The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-18

Cuen Cnere was mistake, anQ-anQ
had to get ill.," she went on excitedly
. Il simply had to. 1t was night, ant
there was no place else to go. l don
) know living soul in this town. ant
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
face, and pity took its place as BIZ
listened 10 the girls confused and i'm
probable tale. But the hatpin?' be
asked dryly. you're rather expert al
that trick, aren't your
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 name?" Jack inquired
tersely.
The girl flashed her white teeth at
him. Celia Celtone," she said.
| To him the name sounded as fanciful
as her story. He recalled none like It
among his sisters acquaintances.
you might" he suggested hopefully.
have some means of Identification. u
card, perhaps, in your purse?"
His prisoner raised her brows. "Cyn-
thia has my purse. too" she said Thea
with a sudden, graceful. beseechin.
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
WELL" she asked, what are you go
Ing to do about it?"
Through the silent house came the
long and imperative summons of
bell. Jack swung about impatiently.
You'll have TO come with me-" he
said. 'It's 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.
very we'll" Jack answered shortly,
and advanced to the open window. Il
am here" he called. mo, this way:
round to the right That's it. Now,
who is there?'
Messenger" answered concise
voice from below. "Come down and
sign for package"
Jack muttered an imprecation as his
sleeve caught upon a nail. "You will
nave to come with me now" he stern
~ told his prisoner; but. as he released
his sleeve and turned about, no rebel |
nous young woman awaited in the |
great chair. The room was empty.
Headlong he rushed down the stair.
The street door stood opeu (which
way?' 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 mocking, reckless maid should
have SO outwitted him. Still absorbed
be drew the wrappings from the bun
lie delivered at so late an hour, fail
ing to notice In his abstraction that
The name of the address was not his
own. A woman's dainty purse pre-
'ented itself to his view, while from
is violet interior he brought forth
1ote. The handwriting was unmis-
akably his sisters. He read perplex-
IDLY:
Dearest Celia-We are rushing on to-
ward Buffalo, and from there | will for
ward your purse with its valuables and
'ery necessaries. / have scandalized the
'assengers by laughing continually. since
ur hasty parting at the station | can't
orget the panic-stricken expression Of
our face as my train moved off so un-
reaching after your de-
arting purse ] waving II frantically in
our direction ! declare / should have
brown 1t at you had 1t not been for your
'atch inside. Why, oh, why, dear girl.
ould you not have been satisfied with nv =
ssurance that / had dropped the house |
ey into your purse. without handing II
nrough the car window that / might
how you just where l had placed it? |
an only hope that you, poor, penniless !
mia In an unknown town, will at least
ave the courage to wait upon my door
Lep until the messenger brings this to
on. Remember ! shall not rest until
on telegraph tomorrow. Lovingly.
CYNTHIA
Helplessly big Jack Hayden COL
lpsed into a chair. Remorse and
hame and regret settled deeply uponl
I'm. And he had held this plucky. re-
ourceful little woman at the muzzle
six shooter, had sneered at her
truthful tale. had driven
er from her only possible shelter
one into the night. Her little white
louise was very thin, he remembered
nd her jacket still chung to the porch
alings where she had relieved herself
It Ye gods and little fishes. but
had been an ass and several kinds
fool! Where could she go at this
'ur Of the night?
Desperately Jack wandered amonp
e flowers of the garden. Something
owing at its farther end attracted his
tention, but it was only the ham.
ock swayed by breeze. Closer in.
ecuon revealed white object In the
pth Of the hammock and-yes-,t
as she, the little outcast girl
'rsian kitten cuddled drowsily against
r cheek. With sudden, overwhelm.
g wave Of tenderness Jack bent and |
cked the girl up in his arms. No
lrd he spoke until he had placed her
fely inside the bouse