The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-01

called it. / burned down our home to
get rid of my old woman. She beat it.
Else it would have been murder as
we'll"
Dear mel" muttered the young
man, staring hopelessly at the tramp.
MY dear fellow, you-of course you're
going to give yourself up to the po-
lice"
"Police?" shouted Blister IF l
wanted to do that l could have done
it any time the last three years. No,
what want is to get square, to be for
given"
For half an hour Mr.. Saunders plead
ed with him in vain. Blister" appar-
emily had no intention of paying the
penalty of his crimes, and at last
stalked of in a huff-to admit Red"
MIR. Saunders" Red" began. Il
been thinking over your words about
getting square, and l want to tell you
something that's been preying on my
mind for years." Red" could talk
quite we'll if he tried to. -Four years
ago killed a mani"
KILLED a mani" echoed the young
minister, staring at this new confidant
in absolute horror.
Yep, in Chicago" said Red" 1T
was while l was engaged in a little
private affair-well. sir, a burglary.
He was an old guy, too. turned eighty,
l believe. ! smashed his head in
! with my jimmy He shouldn't have
interfered, at his age, unless he'd had
a thicker head But, Mister Saun-
ders, his last look has haunted me to
my dying day. l want to get square. "
John Saunders placed both his
hands on Reds shoulders and
looked him earnestly in the eyes.
There is only one way in which
you can square and make atonement
for your past" he said.
Il knew it," shouted Red" exultant-
ly. Name it. III do it,
Il will pay your fare back to Chi
cago,' answered the clergyman.
Reds" jaw dropped What in
blazes would want to go back to Chi
cago for?" he asked Il had trouble
enough getting away"
To give yourself up and satisfy the
law" said Mr.. Saunders. THAT is the
only way in which you can square
yourself"
Il won't. tell you" shouted Red.
And you won't snitch on me, neither.
come to you and told you that in
confidence. | come to you to get
square and you want to kill mel"
And he flung himself out of the
clergyman's presence, leaving Mr..
Saunders white and shaking.
All that night he thought over his
predicament Here were two Of his
flock, one a murderer, the other with
two atrocious crimes unpublished.
Both were repentant; neither was
willing to pay the price of forgiveness.
What should he do? Could he betray
them?"
He was too sick to get up that
morning. In the afternoon he rose
and dressed: just as he had complet.
ed his toilet there came a tap at the
door and Miss Mary stood revealed
carrying a tray on which hot lunch
was smoking.
81 was afraid you we're ill. Mr.. Saun.
ders, when you didn't come down to
breakfast" she explained Il hope it
is nothing much?"
In spite of the weight upon the
young mans mind he could not help
thinking that he would like to catch
this vision and keep her to be his for
ever.
Miss Mary set down the tray and
came toward him, holding out her
hands impulsively You are in trou-
ble." she said Tell me what it is
He told her. sick and trembling
When he had finished he asked for her
advice. But to his amazement Miss
Mary was actually smiling-smiling
while the tears stood in her eyes.
'Oh Mr.. Saunders," she exclaimed
you didn't believe a word those two
dreadful liars said? Why, | saw them
plotting together last night They are
both highly respectable men, of their
kind, except for drink and shiftless
ness. Mr.. Saunders, they wanted to
give you something to occupy your
mind, that's all. They tried that trick
with Mr.. Harrison once You speak
to Them and you'll find out
The young man gasped. Are you
sure, Miss Nary" he demanded, seiz
ing her han's again.
Dead sure, she answered. And
suddenly silence fell between them
Miss Mary said John in an al
/ tered voice, Il am a fool | need
someone to look after me. VIII you
, won't you-will YOU try. dear?"
And Miss Mary promised that she
Z. would