The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-18

NJ q s,,a ou 70 take the pIaca
ca - : 'uoge who was to decide SOM SOM
Eases at Wadsworth. Tbronsb s sone
lns1phcable within Eugene asta SVl ~
aooompany her father on his tr;n -
tnat place. Little did the -. ip 70
Rece tnat 1t was because of Walter that
nusenie was so intent on becoming Ia bIs
SOnpanion on this especial journey
80 1t was at Wadswortb ,hat n
GENE and Walter again met. WaItor
va. "as giaa and Eugene was happv al
tnougn she strove to conceal her trua
emotions from parent and friend al;Lo
a. me young people met frequently for
ene il,tie hotel where the RAYS mt nm
was tne center of activity in the ton-p
ana Walter called there every eva
ming. 'ei! eve
waiter appeared in several cases ho
lore Judge Ray. Then came ON one n
which another attorney appeared as
counsel for the defense. The count,
was seeking to GUST a gang of notori.
gus squatters, who swore that IL the
Judge ruled against them thew would
nave mis- life. He did rule against
tnem. Just after dusk one dav Walter
came hurriedly to the hotel and sent
up word to the Judge that he must sec
him Immediately.
You will have to leave Wadswo-th
at once. Judge Ray" he spoke hur.
riedly. o A
was arranging to start for home
IN tne morning announced Eugenie's
father.
Delay may be fatal" pronounced
walter gravely. Perhaps it will he
TOO late now. The back hills men. in.
furiated at your decision against them.
have sworn that you shall never leave
the place alive. Here" and Walter
placed bundle on the table, is a dis.
guise. Don it at once and leave the
hotel by the rear exit. Do not take the
east course. 1t is guarded at every
point. Strike due west"
But that leads directly across the
bad lands"
Where you will not be suspected of
venturing. In your disguise you will
be safe-with that and the high sign"
"The high sign?" repeated the Judge,
vaguely.
Yes, l am about to impart to you
what l have no right to disclose,
but"
He glanced at Eugene. Her very
soul was in her face. He led the Judge
aside and made a motion with finger
to his lip, then described a peculiar
motion with the same hand lifted high
over his head
Deliver that sign whenever chal.
lenged."
But Eugenie-my daughter!" cried
the Judge, agitatedly.
mo harm will come to her. She will
be safe in charge of the hotel matron.
Besides, the marshal is trying to get a
posse together to drive away the rus
tiers, If possible"
Judge Ray departed upobserved
from the. hotel. The following morn
ing, as Walter stood in front of the
hotel, cavalcade of desperate-looking
men drove up furiously. Their leader.
a brawny giant, confronted him.
Judge Ray-where is he?" demand
ed the ruffian.
"Gone. You are too late" answered
Walter. "One moment, friend; am
a man of honor The Judge by this
time is safe. l saved him. gave him
the high sign. It has doubtlessly en-
abled safe trip homeward."
"You-you did that?" fairly shouted
the incensed leader.
ITO save a friend-yes Gentlemen,
II that makes me traitor in your eyes
l am willing to accept the penalty"
With a great snarl the leader struck
out with his heavy riding whip and
dealt Walter a blow that sent him
PROSTATE to the ground, senseless.
Hang him to the nearest tree!" he
growled out vengefully, but at that mo-
ment there was a new commotion. The
marshal with a posse from the next
town appeared on the scene, and then
began q struggle that ended in bat
tie fatal to the last one Of the desper-
ate group.
Eugene came running from the ho-
tel, white and frantic. She knelt be-
side her wounded hero. She pleaded
for help as his head lay in her lap.
Weeping. distressed, she leaned over
and pressed her lips to his cheek
the cheek she had once dealt with so
cruelty.
"oh, he may die!" she cried. And
T."
He opened his eyes. He smiled up
into her own.
my queen!" he murmured raptly.