The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-03
THE GIRL
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

Clare gave her Sh4ieS lllJle sHohS
to fill in every last available inch OF
space on the back seat of the coach.
"Oh. nonsense" laughed Lewis.
Here, Miss Rickard, 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 of!
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 lvesson.
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 a 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?" piped up an old gentleman.
Used to be ten years ago. Almost
sure to find a 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. He's a friend of the SUI
perntendent down here and the fore
man over there Haven't got any valu-
ables along have you!
Wayne laughed and took out his
watch and purse.
Shall we take an inventory to help
along the highwayman when we
meet him?" he asked Let us give
everything to Miss Crandall, and no
one would ever be brave enough to
hold her up"
Up on the box, Lewis and his two
companions watched the gulch as it
dipped and widened, narrowed up
again and plunged ahead, a cash in
the heart or the mountain. When the
coach swung down into the Devils
Kettle, it seemed TO rock alarmingly,
and stopped With jerk that sent the
horses almost on their launches.
Inside the coach, the people started
to rise, but found themselves neatly
covered by a revolver held by Wayne
Ivesson. His face, usually rather pale,
was flushed and his eyes were keen.
Stay where you are, all of you he
commanded. Miss Crandall. may |
trouble you for the handbag. please?"
Everything of value had been oblig.
ingly slipped into Ovens brown seal
handbag, and she hesitated, her eyes
flashing into his. outside. an older
man on horseback stood with leveled
rifle by the coach.
2 Hands up, all of you, he called
: Come on, kid. It's all right
| And Wayne slipped down from the
. coach. but stopped, for the old gen
, tleman held a revolver at his head
t Got you this trip" he said pleas
antly. sit still, ladies' All right
J. Lewis!"
a Lewis suddenly felt the touch Of
: steel in his hand. Old Ben had some
how crumpled down at the bandits
/. first warning shot. but the girl was in
0 his place. holding the reins. At the
e voice from the rear OF the coach. tn,
: man on horseback wheeled his hors,
= and started on headlong gallon dowr
0 the gulch road. but Lewis fred aftel
$ him, bringing the horse TO his knees
n and he lay motionless with his ride
: under him.
1t had all happened so suddenly that
: the girls and women had watched tn,
y scene in silent horror. Claire wa
9 first to note the surprising change il
i tho girl on the box. Her hat was Oh
. She was short-haired and boyish. an,
: was on the ground laughing and talk
:, lne while Wayne was bound hand an,
foot
n Gwen waited. white faced and trou
!, b!cd- Finally Lewis came to her sid
!. ard she laid her hand impulsiyely Of
ais coat sleeve-suCh little motion
- but 1t betrayed 10 MIN an Of he
- thoughts. Tie laid one hand over
!, closely
< Well grille. I'm sorry you ran int
If this. We've eeen expecting Il 10
It months. We came prepared. Their
q wore two Of the sncriGs men Wit
, ae, Baker on the inside as the Of
n man, and acae Caa'r outside wit
y me-. dressed as the girl Were so
Jealous dear
.C.pyriHl 1855 rs tae M.p1arr s.rueB.
us+ @vnHH#at.