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

morning. There In conference with
the superintendent Inez passed from
his mind 1t was 10 o'clock when he
returned to Sonora Cavillo's. The In
mates were all In their gooms, but the
house was open as 1t hid been during
the day, for the weather was warm.
and. being remote from. other places
and persons. the doors were never shut
at night The only light on the main
door was one In the living room open
ing on to the veranda.
The engineer sat down on a bench
on the veranda and was thinking Of a
problem that had arisen In connection
with the construction of the dam when
he saw the shadow of a human figure
cast through a window by the light In
the room behind him and heard a voice
say:
"Senor. thinking you might need re-
freshment I have iced some wine for
you"
"Ah. senorita: always kind and
thoughtful! l win drink the wine on
condition that you drink 1t with me-"
Inez brought out a tray on which
was a small pitcher OF beverage she
had concocted. and, drawing a table
before the bench. the two sat down on
the bench to regaie themselves.
They had been seated some time and
had emptied the pitcher Jernegan's
arm was around Inez's waist On the
table before them suddenly appeared
the shadow Of head, then of a pair of
shoulders. Lastly shadow of an arm
rose from the rest. Inez gave a shrek
and, springing up, covered her compan-
ion with the upper part Of her body.
A blow descended upon her. and she
sank down on to the floor.
| Jernegan rose. turned and saw a
! Mexican holding a knife In his hand
from which blood dripped From this
he cast glance at the sinking Inez
and took In the situation. An inten-
ton to kin him had been thwarted by
her receiving the blow that had been
meant for him. Selling the only weap.
on at hand, the earthen pitcher on the
table, he hurled 1t with all his strength
through the window. 1t struck his op-
ponent in the temple, and he fell sense
less to the floor.
Forgetting his existence Jernegan
stopped, took up Inez and held her in
bis arms. Notwithstanding severe
wound in her shoulder she had not
\ lost consciousness. She looked up at
him with a smile that spoke volumes.
She had received the blow that might
have killed the man she loved.
Her shrek brought down her mother
from the floor above and others.
Sonora Cavillo glanced at the figure of
the would be murderer stretched on
the floor with the bloody knife near
the hand that had held it She recog.
nized Coral, but he did not interest
her; her concern was for her daughter,
whose shrek had brought her to the
scene of the trouble. Going on to the
veranda, she took Inex from the Amer.
lean. tore away the clothing that GOV.
cred the wound and began stanching
the blood.
Jernegan gave a shrill cali to the
men In the camp, and the superin-
tendent and several other men came to
the house
Take that man awayr' cried the en-
gineer. "He tried to kill me. This
girl threw herself in his way and re-
ceived the blow"
Coral. who was still insensible, was
taken up and carried to the rear Of the
house. Inez was supported to her
room by her mother.
Jernegan thought 1t best to spend
the night at the camp. On reaching 1t
he told what he knew OF the story.
This was not much. He did not know
who the man was who had attacked
him. but surmdsed 1t was some Mexican
possibly interested in Inez-who
hated gringoes. Those engaged with
him in construction work advised him
to remain In camp with them, for, since
he had excited antagonism, he was La
BILE to be murdered He had no
stomach for the scene of his tragic ad-
venture and took their advice
Coral, who had been struck in vital
place, remained unconscious till a sur.
geon removed a fractured bone and its
consequent pressure on the brain
Then he recovered consciousness. and
1t was not long before he was about
again. He expressed much concern as
to Inez's condition. his first words after
regaining his senses being. Have |
killed herr When be was assured
thaA she was living and her wound
was not mortal he expressed a wish to
see her But she would not grant It
As soon as he became able to go about
by himself he was sent away without
a word from her
But four hours elapsed between the
meeting Of Jernegan and Inez and the
climax OF the drama Each endured
for a lifetime the consequences OF q
sudden outburst Of love from her and
a yielding to a momentary indiscre-
ton on his part They never met
again Indeed. Inez was soon convinc-
ed that another meeting would not be
advisable. She realized the difference
In their conditions Why had she not
done so In the first placer Because
the food came upon her too violently
to admit Of forethought
Jernegan. satisfied that he had bet
ter leave the locality. did so, sending
another engineer to take bis place BE
Is now a middle aged man, but is not
married Inez has long ago passed
into that condition Of physical decay
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