The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-10
By F. A. mitchell

!
alighted from a train at a suburban
station, asked the agent when the next
train to the city would pass, then set
out to walk to a residence which bore
evidence of having been shut up for
| the winter. Entering, he went up
| stairs. Half an hour later he looked
out through window and saw a hand
| somely dressed woman emerging from
| another country residence few hun
! dred yards distant. She was carrying
/ suit case.
The mans face took ON the express
sion Of one who had discovered some
thing interesting. He kept his eyes
on the woman, who was approaching,
| till she passed the house he was in /;
then, taking up a suit case he had
packed, he went downstairs and hur-
ried after the woman. Lifting his hat
politely, he said:
will you permit me to assist you
with that suit case?"
THANK you very much; 1t is very
light. Do you know when the next
train leaves for the city?"
"In ten minutes
"In that case shah have just time
to reach the station and buy my
ticket"
The two walked on together and by
the time they reached the station had
established an acquaintance. On board
ing the train the man helped the wom-
an ON to the train and on seating her.
II saw you leaving Mr.. LAwrence's
country house." he said.
The woman started.
II supposed Mr.. Lawrence's family
in the city and the house was unoccu-
pied"
81 am Fanny Lawrence" was the
hesitating reply.
"Ohv
IL needed some things and came out
to get them. They're in my suit case"
"My case exactly. My country house
Is shut up, and we're all in the city.
| l needed some things and came out for
| them
And they're in your suit case?"
"Yes; they are
There was pause in this dialogue.
1t was evident the lady was Ill at
ease. Presently the man said:
THE next station is Cloverton. An
other road crosses this one there. I'm
going to leave this train and take an
| other on the other road"
why do you do that?'
This train enters the city at the
Union station. The other stops at sew
eral small stations before reaching the
terminal, at one Of which l shall
leave it."
"For what purpose?"
1T will be more convenient for me- 4"
The lady was silent. She seemed to
be thinking. Presently she asked her
companion at what station he would
stop. He said Arlington avenue
Then, after a few questions as to the
| location of the Arlington avenue sta
ton, she said that 1t would be more
convenient stopping place for her too
The man said that perhaps she had
better leave the train there and he
would be happy to secure her a con-
veyance. The lady thanked him and
said she believed she would do so.
Would you mind" she said after a
period evidently devoted to delibera-
tion, when we reach the Arlington
| avenue station, getting out on the car
platform and seeing If there is any one
apparently looking for some person7"
"Of course | will"
Il suppose you will think 1t strange
my asking YOU to do So think
shall have to give you my confidence
l am engaged to young man to whom
| my father objects"
Il see you are going to elope with
him
Yes"
But how is it that you expect to
meet him at the Arlington avenue sta
donf You did not intend to stop there
till spoke Of doing SO myself
/ You don't understand. don't ex-
pect to meet him there You see l am
! bit nervous lest father or my brother
/ has learned what | am about to do
and may stop me-"
II see"
Shortly after these travellers had left
their respective country homes a lady
living opposite the house from which
Miss Lawrence emerged called I'D Ju.
lian Lawrence in the city on the phone
and gave him bit OF information that
produced in him sudden activity.
When the train reached the crossing a
man in a striped waistcoat was stand
Ing on the platform. He was about to
board the train when he saw the cou-
pie step down from it, whereupon he
scrutinized them closely and let IL 90
on without him. When they boarded
train on the other road he got on.
too. and took a seat In the rear of the
car they occupied But they failed to
notice that he appeared 20 De interest
ed In them. As soon as the couplc
were seated the man turned TO the