The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-30


attention, then low breathed "Ahw
Under pretense of securing his hand
kerchief he placed his satchel on the
ground and glanced around.
The girl was standing quite still.
her widened' eyes staring straight
ahead.
In quick alarm, Billy's gaze followed
hers. There, between them in the
path, his crooked legs bent as If for a
spring, crouched great bulldog The
creatures body trembled with rum
bling, growing breaths. His bloodshot
eyes looked steadily toward the girl
About his jaws cleaned something
white and frothy. Billy spoke evenly.
Keep perfectly STILL" he told the
girl. "You will be all right"
She seemed almost not to hear him.
her eyes still fixed upon the painting
dog. Then. with a little inarticulate
cry, she turned, suddenly covering her
face with her hands as Billy slipped
noiselessly forward. his fingers clasp
ing about the dogs throat.
Still with covered face the girl sank
down upon a mound Of leaves. and
when at last she looked about man and
dog had disappeared. Slowly the girl
went forward, bringing with careful
touch Billy's valise to rest close beside
her own.
Then she waited.
After what seemed an interminable
time she saw him walking briskly and
unframed, brushing the dirt and dust
Of conflict from his clothing as he
came
The girl put out her hands to him.
Speech seemed difficult.
"Oh," she whispered, 1T was brave!"
That's all right" murmured Billy
confusedly. "Don't-don't bother about
it." His eyes shone with the Joyful
Light Of triumph.
"You1l let me 60 with you now7"
he pleaded. and the girl seemed to I'M
derstand.
'"That was d pretty satisfactory In
PRODUCTION" she said.
So on down the glorified path he
walked at her side and then, as their
train had not yet arrived, farther on.
past the sunset woods. Every moment
added to Billy's assurance. This was
the girl, the one true. only girl! And
when they were later settled In the
second car she looked up gratefully.
"How Fortunate" she said, ''that you
happened to come my way! It is for
the shooting. suppose. They do a
good deal of that up there in the fall"
EYES," murmured Billy vaguely. "the
shooting. And-youT"
She smiled her Incompatible smile.
"T'm to spend q week or two sketch
ing the autumn woods" said Billy. 1T
is considered good practice for an art
student"
She leaned forward eagerly.
"Now, would 1t not be strange II
you were going to stop at Mrs. Par
sons too? Most people do 60 there.
The hotel is so poor"
Mrs. Parsons" Billy assured her,
"is the very place I intend to honor
with my presence during the coming
two weeks" Regretfully he left her
at the wide entrance to Mrs. Parsons
boarding house.
II win just stop to make my ar
rangements," he explained. land come
back tomorrow"
He smiled at her ruefully.
"It's long. long way to-tomorrow,"
he said.
Whistling his happiness down the
ragged village street. Billy Towne en-
tered the station.
"Say," he asked an amazed agent,
"What's the name Of this town.
woodbridge"
"Oh! All right. Well. give me q
ticket back to Sherman"
Return questioned the agent.
Billy laughed. "You Just bet your
lfe," he replied.
Alone through the fields he saunter-
ed back to the trolley, a smile Of hap
py "reminiscences flxed upon his face.
Just here she had stood like a star
tied. appealing child. and there the
dog.
Billy paused In his recollections to
give low whistle, and from distant
house came clumsily numbering great
bulldog. A moment the beast hesi-
tated. its legs doubled for spring,
its body shaking with low growing
breaths, then 1t leaped straight into
Billy's arms. Frantically the lathery
tongue sought to caress him.
"Here, Kelly" he demonstrated. "cut
TINT out"
Lovingly Kelly gazed through his
bloodshot eyes.
as that you, Billy Towne?' called
an approaching figure. "Sure. Kelly
never forgets his friends"
1.-THE poor old boys asthma seems
worse" said Billy. "Doing anything
for it,"
Cant" answered the man. Saw
you go through here this afternoon.
Scared your lady friend pretty bad.
didn't he?"
LADY friendT Knocked Billy as he
turned away. but he came presently to
pat the old dogs patient head.
~ ~ .asl ssU,1Ix IL hoI