The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-25

was notable that. though moving no
German, she pronounced his name
with a perfect mastery Of the difdcult
sound of the modulated vowel.
Harper shook his head and glanced
at Meade with a miserable sense OF
guilt.
HE is gone" he faltered. He left
about half an hour ago."
Il got such a curious note from
him." she explained. He met my
brother on the street and gave it to
him. Why did he go?'
1T was IA point of honor, Har'
per lamely told her.
It was splendid to see the way the
girl squared her shoulders, and now
her eyes flashed, though she grew
paler still.
HE has done nothing wrong" she
declared. Il know"
''Bless your heart, no." exploded
Meade. He couldn't If he tried.
Now don't you worry about Conrad,
because his friends are not going to
let him get away" and he hustled
outside with his usual spluttering
energy.
Bewildered, not able to understand
any Of it, the girl went out upon the
street, scarcely rejecting that she was
going with them. Walking at the side
Of Harper, with Meade forging nerv-
ously on ahead, during the next four
blocks she lost herself in the knowl-
edge of how much, how very much,
she cared!
As they turned the corner toward
the station Meade, who was in ad-
vance, gave an exclamation of sur
prise, for there, but half block ahead
Of them, and going in the same direc-
ton. was Conrad. He was walking
slowly along the shady street, his head
down, his shoulders dropped, his peck
cts bullying with his portable posses
sions. Blanche, all thought for con-
ventions swept away in this over
wrought moment, flew swiftly after
him.
"Oh, Conrad" she called, as she
overlook him and put her hand on
his arm.
He whirled, and a passing teamster.
with a jovial cast of countenance,
stopped his horses and looked back
ward with a grin, for it was quite un.
usual in the streets of Holden to see
young man sob and clasp young
lady in his arms.
ZACH. ich sterile fuer dich!-I die for
you!" cried the young man, stopping
even then. in his consideration of her,
to translate; but when Meade and Har'
per came up he drew her arm within
his own and turned his back upon
them and walked away. She was
going with him quite contentedly. She
did not know what these men had
done. but If Conrad held them in con.
tempt she scorned them!
Wait minute!" commanded
Meade. and caught Conrad by the
shoulder. instantly understanding his
quandary. "Everything's all right my
boy. Harper told me all about it
Look here" and he thrust before Con
RAIDS eyes the check that Harper had
returned to him. "Harper's an honest
man. So are you; SO am I: SOS Miss
Reynolds. Let's all shake hands
Now we're all four going back to the
office and talk 1t over. BY the way
Conrad. what are you doing here? We
expected to find you four miles dowr
the track by this time"
Conrad smiled through his tears.
Il could not go, and l could no
stay!" he exclaimed. -Four, five, 81,
times l have walked from that corner
to the station and back"
Tears were in Blanche's eyes, too;
but now she, too. laughed.
And now none of us, not even your.
self, will ever know whether you
would really have gone away or come
back" she said with the faintest trace
of jealousy, which, however, vas lost
at once in sympathy for the distress
to which he had been put. Poor boy
you must have been in an agony OF
perplexity. Look at this" and proud