The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-19
THE GIRL
BY IZOLA FORESTER.

space on the back seat of the coach.
"Oh, nonsense" laughed Lewis.
Here. Miss Richard. just swing up
beside me. There's room for you be-
tween Ben and me-"
Old Ben made room for her gra
ciously, and picked up his reins, whip
in one hand. waiting the starters
signal in front of the Mountain View
hotel. Gwen was to sit there. Lew
is" complained Claire anxiously.
Gwen wants to ride inside" re-
piled Lewis quietly. Everybody
ready? We're off,"
DO you know her-Miss Rickard?"
asked the girl next to Claire.
81 know she's perfectly impossible"
returned Claire. Wonder what Gwen
thinks? She's been dropping poor old
Lewis over the edge of emotional
chasms for days, and it serves her
right. They're Just as good as en-
gagged, and she's been absolutely hyp-
Noticed by Wayne Ivesson.'
Inside the coach Gwen Arnold sat
with Ivesson. For five weeks he had
been a guest at the hotel, a slender,
scholarly looking youngster who spent
most of his time reading on the broad
porches or riding the mountain paths.
1T is wonderful to have you all to
myself" Ivesson said as the coach
swung down into the first gully.
You call this alone?" laughed
Gwen teasingly. wondering who the
girl was up on the box.
Who is she?" asked Ivesson, al
most as if he had caught her thought.
She was not guest at the hotel, and
seemed more like a mountain type.
Lewis knows her Odd, isn't it,"
Lewis has lived up here for three
years. she answered, resentfully.
Ever heard this trip was danger
ous?' pired up an old gentleman.
Used to be ten years ago. Almost
sure to find bandit"
Really" Gwen leaned forward
eagerly.
Il haven't carried a gun in years"
went on the old gentleman cheerfully.
but I've got one along today. That
boy on the box is carrying money over
to the Cuddyhoe outfit to pay off the
men their quarterly wages. Got it
from the express office. And it's some
risk to get it through even today"
who has 1.-THE driver or-or Mr..
Stevens?" asked Gwen.
Stevens. Hes friend of the SUI
perintendent down here and the fore
| vain.
ables along, have your"
Wayne laughed and took out his
, watch and purse.
, Shall we take an inventory to help
along the hghwayman when we
/ meet him." he asked. Let us give
1 everything to Miss Crandall, and nc
q one would ever be brave enough tc
b hold her up"
a Up on the box, Lewis and his two
] companions watched the gulch as II
G dipped and widened, narrowed III
b again and plunged ahead, a cash II
9 the heart OF the mountain. When the
0 coach swung down into the Devils
I Kettle, It seemed to rock alarmingly
d and stopped with jerk that sent tn,
q horses almost on their launches.
Inside the coach, the people started
to rise, but found themselves neatl,
a covered by a revolver held by Wayne
l. Ivesson. His face, usually rather pale
l. was flushed and his eyes were keen.
: Stay where you are: all of you," HI
p commanded. Miss Crandall, may
0 trouble you for the handbag, please? 2
u Everything of value had been oblig
Q ingly slipped into Ovens brown sea
U handbag, and she hesitated. her eye
flashing into his. Outside. an olde
II man on horseback stood with leveleC
K rife by the coach.
l. Hands up, all of you" he called
3 Come on, kid. It's all right
B And Wayne slipped down from thu
coach, but stopped, for the old gen
l. tleman held revolver at his head.
t. Got you this trip" he said pleas
% antly. Sit still, ladies'. All right
g Lewis!"
n Lewis suddenly felt the touch o
= steel in his hand. Old Ben had some
how crumpled down at the bandit
It first warning shot, but the girl was il
= his place, holding the reins. At thu
p voice from the rear of the coach, thu
# man on horseback wheeled his hors'
e and started on a headlong gallop dowI
e the gulch road, but Lewis fired afte
2 him, bringing the horse to his knees
n and he lay motionless with his ride
g under him.
It It had all happened so suddenly thai
the girls and women had watched thu
n scene in silent horror. Claire wal
first to note the surprising change il
|, the girl on the box. Her hat was off
O She was short-haired and boyish, ant
was on the ground laughing and talk
= ing while Wayne was bound hand anC
e foot.
r Gwen waited white faced and trou
bled Finally Lewis came to her sid
|, and she laid her hand impulsively OF
g his coat sleeve-such a little motion
r but it betrayed to him all of he
] thoughts He laid one hand over /
G closely
r Well, grille, I'm sorry you ran int
? this We've been expecting it 70
months. We came prepared. Their
9 were two of the sheriff's men witt
/, me. Baker on the inside, as the oil
0 man. and young Carter outside witt
+ me, dressed as the girl. We're yo
jealous, dear?"
r Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate)