The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-06


there was no place else to go. 1 don't
know living soul in this town. and
I'd lost my money, all Of 1t. or. rather.
Cynthia had taken my money and my
watch and rings and everything
Anger died out of Jack Hayden's
face. and pity took its place as he
listened to the girls confused and i'm
probable tale. But the hatpin?" he
asked dryly. you're rather expert at
that trick, aren't your"
i've often got in that way" she re-
Piled Its quite simple with a GER
tain sort Of window catch. The. outer
shutters were locked in the lower part
of the house. That's why I had to
climb up by way Of the tree"
"Apd your Manner Jack inquired
terseiy.
The girl flashed her white teeth at
him. Cecilia Celtone," she said.
To him the name sounded as fanciful
as her story. He recalled none like It
among his sisters acquaintances.
"You might" he suggested hopefully.
shave some means of identification.
card, perhaps, in your purse"
His prisoner raised her brows.. "Cyn-
thia has my purse. too" she said. Then
with sudden, graceful, beseeching
| gesture, she put out her hands to him.
Pity died out of Hayden's heart.
"You consummate actress" he ex-
claimed.
The girl turned from him quietly.
"Well," she asked. what are you go
ing to do about it?"
Through the silent house came the
long and imperative summons of a
bell. Jack swung about impatiently.
You'll have to come with me-" he
said. tits the front door,"
Deliberately Miss Celia Celtone set
tied herself in great chair, her hands
firmly grasping its sides. IT won't go
a STEP" she affirmed.
Every we'll" Jack answered shortly.
and advanced to the open window. II
am here" he called. mo, this way;
round to the right. That's it. Now.
who is there?"
Messenger" answered concise
voice from below. "Come down and
| sigh lOT u puCkuSc.
Jack muttered an imprecation as his
sleeve caught upon a nail you will
have to come with me now" he stern
ly told his prisoner; but, as he released
his sleeve and turned about, no rebel
lious young woman awaited In the
great chair The room was empty.
Headlong he rushed down the stair.
The street door stood open. (Which
way" he wildly inquired Of the mes
senger, but as that person was just
rounding the path information could
not be gained from that source.
Mechanically Jack signed the book
: held out to him, tuning silently that
this hooking, reckless maid should
have 80 outwitted him. Still absorbed
, he drew the wrappings from the bun
die delivered at SO late an hour. fail
ing to notice in his abstraction tha
the name of the address was not hi
D own. A woman's dainty purse pre-
!. scented itself to his view, while from
!, its violet interior he brought forth
Q note. The handwriting was unmis
takably his sisters. He read perplex
: eddy:
Dearest Celia-we are rushing on to
ward Buffalo, and from there I will for
y ward your purse with its valuables an
!, | very necessaries. have scandalized tn
= messengers by laughing continually. sine
our hasty parting at the station. can
l. forget the panic-strcken expression
your face as my train moved OF so un
J.. expectedly-you reaching after your dc
parting purse I waving It frantically i
l. your direction. declare l should hav
l. thrown 1t at you had It not been for you
q watch inside. Why, oh, why. dear CIR
: } could you not have been satisfied with m
assurance that I had dropped the nous
key into your purse. without handing
through the car window that l Nigh
g show you just where I had placed 1t?
can only hope that you, poor, pennies
child in an unknown town. Will at leaf
have the courage to wait upon my doc
l. step until the messenger brings this I
n YOU. Remember shall not rest unit
you telegraph tomorrow. Lovingly,
CYNTHIA.
= Helplessly big Jack Hayden CO
. :, lapsed into chair. Remorse an
shame and regret settled deeply upo
e him. And he had held this plucky, RI
:. sourceful little woman at the muzzl
y of a six shooter. had sneered at he
v unfortunately truthful tale, had drive
= her from her only possible shelte
. alone into the night. Her little whit
blouse was very thin, he remembered
'. and her jacket still chung to the pore
y palings where she had relieved hersel
y. of it. Ye gods and little fishes. bu
he had been an ass and several kind
:, of fool! Where could she go at thi
~ hour of the night?
Desperately Jack wandered anon
y the flowers of the garden. Somethin
g moving at its farther end attracted hi
attention. but it was only the han
= mock swayed by breeze. Closer II
" spection revealed white object in tn
depth of the hammock and-yes-'
+ was she. the little outcast girl.
~ Persian kitten cuddled drowsily agains
u her cheek With sudden, overwheln
a ing wave of tenderness Jack bent an
- picked the girl up in his arms. n
word he spoke until he had placed he