The Lakeland evening telegram., 1916-05-23
She Paid
The Forfeit
By EDITH v. ROSS

America, leaving his brother at home.
One evening at a function Jim
Hawksworth met a girl to whom he
took a desperate fancy, and the girl
did the same by him. They danced
together number of times. and what
dances they didn't know they sat out"
in cozy corner by themselves.
The very next day the girl met Jim
on the street. He was nesrsighted and
didn't recognize her, but seeing lady
smiling at him he took of his hat. The
girl stopped; so did Jim.
Upon my word" she said, you have
a short memory. You don't remember
me-"
Jim did remember her very well as
soon as he got near enough to distin-
guish her features, but he didn't re-
member her name. He skirmished for
time TO think 1t up.
II certainly do remember you. hav-
ing passed some time with you very
pleasantly last evening. But l am not
sure that you have not mistaken me
! for some one else"
How ridiculousw
"Who am II
What assurance! You are talking
this way for a purpose"
I'm tell you what I'll do. I'll make
two calls on you and another will make
a third. If you write my name correct.
ly when | call and never write my
name to the other visitor I'll pay any
forfeit you may suggest. If you fail
you pay any forfeit / suggest"
There's catch"
"No catch at all"
What's the forfeit l pay your"
THAT I'll tell you If you lose"
What is your full name?"
James Smithson HawkSworth."
"Have you pencil and paper"
Jim tore bit of paper from letter
and handed it her with a pencil. She
wrote the name he had given her on
the paper and put it in her bag.
Il agree to your TERMS" she said.
But, mind. If there is any catch
won't pay. Now tell me who | am"
You're Miss Turnlee.''
jim bowed himself away and pro-
ceeded to put a plan he had in his
mind into operation. His brother Bill
! had returned from South America a
few days before. and the two were still
alike as two peas in pod. Jim went
home, where lie found Billie whom he
told of his agreement, adding:
"Now, Bill, wish you to call on the
girl tomorrow night, personating me.
The next night | will call on her my
self"
Bill assented and the next evening
after being thoroughly coached by his
brother made the call He asked the
young lady to write his name on q bit
of paper, which she did, and before
handing 1t TO him she took care to com
pare 1t with the name Jim had given
her.
The next day the twins had their
photographs taken standing side by
side. As soon as the pictures were de-
livered Jim put one OF them In his
pocket and, with written statement
from his brother that he had called OH
Miss Tunlee on certain date. went
could not divest her mind OF the sus-
picion that some trick was being play
ed upon her, was bit ratified. She
was looking for some difference in her
writing the names on the two different
! occasions. After chatting awhile, dur
ing which period she scarcely heard
what Jim said. he drew the paper on
which she had written the name when
his brother had called and, handing II
to her, asked her to write his name be-
low the one she had written before.
This time she was in no hurry. She
pared 1t with the one Jim had given
her and held the first paper to the light,
looking at it and through 1t Jim
handed her u pencil, but she refused II,
seeming to suspect that there might
be something wrong In It. After much
thought and hesitation she wrote the
name under the one she had already
written, but even then she seemed
loath to part with the paper. However.
a time came when she reluctantly sur
rendered it.
II suppose now 1t will depend on my
not mixing you up with the other Wis
itor. II you have played me fair
have won. l have identified you twice
All have to do Is to say when he
comes that he is not you. When Is he
cOming?"
''He has been here"
Been herer' Miss Turnlee looked
incredulous.
HE was here some time ago. He is
my twin brother"
He drew the photograph Of himself
and his brother and showed 1t to her.
For a few moments she looked at 1t
with blank stare; then, the explana-
tion coming to her, she exclaimed re-
proachfully:
That's not fairw
Jim admitted that It was a bit
tricky and said that he would not hold
her to her bargain unless she preferred
to be held.
what forfeit am l to payT' she
asked.
Jim did not reply at once. The lady's
curiosity was aroused. She urged him.
"Yourselfr' he said at last
Miss Turnlee did not pay at once, but
she did in time-not, she said. because
she had lost fairly, but because Jim
assured her that If she did not his life
would ba wrecked