with her big, black
eyes fastened upon you as you sang.
Il tried to laugh II on, and
couldn't. You simply hypnotized her
when you sang. and I felt miserable
and
"Oh, / wrote you that Black Hand
letter myself"
Then Doc Meehan came in with a
fresh bandage.
"From Hoke SmIths.s
Senator Hoke Smith Of Georgia has
had babies named after him so numer.
ously and for 80 many years that now
his mail Is Interpreted every day
with letters from various other Hoke
Smiths. He has his morning mail
sorted into several classes, which in
clude: Important" "Unimportant,"
and From Hoke Smiths" Even