The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-02-05


perfectly able to satisfy her claim ~ /,
Is not unreasonable. My railway bonds
VIII do that | shall certainly do every.
thing ! can to keep the matter OUT OF
court. III your bosom friend does not
shrink from publicity | do. There 4
no need for the lady to expose her lac.
Grated feelings 10 a lawyer. Let her
tel you what is the damage done, and
win pay"
Gould this be my brother Ralph
whom l had always regarded the soul Of
honorf My establishment was As crea,
as at learning that Kate Devereaux
VINO. 1t had appeared to me, possessed
the soul of true woman. should make
a money demand as compensation for
having been trifed with. But Kate
nao justice as motive. Ralph so far
as could see had no ground whatever
to stand on.
Ralph" i said. this is the most aw.
rui thing that has ever happened 10
me. What can do to stop itT'
What can you do, Puss Y'-Puss wa.
his pet name for me-"you can get
your friends terms will nay and
that will end the matter"
But are You content TO remain in
such a position? Think how Il win IN.
Jure you. Kate showed me your let.
tiers, they are full of ardent love"
she will not show them TO any one
else"
How do you known
Because she Is not that kind of n
girl"
This gave me Il ray OF hope. Ralph
thus far had spoken no word of blame
Tor Kate, and il was evident that he
respected her, And his letters 10 her
showed plainly that he had loved her.
What brought about your change of
feeling for her 2" | asked.
That would be telling. | am quite
willing that YOU should pick out wife
for me, but after bringing about COM
plication l am not willing to be cate
chiseG by you as TO my action or my
feelings in the matter. But for any
wrongdoing, am willing TO pay"
There was much more talk upon the
matter between Ralph and me, but l
1 got no more out of him than l have
given here. There seemed nothing else
for me to do but see Kate again and
endeavor to placate her in some wa,
and persuade her that II was not her
duty to take the drastic measure she
intended. She lived not more than
fifty miles from me, and l left Ralph
to take my ear ana run over for an
other conference
She received me apparently with NJ
great concern. she did not act like O
woman whose heart had been broker
or one who desired revenge. As tC
making money out of my brother.
knew that was absurd. | attributed
her action merely to principle. to con
; scientiouS motives the protection o.
her sex against unjust treatment from
man. Since | had come back to her $,
soon. she evidently expected that l ha'
, something TO tell her. and she waite'
, chatting upon unimportant matters
for me To do so.
kate" ! said, Il have had a lonl
! talk with Ralph and have received m
, explanation of his treatment of you
The only thing can get out of him \
that he is ready to pay any REASONABLE
amount within his capabilities that yol
may name But | cannot conceive o
your accepting a money consideration
for such an injury"
Il can give the amount to charity
said Kate, 1t seemed to me rather 81
verely.
Are you sure said that there
: nothing vindictive in your actionT
j Nothing of the kind. | simply wis
to teach one man that he cannot trei
{ one woman with impunity. What oil
err women do under similar circun
d stances is their affair, not mine"
: well. then, suppose nothing r.
r mains but for you to name the SUI
0 Won claim and for me to name I'll
: amount to Ralph"
e Kate made no reply to this at one
but at last said:
81 think the matter Cdh pe seI'i'
$ between the principals better tina
through third party
u | caught at this at once and asked
= | should say to Ralph that she won
II consent to a conference with him. Il
y consented to this with apparent reiu
: lance. 1t occurred to me that cou
II as well communicate this over the Il
ephone and. going to the Instrument
called Ralph.
kate thinks that 1t would DC pe
k for her to give you her terms OF settI
ment personally. Come over ana
a her"
q 81 haven't time" And | heard
y click that knew shut me of.
lr When | Informed Kate OF this s.
looked troubled. After some dehDel
n ton she went to the telephone herse
,e There was no booth inclosing IT, ahu
D. could not help hearing what she sa
though of course heard no repii
" w.. .oap,ad of greatest imp0rtan