The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-13
TO LONG BAY
By LOUISE OLIVER.

ter's alone. She's so fiighty, she's
likely to land in Kalamazoo instead
of Long Bay"
CAROLYN looked at her brother con-
temptuously. Just because you nap
pen to be a football pet doesn't give
you any license to insult your sister.
Mother. mayn't l go?"
So Carolyn triumphantly prepared
for her journey, and upon the day set'
her brother resignedly carried her bag
to the station, bought her tickets and
put her on the train to Long Bay.
Something will happen to Sis be-
fore she's day older or I'll miss my
guess" he grumbled as he left the
train. Hello, Charlie, where are you
bound for?" he called to a man VINO
bumped into him in his hurry to catch
the moving car.
"Baxters-Long Bay called Charlie
! from the step, and in reply he caught
something of sister-same place-look
after and the train was beyond
/ hearing
/ his Is NUdI Actually HdpPSiSo'
Carolyn, armed with candy and
magazines and some unopened mail,
proceeded to make herself entirely
/ comfortable for the days journey. The
| Pullman car had few occupants and
she spent several minutes in brief
inspection.
The man across the aisle was young,
good looking, and, to Carolyns pres
ent annoyance. evidently very much
interested in her.
The train flew on and she began to
tire of the trip. She began to resent
in earnest the halfsmiling glances
of the man across the aisle.
I'll go out and stand on tho plat
form for a change" she fumed. So,
suiting the action to the word, she
sailed grandly down the aisle upon
adventure bent She wound up in the
drawing room.
Il wonder if that silly man is still
there, she unused, looking back
through her door.
Tickets, please" said the conduc-
tor, sticking his head in the door.
Carolyn had, in fact, forgotten about
hers 1t was in her handbag inside
the big bag down the aisle. She arose.
It's back there I'll get it." she said.
She went back to her old seat in the
car opposite the man she detested.
But there was no bag there. She
in, bn p; u1, :
place she was sure-directly across
from the man. Then she spied a bag.
her bag she was positive half hidden
under the mans seat.
my ticket is in my bag and the
bags gone!" she declared to the con-
ductor, never taking her eyes from
the bag across the aisle. Il left it
here few minutes ago"
1T can't have left the train. II
must be around somewhere" said the
conductor patiently. You look and
I'm sure you'll find it."
And impulsive Carolyn, for whom
her brother had rightfully predicted
disaster, answered: 81 have found it
That's it right there, | am positive
She nodded toward the half-hidden
bag across the aisle.
but this is my bag" said the man
81 know it is mine," protested the
stranger, "but-" with a smile that
maddened Carolyn, I'll pay the lady's
fare" He drew from his pocket 9
roll of bills.
"No--he WON'T! Carolyn assured
the conductor savagely. That's my
bag! | guess | know it. But l wont
argue with either of you, and if that
whistle means a stop I'll get off ant
telegraph back to the city for help
Besides I'll telegraph ahead for
with meaning glance at the suspect
ed thief.
The train did slow down and stop
and before the men could prevent her
Carolyn was off the car and in mids
of dreary. bleak landscape without
house in sight, and the train slidin.
down the track with never a sign of
reason for having stopped at all.
With tears of rage and chagrin
Carolyn started to tramp down a lone
ly road at random, and the snow-al
it always does in tragic moments
= began to fall. She could not tel
| whether she was going north south
q east or west, and. finally, after wan
dering hopelessly for a half hour, sh,
sat down on stone in despair.
Charlie Pendleton. as soon as Care
4 1pn ha1 rNoHn hor
: move ard left the train. grabbed hi
= own bag and then contritely extricate,
$ another from under a seat across tn
. aisle. but not exactly opposite. H
knew the girl had returned to tn
wrong seat when she came back TO
> her bag. because he had changed hi
;, own in her absence Now that his lii
1 tie joke had turned out 50 seriously
: he was ready to blame himself as til
: possible cause of tragedy.
ReparatioI. he convinced himself
consisted in managing to have tn
train stopped at the next town, hirin,
a sleigh and going in search of he
j through a regular blizzard. with onl,
] general idea as to her present where
0 abouts.
: Luck was with him. and he foun.
q her, storr1 driven and frightened int,
half penitent and wholly forgivin,
y mood
Moreover. they centrived to get t.
Q Long Bay that day and were only ;
= few hours late. Furthermore. as a re
g ward for keeping her escapade a Sc