The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-09-17

thirty | was dining over at the couh-
nv rlub | haven't had this car out
before today.
I'm, saw vou-I should think you
would be ashamed to deny it-ahd
here is the very number you lost from
II n the tin,e-444. see. it is like the
number on the front of the carl"
Elida looked very lovely as she
stood there in her fresh pink gown
with her breeze blown brown hair
about her flushed face.
He got out and looked at the back
of the car where there was no num-
Der
You are right" he said gravely.
But assure you that know nothing
about the accident. am John Mason
of Rosendale and l will make every
effort to find the person who used
my car and who 10 responsible Tor
tho killing of your COW. Believe me.
am very sorry. indeed"
Elida found herself placing faith IN
his statement She gave him the
number plate and saw him drive away
for he explained that he had an I'M
portant engagement that evening and
must hasten.
II was not until the red car had
disappeared and she met her father
PAINTING toward her that Elida remem-
bered
Did you let that scamp go?" he
| demanded.
F,lida explained the situation.
And you let him go and take the
number plate with him." he asked
when she had finished.
He said he would come back and
believe he will" said Elida.
Why do you believe him."
Elda blushed to the roots OF her
fair hair. She was glad that the twi-
light hid her embarrassment from her
fathers eyes. How could she explain
to him that she had gazed into the
blue eyes of complete stranger and
trusted him implicitly? He would not
understand Elida did not understand
herself
"He said he would come back" she
repeated family.
"Ill stop him next time" threat
ened Simon grimly
The next day Whitey's remains no
! longer lay by the roadside. Tie red
automobile did not come back, Day
after day passed and Simon Bissell
sat on his doorstep with his shotgun
beside him waiting for the coming OF
the red car Elida grew pale and anx
ious over the possible tragedy that
mi2hl result from her fathers anger
over the less of his fayorite COW.
II he had only stopped and OK
planned instead of running away,
would not haze cared so much 10
muttored once.
lie will come some day, father
am sure, Elida murmured
lie won't sci by"
There,.f'cr t.liGa watched the road
with painlul anxiety At every sound
of a motor horn she would rush to the
front door but not once did she rec
ognize the red car or its occupant.
Her father kept as close watch as
she did and his loaded gun stood al
his hand Just within the barn door
when he was az work or In the
kitchen when he was at the house
Once, al the very risk of her life be
cause Elida was afraid OF firearms
and knew little about them the girl
discharged both barrels OF the weap
on. Simon was in Plantville and did
not know that the gun he continued
to carry Was unlOaded
One evening there sounded the ia
milar horn from the hill top Ellda
paled and few TO the door but her ia
thcr was quicker for he had grasped
his gun and dashed to the front yard
He raised the gun to his shoulder and
fred but there was no sound, no eX
plosion.
The red automobile was drawing tt
s,andstill. In il were two men. One
was the young man Elida had talked
to and the other was a dark. rather
surly looking person dressed as {
chauffeur
Elida was at the gate instantly.
Il have to apologize for my delay
in coming" said John Mason gravely
but the death Of my father has pre-
vented my attending to the matter
before this. | find that Francois, my
chauffeur here. was the guilty man
He was using the machine without
permission and admits killing youl
fathers COW. | have come TO settle
the matter"
When the settlement was concluded
satisfactorily TO the farmer and tbs
motorist. Simon Bissell looked keenly
al his daughter
Did you draw the charge out o.
my gun. Elida'" he asked
Yes. father-or. rather, fired it
YOU might have killed somebody. 70,
know
Young man. you can thank m!
daughter for saving your life" sale
Simon Bissel solemnly. Il had tina
l..fl