The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-03
Ghe
Marigold Man
How He Was Saved by
An Impulse"
By CLARISSA MACKIE

charge its 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 IL icy life" was
the surly answer.
"How about you. Jim?''
Same here. | never saw him, but
Durgee wrote that we'd know him by
the yellow marigod in his buttonhole."
why would he be wearing that?"
"Oh, it's sign. that's all! Durgee
said he'd tag him so we couldn't miss
him. Oh. Wen get him all right!'
Hell wish he'd never testified
against Tom Telford" growled one of
the men.
Another laughed evilly. lust how
you going to do it?'
Same old way" returned the other
carelessy. "A crack in the right place
win fix him."
"Sh-h.' 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. so 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 ROY
ing for a man with a yellow marigold
in his buttOnhole, man who was neal
to death.
All at once she saw Cousin Phoebe
trotting along. peering nearsightedly
about, and walking beside her was O
tail young man in a gray suit. He
was carrying Fidos 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 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. "wha1
are you doing?"
Nan, with the marigold crushed in
her coat pocket, turned rosy face ur
to the amazed youth.
| pCS youI Ddiuol, SIc
But ! couldn't let you wear that"
By this time they were In the sta
ton, and Nan, CHANGING furtively about
saw the three conspirators still watch
ing the doorway for the man with the
marigold
The stranger was putting Fido's has
ket into Cousin Phoebes hands, anG
that lady was expressing her gratitude
In no measured terms.
I'm ready. Man," she said.
Eyes. Cousin Phoebe" hesitated the
girl. II would like to speak toto
Mr. Brooks moment
He was looking down at her in a
| puzzled way. He was wondering what
game this extremely pretty and evi
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 | am quite a lunatic, .
! Nan said 10 him breathlessly, "but |
| heard three men plotting to kill a man
who would come through the gate
wearing a marlgold in his lapel. man
who had something to do with a Mr..
I Telford'-he started a little at that
! land so, you see,' she smiled uncer-
| tainly, 81 had TO find the man who was
wearing marigold and take 1t away
with me. Wasn't it lucky you were
: with Cousin PhoebeT'
well, you are plucky," he said
gratefully. II am John Ransom
Please introduce me to Cousin Phoebe.
/ and then we can talk comfortably, for
must thank you for what you have
done"
So Nan introduced Cousin Phoebe to
the delightful young man who had car
ried Fido. and somehow matters seem
ed more natural now that she knew
his name and could place him as one
of Mans friends. Still Nan must ex-
plain why she had flung herself ~ Mr.
Ransom in that bold manner
Cousin Phoebe permitted the yOung