The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-27

dent that her previous impression OF
Mr.. Bretherton absolutely precIuded
( further acquaintance.
She was altogether on the defense.
almost amusedly so. Rex saw her to
| her stateroom, and waited for last
sign of relenting
"Er-Wally's asked me up for the
| weekend to his place"
Betty stared indifferently beyond
him at the passing people in the
| cabin
"I'll come if you won't mind.
know you'll forgive me for saying so.
but I've been away from human so
ciety so long I'm afraid I've turned
| barbarian"
"Oh, know that" flashed back
Betty unsparingly
Rex eyed her anxiously. What
have you got against me?" he de-
manded bluntly. the color in his face
deepening. II swear | never saw you
before today. Don't you suppose
would remember you If I had?"
| Il did not say that you had met
! me. l said l remembered you"
But, Miss Betty"
"Good-by," said Betty distinctly.
and vanished into her stateroom. He
heard the click Of the lock. bit his
lip. and went ashore. Then he
'phoned down to Wallace. and they
went out to dinner together.
Three hours later Betty faced
Marjorie out at the pretty home at
Neponsett, on the Long Island shore.
But, listen. Bet" the latter was
saying. Il know positively that you
never saw Rex before in your life.
He's the dearest boy. What have you
against him."
Just this" answered Betty tense
ly. HE is my best girl friends d.
vorced husband. And he's a perfect
brute. Oh, knew him in an instant,
Marjorie His pictures are all over
her house, for she loves him yet. And
he used to strike her, too; yes he did
He says that every woman needed
the whip at some time or other in her
life, and 1t was her husbands place to
see that she got it. The brute! That's
what he wrote to her. Margie. | saw
the letter. OF course, he never really
hurt her badly. but know he slapped
her several times And Isabella's heart
is simply broken. It has ruined her
life. and would gladly thrash him
myself"
Marjorie bit her lip.
rs that Belle Bretherton who went
to Castlewood hall with you to
school. Bet? l know her. Cat! She
did manage somehow to marry poor
AL Bretherton. He Is Rex's big
brother, dear shiftless sort of an ar
fist person. Wallys so fond of him.
And he does strikingly resemble Rex,
only that Rex is younger and fresher
looking"
Betty backed up to the dressing
table, her eyes wide and scared.
Suddenly the phone bell rang mer-
rily. Marjorie answered it. smiling
wickedly.
IT'S Wally, DEAR" she said pres
emily. Mr.. Bretherton is with him.
Would it spoil your visit, dear, If we
forlorn, and he won't come unless
| you assure MIN IL VIII not De I'M
pleasant for you"
Betty reached for the receiver i'm
petuously.
Go away. Wally. This is Bet. Yes
Give me Mr.. Bretherton, please. Oh
hello. Won't you please forgive me!
II don't remember you at all
What? Why, no. | shall be delight
ed to meet you again. Truly. I'm
afraid | don't understand you"
She turned and covered the mouth
of the receiver.
Marjorie he says he will come
for a week, but he will make love te
me all the time and carry me off to
Panama in a months time. and thai
! he's completely overheard, and Wally
| is on his side. Whatever shall | do?'
Throw him life preserver,'
laughed Marjorie.
Betty's color famed to her ear tips
She ignored the suggestion and al
:. most whispered back into tn,
phone:
You may come II you wish. l.
will be here three weeks"