The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-01


from his head and bowed. In spite O
her fear Polly's face flushed angrily a
his assurance.
IF you please" he said, I'D like tt
talk with you. No"-as she venturei
to withdraw into the room-T won'
keeF you long, and I'll say it here.
my first subject is art. l wish to
give you little dissertation on art
With rapidly beating heart Polly
waited. 1t was impossible to follow
the excited rapidity Of the outrageous
young mans flowing talk. OF one
thing she was sure, he was insane.
Insane, and she alone on the deserted
floor Of an apartment building, at mid
night. What should she do?
To call out or startle maniac, Polly
remembered, might bring on danger
Gus climax. What should she do?
Again, very cautiously, she moved
toward the shelter of her room.
wait" cried the young man sharply.
x have more to say to you than this,
much more"
In the mOmentary silence that fol-
lowed she feared he would hear her
frightened breathing.
II love you," burst out the young
man at last. II love you. For long
days have l watched you stealthily,
adoringly All my future is built on
hope Of winning you. Your love can
raise me to the highest paradise, your
refusal sends me to the lowest depths
Of despair. Weigh well, then, lovely
maid, your answer-lest destroy my
| self In your presence; take care"
Family the girl leaned against the
doorway. Surely she had fallen asleep
| over her sketching, and this was but
part of troubled dream. From down
the hall came a low, confused murmur.
II love you," cried the young man
again-"I love you" His voice ended
in wall. Say yes, or destroy my
self"
With sudden flash of light the door
opposite was thrown open; for an in
stant "he" stood there, perplexed, un-
certain-he. the one wise, kind soul in
all this dreadful city. Polly never hes
itated. "Oh, please" she murmured,
and rushed toward him. The man of
the opposite room put her aside gently
while he caught the wild youth by the
collar "Now," he asked sharply,
what is the meaning Of all thisr"
Up from the shadows Of the long cor
ridor came slowly and silently in their
sneaker shoes dozen men, young men
Polly's startled eyes discerned them to
be, and for the most part they were
laughing or covering their mouths to
smother their laughter. Her tormentor
OF moment ago was grinning, too,
grinning rather sheepishly, as the one
mans stern gaze was bent upon him.
Explain" commanded her protector,
"or shall l call the police?"
"Oh, Mr.. Lawrence" said a voice.
'let us down easy. Maybe we did over
do it little tonight, but we got pretty
gay. It's the fraternity initiation, you
know. Bayes, here, was ordered to do
few stunts, had to travel around
town all night In that rig and end UP
with a proposal to the prettiest girl In
the building. We picked Miss-er-l
Chester out as she came in tonight and
stipulated the art talk when we'd learn
ed her profession. He had to do it.
Don't blame Bayes."
The spokesman's repentant eyes met
those OF the enlightened Miss Chester.
"Awfully sorry" he said remorseful-
". ANY way in the world we can
apologize, Jointly or singly, we'll do It"
His solemn face changed convulsively.
"Gee," he laughed, "but 1t was funny"
Polly drew long breath, and her
champion, still holding the victim of
initiation by his sweater collar, looked
back at her.
'What do you say, Miss Chester?" he
asked "Shall we have these disturbers
or the peace Jailed, as we could, locked
up for the common idiots they are,
or
1t was very comforting to have pro-
tector. Also it was because of these
very idiots that "he" was now her pro-
tectOr.
I'VE will let them go Free" she said.
Humbly abject, the initiation commit
tee shuffled away. Amused under
standing sparkled suddenly In the eyes
Polly turned upon her companion. at
must have been funny for them,' she
said But Mr.. Lawrence was regard
ing her intently. There seemed to be
In his gaze more concern than such
short acquaintance warranted.
"You should not be living here alone
he said abruptly. "A girl like you
ought to be cared for In her own home
by her own people" The sparkle left
Polly's eyes.
That" she motioned to the bare
studio, lis my only home"-she smiled
tremulously-"and Patsy all my fam
n.y." Patsy, seeing at that moment a
chance for neighborly call. darted
across the hall. eluding the girls grasp.
1t was the man who after q hasty
chase brought him back to her fireside.
and there. forgotten. face uppermost,
In plain view, lay Polly's clever sketch.
For long vibrant moments they
looked from the drawing back again