The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-06
GOLDENHAIR
By LOUISE MERRIFIELD

A
(copyrght. 1871. By Associated Literary Press-l
Leslie was very glad to be home.
| She left the elevator with buoyant
step. opened the door to the studio
happiness Home was home after all.
II was a warm Indian summer
night She decided not TO light the
gas. The view of the city was too
enthralling at that late hour to spoil.
| She threw her cloak and hat on the
| hall settle. and went on into the re-
ception room.
Yes, it was just as she had left 1t,
| two months before. The janitors wife
had been up and cleaned for her, and
left the windows open, she noticed.
The couch was not in its usual place.
She turned around and nearly fell
over a chair placed at a new angle,
laughed, and dropped down on the
couch.
Just for a minutes rest" she told
herself, after the long day Of travel,
and even with that thought Weighing
on her. she fell asleep. exhausted but
happy.
The closing of the outer door was
what wakened her. She heard 1t far
off in her dreams, and wakened listen
ing Steps sounded through the hall,
quiet, rather slow, but steps. AS she
propped herself on one elbow, and
looked cautiously out beyond the
hangings at the arch, she saw the
figure Of a man outlined distinctly
against the half light He was tall
and young, she could tell that much
even as she stood with averted face
before the dining-room door. He en-
tered the inner room, after a pause,
and she caught the scratch Of a match.
1t was daring burglar. More, he was
whistling softly under his breath as
he moved about.
Leslie rose determinedly. Packed
under the sideboard was a full tea
set of silver, and various precious
family odds and ends that she had
taken from the family home in Yer
mont to brighten her city abode. They
should not fall into the sack Of any
Raffies II she could save them.
What are you doing here?"
He turned at her voice. 1t was a
trifie shaky, but determined. Her
wavy blond hair was rumpled, her
cheeks flushed from her short sleep
and her blue eyes very wide and start
lingly bright. She was figuring the
distance to the telephone in the hall
even while she watched him.
Yet his answer was an old one. and
most touching in his simplicity.
I'm hungry" he said, gently.
"oh. you poor fellow" she ex-
claimed before she thought. Cant
you find any employment at all? Do
you have to follow this life? You
don't look-that kind"
IT'S bully of you to say So" he re-
turned warmly. hands in pockets.
leaning across the table toward her.
with eyes full of frankest admiration.
I'm awfully hungry, don't you know"
And there isn't a thing to eat in
the icebox. I've been away for two
months"
81 know It,"
And you thought was still alb
sent" she flashed back. please don't
think I'm nervous. I'm not hit, but
won't you take your hands out OF
your pockets? | keep thinking you
are going to leap at me-and brass
knuckle me-"
by Jove. I'm sorry" His hands
came from his pockets instantly
Honestly. haven't anything desper-
ate on me-"
Haven't you? Because you didn't
expect to meet anyone, suppose.
Can't we compromise? Truly. I'm
shivering tacks | never even saw a
burglar before. Couldn't you take
what cash | have on bandits about
twenty dollars, ! think-and call it
off? That would get you something
to eat, and grubstake you to the town,
so to speak"
The two faced each other, the broad
dining table between. He looked
straight into her eyes until the gaze
wavered and dropped
You're the pluckiest girl | ever
saw" he said, fervently. 81 didn't tell
you at first because it was such rip
ping joke, you know. but you're in the
wrong apartment"
Il ann" gasped Leslie. why. no.
I'm not I've been asleep on the couch
in there"
1T Is my couch" he murmured hap
PLY. I'm glad you slept on 1t, Gold.
enhair, Did you also drink from my
bowl. and eat from my table, and sit
in the little bears chair?"
Isn't this number twelve?"
1T is number twenty-five, directly
above number twelve"
But the pass key fitted the lock "
They usually do fit all locks.
Please don't be disturbed. I'm awful
ly glad you came in. If you had
opened the icebox you would have
found something to eat, honestly. II
packed away a couple of Holsters
against this fatal hour of eleven N.Y.
self, and there's salad stun to fix II
up. or we can broil them. / only
came in ahead of the crowd to start
things going. We've all been spend.
ing the evening at friends on the
square, and now we're going to have a
chatting dish feast Won't you stay.
Goldenhair? There are some bully
sisters and cousins and aunts in the
crowd, and We won't bite you.
You're the boy who builds things.
She felt bewildered, but vaguely re-
called hearing that young Pomeroy
Seward was her distinguished neigh.