The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-18


upper rear window"
Il hadn't the key" the girl explain
| ed Cynthia had given 1t to me. but
| then there was a mistake, and-and
| had to get in," she went on excitedly.
81 simply had to. 1t was night, and
there was no place else to go. / don't
know a living soul in this town. and
I'd lost my money. all of it. 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 be
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 you"
"I've often got in that way" she re-
piled. Its quite simple with GER
tain sort Of window catch. The outer
shutters were locked in the lower part
Of the house. That's why had TO
climb up by way of the tree
"And your nameT Jack inquired
tersely.
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 1t
among bis sisters acquaintances.
"You might" he suggested hopefully,
"have some means Of Identification. Il
card, perhaps, In your purse?"
His prisoner raised her brows. 'Cyn-
h, Tho.,
with a 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.
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. "Its the front door"
Deliberately Miss Celia Celtone set
tied herself in great chair. her hands
firmly grasping its sides. 81 won't go
a STEP" she affirmed
Every WELL" 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 q concise
voice from below. "Come down and
sign for package"
Jack rnuttered an imprecation as his
sleeve caught upon a nail. "You will
have to come with me now" he stern
~ 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
wayr' 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 so outwitted him. Still absorbed.
he drew the wrappings from the bun
Vic dCllNSACu Ut 81 latC Ill Houls
ing to notice in his abstraction that
the name of the address was not his
own. A woman's dainty purse pre-
scented itself to his view, while from
its violet interior he brought forth a
note. The handwriting was unmis-
takably his sisters. He read perplex-
eddy:
Dearest Celia-we are rushing on to-
ward Buffalo, and from there l will for
ward your purse with its valuables and
very necessaries. l have scandaliZed the
passengers by laughing continually. since
our hasty parting at the station. l can't
forget the panic-stricken expression of
your face as my train moved off so I'M
expectedly-you reaching after your de-
parting purse. I waving It frantically in
your direction. l declare I should have
thrown 1t at you had 1t not been for your
watch inside, Why. oh. why. dear girl,
could you not have been satisfied with my
assurance that I had dropped the house
key into your purse. without handing it
through the car window that l might
show you just where I had placed it? 4
can only hope that you, poor, penniless
child In an unknown town, will at least
have the courage to wait upon my door
step until the messenger brings this to
you. Remember I shall not rest until
you telegraph tomorrow. Lovingly.
CYNTHIA.
Helplessly big Jack Hayden col
lapsed into a chair. Remorse and
shame and regret settled deeply upon
him. And he had held this plucky, re-
sourceful little woman at the muzzle
Of six shooter, had sneered at her
unfortunately truthful tale, had driven
her from her only possible shelter
alone into the night. Her little white
blouse was very thin, he remembered,
and her jacket still chung to the porch
palings where she had relieved herself
Of 1t. Ye gods and little fishes, but
he had been an ass and several kinds
Of fool! Where could she 60 at this
hour Of the night?
Desperately Jack wandered among
the flowers of the garden. Something
moving at its farther end attracted his
attention, but it was only the ham.
mock swayed by a breeze. Closer in
spection revealed a white object in the
depth Of the hammock and-yes-it
was she, the little outcast girl.
Persian kitten cuddled drowsily against
her cheek. With sudden, overwhelm-