The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-09
Oe
Marigold Man
How He Was Saved by
An ''Impulse"
By CLARISSA MACKIE

NAN ddIpe( was WdlIluS AVT uci
train when the three men passed her
and came to q pause near the gate
where the western express would dis
charge it's passengers. At first the men
spoke in low tones, but as the CONVEX
sation continued their tones grew lit
tie louder until Nan could not help
hearing what they said.
What they said was startling enough
to her ears.
you'll recognize him, Bill"
Never seen him in my life," was
tho surly answer.
"How about you. Jim"
Same here. l never saw him, but
Durgee wrote that we'd know him by
the yellow marigold in his buttonhole."
"Why would he be wearing that?"
"Oh, it's a sign, that's ALL Durgee
said he'd tag him SO we couldn't miss
him. Oh, Wen get him all rightw
Hell wish he'd never testified
against Tom Telford," growled one Of
the men.
Another laughed evilly. "Just how
you going to do it?"
Same old way" returned the other
carelessly. "a crack in the right place
will fix him."
"Sh-hw warned the other. "The
dame on your left is listening" They
moved swiftly away to the other side
of the gate, and Nan stood rigid, out
wardly calm, but inwardly a-quiver
with fear for the man who would come
walking through that gate with a
marigold in his buttonhole, walking to
certain death, for 1t was nothing less
than death that these men were plan.
ming for the wearer Of the yellow
flower.
What could she do? Nothing.
Common sense told her that she
would only get herself into trouble by
interfering in this instance, but i'm
pulsive Nan was not on good terms
with common sense, 80 her family
said, and now, instead of forgetting
all about the conversation she had
overheard, Nan was planning how she
could warn the marigold man Of the
danger that menaced him.
So when the gate slid back and the
passengers began to pour out into the
station Nan forgot all about looking
for Cousin Phoebe, whom she had
come to meet, and her eyes went row.
ing for man with q yellow marigold
In his buttonhole. a man who was near
to death.
All at once she saw Cousin Phoebe
trotting along, peering nearsightedly
about, and walking beside her was a
tall young man in gray suit He
was carrying Fido's basket for Cousin
Phoebe.
Nan saw Phoebe and the strange
young man as they came up the train
shed toward the gate, and before they
were framed in the opening she saw
that the man wore a yellow marigold
in his buttonhole.
In an instant she had slipped under
the rope, darted past the gate and
flung herself upon the astonished mari
gold man, tearing the offending bios
som from his lapel
man." bleated Cousin Phoebe, "what
are you doing?"
Nan, with the marigold crushed in
her coat pocket, turned rosy face up
to the amazed youth.
II beg your pardon" she stammered
"But couldn't let you wear that"
BY this time they were In the sta
ton, and Nan, glancing furtively about.
saw the three conspirators still watch
Ing the doorway for the man with the
marigold.
The stranger was putting Fido's bas-
ket into Cousin Phoebe's hands, and
that lady was expressing her gratitude
In no measured terms.
'I'm ready. Man," she said.
Eyes, Cousin Phoebe" hesitated the
girl. 81 would like to speak TOTO
Mr.. Brooks a moment"
He was looking down at her in a
puzzled way. He was wondering what
game this extremely pretty and evil
IDENTITY refined girl was playing. First
she had snatched the flower from his
buttonhole. Second, she had told him
she couldn't let him wear 1t, and now
she was calling him by a fictitious
name Did she really think he was
some acquaintance. or was she just
crazy?
Don't think l am quite lunatic,'
Nan said to him breathlessly, "but ]
heard three men plotting to kill a mar
who would come through the gate
wearing q marigold in his lapel, a mar
who had something to do with a Mr.
Telford"-he started little at that
land so, you see," she smiled uncer
tainly, 81 had to find the man who wa.
wearing a marigold and take 1t ava,
with me. Wasn't it lucky you wer,
with Cousin PhoebeT'
"Well, you are plucky," he salt
gratefully. 81 ap John Ransom
Please introduce me to Cousin Phoebe
and then we can talk comfortably, 70
l must thank you for what you hav
done"
So Nan introduced Cousin Phoebe t
the delightful young man who had cal
ried Fido, and somehow matters seen
ed more natural now that she kne,
his name and could place him as on