Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-08

thing definite to do. They made no
further secret of Gloria's disappearance.
They called on everybody for help.
The latest scandal in divorces, the
most startling bathing suit at yester-
days sand parade, were forgotten that
day. The only theme of talk was the
fact that Pierpont Staffords daughter
was lost in the everglades and that
big reward was offered for her rescue.
Parties of all sorts attacked the prob
lem.
Cars went scattering along the little
abroad that pushes a short distance into
the glades; boats of every sort glded
along the drainage canal; motor boats,
lcanoes. skiffs--were spinning hith-
er and yon among the thousands of
waterways.
David forgot Lois Freeman and the
engagement he had to play golf with
her that morning. He and his father
had anticipated the dawn in the bayous.
Freneau, strolling across the lawn to
open the office of the New York brok-
ers he represented, found Lois Free
man and her father reading the morn
ing papers. They spoke of the loss OF
Iu.oria and the $1,000 offer for her re-
storation to her father. Freneau medi-
tated. He could use $4,000 or less to
great advantage.
When Lois invited him to play golf
he said that he had another engage
ment Whatever motive it was that
moved Freneau, he resolved to forego
his opportunity to court Lois without
the disturbing presence of MS wealthy
rival. He babe her good-by, but he ala
not go to his office. He sauntered to
the waters edge and chartered motor
boat. He dropped into it and turned
the engine over. The water began 10
churn and the boat to skim the flash-
ing waters of Lake Worth. He was so
eager that he stood up with the tlIler
rones in his hand and stared ahead as
If already trying to pierce the veil
Almost everybody in Florida must
have been aware Of Gloria's disappear
ance except the family of shittless pau
pers named Sipe. They had come south
some wears before and put their savings
in an orange grove. A vicious winter
frost had ruined them in night. They
lhad neither the spirit to go north nor
IN conouer the south. Theny sank INTO
a kind of sluggard lethargy, hating the
world and all the lucky ones. Inc trop-
lical fertility of the soil barely Kept
them from starvation, and they loated
through life in slovenly detection.
Gloria had lain down to sleep just
about where the Sipe fence would nave
been If there had been renee ohe
had not seen their shack beyond the
heavy growth.
When she woke and yawned and rub
he'd her eyes and looked about she de-
cided that she must have fallen asleep
in the horticultural building at Bronx
mark She could not imagine such giant,
such grotesque trees anywhere else.
Then she realized where she was and
how she had come there. She wonder
ed how she would get out of there.
She wanted very much to nave her
governess scold her for oversleepins and
her maid to fill the tub with water that
was too hot as usual
She did not like to be out in the broad
daylight in an evening gown, especially
not in a gown so torn that the broad
daylight shone through 1t in places
She rose to her feet and limped aimless-
Ily, She caught sight of the Slpe hoVel.
| 1t was a tumbledowa hut, but IL lookeu
like the Royal Poinciana to her. The
pigs and the NANCY dogs might have
been gazelles in a park and the ragged
man and woman and boy might nave
been a group of royal blood.
She ran toward them for shelter. They
received her with stupid wonder and
with no hospitality. When she told
who she was the name of Stafford meant
nothing to them When she told how
she came there they did not believe her.
IThey stared at the little diamond rlns
on her finger and the gold bracelet at
her wrist. These meant something 10
them.
The woman upbraided Gloria FOR be
ing out in such rags and Gloria o1Iered
70 buv ANYTHING she had. Mrs. Sipe re-
fused to sell what she had on "hlch
wos ALI she had. The only extra COW
lerine was a new suit she was making
for the bow out of some hemp sacklnG'
Gloria did not want a boys clothes'
hut Mrs. Sine sneered that they were
more decent than what she mad on Also
Itba+ she might pass some rough ohar-
Iecters or even some Seminole Indians
on her way back and that she would De
safer as a boy than as srL
This convinced Gloria. She pald Ior
the clothes with the ring and went INTO
the shack to change me ola woman nan
snatched the gold bracelet from her
arm. She took it as payment for
Gun of weak but bitter coffee that
Gloria gulped down.
When Gloria was dressed the Sipe
boy was ordered to take her to pain
which would eventually lead her to the
main road.
1t was easier walking in breeches than
in the skirts she had worn. But she
did not like the manner of the boy. He
began to pay her crude compliments and
finally grew so impudent that she boxed
his ears. He took his revenge by point
.ng her in the wrong direction. He
turned back and laughed. He had an
III nourished sense Of humor.
| Gloria pushed on and on, growing
more and more doubtful of the way and
dismauy footsore. She longed for the
little racing car that she had left in
the waves, or even for a pony or a
mule. She prayed for anything to ride.
Suddenly a turn in the path revealed
what she took to be an answer to her
prayer horse! 1t was doleful look
ing animal, yet it was a horse. She
ran forward and spoke to it soothlngly.
But it backed and reared. 1t WAS not
white mans horse and it hated the
whites even as its red master had hated