The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-14
10 LONG BAY
By LOUISE OLIVER.

likely to land in Kalamazoo instead
of Long Bay.
Carolyn looked at her brother con-
temptuously. Just because you nap
pen to be a football pet doesn't give
you any license to insult your sister.
Mother, mayn't go?'
So Carolyn triumphantly prepared
for her journey. and upon the day set,
her brother resignedly carried her bag
to the station, bought her tickets and
put her on the train to Long Bay.
Something will happen to Sis be-
fore she's a day older or I'll miss my
guess he grumbled as he left the
train. Hello, Charlie, where are you
bound for?" he called to man who
bumped into him in his hurry to catch
the moving car.
"Baxters-Long Bay called Charlie
from the step, and in reply he caught
something of sister-same place-look
after" and the train was beyond
hearing.
This is what actually happened.
Carolyn, armed with candy and
magazines and some unopened mail,
proceeded to make. herself entirely
comfortable for the days journey. The
Pullman car had few occupants and
she spent several minutes in a brief
inspection.
The man across the aisle was young,
good looking, and, to Carolyn's pres
ent annoyance, evidently very much
interested in her.
The train flew on and she began to
tire of the trip. She began to resent
in earnest the half-smiling glances
of the man across the aisle.
"I'll go out and stand on the plat
form for change she fumed So,
suiting the action to the word, she
sailed grandly down the aisle upon
adventure bent. She wound up in the
drawing room.
81 wonder if that silly man is still
there she unused, looking back
through her door,
Tickets, please said the conduc-
tor. sticking his head in the door.
Carolyn. had, in fact. forgotten about
hers 1t was in her handbag inside
the big bag down the aisle. She arose.
Its back there. I'll get it." she said.
She went back to her old seat in the
car opposite the man she detested.
But there was no bag there. She
looked around She was in the right
place she was sure-directly across
from the man. Then she spied bag.
her bag she was positive, half hidden
under the mans seat
"My ticket is in my bag and the
bags gone" she declared to the con-
ductor, never taking her eyes from
the bag across the aisle. Il left 1t
here a few minutes ago"
1T can't have left the train. It
must be around somewhere" said the
conductor patiently. you look and
I'm sure you'll find it,
And impulsive Carolyn, for whom
her brother had rightfully predicted
disaster answered: 81 have found it.
That's it right there, l am positive. 4"
She nodded toward the half-hidden
bag across the aisle
But this is my bag said the man.
81 know it is mine," protested the
stranger, but" with smile that
maddened Carolyn, I'll pay the lady's
fare He drew from his pocket q
roll of bills.
"No-he WON'T Carolyn assured
the conductor savagely That's my
bag. | guess | know it. But / won't
argue with either of you, and if that
whistle means stop I'll get off and
telegraph back to the city for help
Besides I'll telegraph ahead for"
with a meaning glance at the suspect.
ed thief
The train did slow down and STOP
and before the men could prevent her
Carolyn was off the car and in midst
Of dreary, bleak landscape without a
house in sight, and the train sliding
down the track with never a sign of a
reason for having stopped at all.
With tears of rage and chagrin
Carolyn started to tramp down a lone.
ly road at random, and the snow-as
it always does in tragic moments
began to fall. She could not tell
whether she was going north. south
east or west, and, finally, after wan
dering hopelessly for half hour, she
sat down on stone in despair.
Charlie Pendleton. as soon as Caro-
lyn had made her entirely UNEXPECTED
move and left the train. grabbed his
own bag and then contritely extricated
another from under seat across the
aisle, but not exactly opposite. He
knew the girl hal returned to the
wrong seat when she came back for
her bag, because he had charged his
own in her absence. Now that his lit.
tie joke had turned out So seriously
he was ready to blame himself as the
| possible cause of a tragedy
Repatriation, he convinced h!.nsolf
consisted in managing tn have the
train stopped at the next town, hiring
sleigh and going in search Of her
through a regular blizzard, with only
general idea as to her present where.
abouts.
Luck was with him, AMI he found
her, storm driven and frightened into
half penitent and wholly forgivine
mood.
Moreover. they contrived to get to
Long Bay that day and were only a
few hours late. Furthermore, as a re.
ward for keeping her escapade Sc.
cret from the family and for certain