The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-23
Across
Ole Hedge
By Carl Jonkins

son. She had asked girl chum to
visit her for a month. but had been
disappointed In that.
On that hot morning Miss June sat
On the front veranda Of her fathers
house in suburban village and shed
tears Of disappointment. She blamed
her father. her mother-business-
everybody! The parrot In his Gag.
At the end Of the veranda squawked
1t her, and she shook her hst At him.
A big humble bee came hummins
around, and she gave him . slap with
q magazine she had brought out. The
man Of all work came dragging nifty
feet of garden hose around from the
back yard to water the flowers IN
'front.'
John, you needn't do q thing to
the old nower.beds! Just let them dry
up and blow away. Everything has
gone to the dogs anyhow"
John started to drag the hose back.
when Miss June got a sudden inspira.
ton and called out:
You can leave it here. Attach II to
the pipe. may feel like using It my.
self by and by"
John walked of. and five minutes
later the hose was shooting stream
here and there. Along the front fence
was high hedge. and only the hats
of male pedestrians could be seen as
they passed on the walk. Presently
Miss June heard steps approaching
and saw straw hat passing. She
elevated the nozzle to play on that
hat. and some one Jumped and called
out:
bless my stars. but I'll knock that
gardeners head off.
Miss June was getting even for her
various disappointments. The drenched
man passed on, AID five minutes later
he was replaced by another The sec.
ond man was more astonished than
the first. He was thinking of Niagara
Falls as he walked and all of a sud
den they hit him When he had
somewhat recovered from his aston.
ishment he called out:
"By gum, you dunderhcad in there,
II you are not more careful with that
hose somebody will break your neck,
What are you up to, anyway"
No answer. Miss June was feeling
better In her mind. She let the next
two or three men pass. and then
caught sight of silk hat topping the
hedge. She could have directed the
stream to hit that hat and knock 1t
clear across the street. but she didn't
She directed the shower into the limbs
OF shade tree ovcrhanging the walk,
and was rewarded by hearing the own.
err of the hat gasp out:
THE devil, but what does this
mean"
The stream ceased, but the shower
bath had been very fair
Say. you boy in there" called the
drenched one.
There was no boy and no reply.
boy or man. you had better be
careful. II had you out here your
neck might be in danger"
Miss June shut of the water and
took seat on the veranda and be-
came complacent. At noon when the
father came up to lunch he said 10
John:
Look here, man. II you can't use
that hose in the front yard without
drenching pedestrians you'd better let
II alone"
Yes, sir" replied the loyal John,
who knew what had happened. but
wasn't going to give anybody away.
You drenched the butcher from
head to heel"
Yes. sir"
And you drenched a Mr.. FOlkstone.
a young lawyer who is going to set
up In his profession here. Mr.. Thorn.
as was passing on the outer side OF
the street and saw II ALL"
Yes. sir"
i can't say but what the LAWYER
may sue me for damages. They are 4
risky lot to play games on.
Yes. sir"
After lunch Miss June slipped John
half dollar and a grateful look and
sat down and unused.
so there's a new lawyer in town.
Ell? And he's a young man and ia
swelling around under a plug hat 10
make folks think he's some pumpkins,
| drenched him. and I'm glad of if
and I'll do II again. II cant swell
around Europe no one else shall swell
around the United States. He must
be nice specimen of a young man
to play the cry-baby Just because
few drops Of water hit his hat, she
father for damages will he Well LET
him try ii on know every girl In
this town. and II Mr. Folkstone goes
to acting too frisky his cake will turn
out to be sour dough-
Next morning John was ordered to |
bring the hose around again. He
looked at Miss June 'doubtfuly.
oh. you won't lose your lob" she |
replied. III there is any comrlaint |
I'll stand for it."
You might wet down the butchers
boy. the carpenter and the cooper buf
when You come to wet down a Marty
he Ming ho&