The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-15
When the
Sheriff Failed
,Copyricht. 1912, by Associated Literary
preSS.)
nv Clara INC. Deacon

1t was such a trihing thing that one
would have laughed at the idea II
would bring such results
Old Slade, who had been gardener
at the Fins for a decade, gashed ms
right hand on an old tomato can ND
den in the grass and had to carry that
arm in sling There was work io'
him to do. bu; as he couldn't do 1t one
handed helper was advertised ior
and came down from the city.
The Ems was the home OF Ashtoh
the broker. There were only TWO
others in the famil. his wife and MS
daughter Gertrude That Miss Ger
trude was engaged to young Mr. Ia
venport. the novelist. had not excited
the country to any great extent. he
came down with the father every sat
urday noon and remained over Sum
day. He had written many tale
where the lover was hero and the
| girl a heroine. and where romance
and adventure were thicker than rab.
bit tracks on the first winters snow.
but the course of their true love had
been almost mOnotonous.
They hadn't even been attacked by
ferocious grasshopper while saun.
tering about the lawn. Theirs was a
gentle. everyday cooling, and neither
party suspected that an old tomato
can was going to introduce thrills
and throbs
Old Slade didn't like his helper, who
gave his name as Griggs. Griggs knew
his business. but he was vain and
cOnceited lie thought himself Don
Juan. He had read novels in which
chauffeurs. gardeners and stable boys
married the heiress Of the family, and
| he was on the lockout for just such a
| financial transaction II was his hint
to Old Sladc that he was going to win
| the heart Of Miss Gertrude Ashton
within thirty days that cot the old man
down on him and mad, him rail out:
You lei up on being a conceitcd
fool and attend to Your work, or YOU
won't last here Il day longer
And then hat does Miss Gertrude
do hut find out and in Il spirit Of
| mischief seem to encourage the hopes
and aims Of Don Juan? lust like
nine girls out OF ten, engaged ur not.
She paraded around, SHE sighed: she
asked questions. she said she wished
-, and then turned her head away.
She twisted Don Juan into knots in
side of four days, and if he ever
doubted the truth Of these novels he
came 10 believe in them now. \
shock awaited him just around the
corner
Griggs came on 4 Monday morning
Mr. Davenport did not come down the
following Saturday. Old Slade could
have dropped II hint the first day
that Miss Gertrude was engaged. as
the matter was public property, but
he was suffering with his hand. and
then It wasn't his business to be
dropping hints. by Friday of tho fol
IL
hospital In the city and have his
hand treated lie would be gone four
or Ave days, and Griggs would have
charge.
That wasn't the shock Griggs was
to get: that was the glad hand
With old Slade out of the way there
must follow declarations of love and
an elopemcnt and marriage. One OF
the first things he would do after
the couple had been forgiven and he
had been installed as the sole and
only son-in-law would be to break
SHADES neck and discharge him With
a ha, ha. During Saturday fore
noon he was too busy with the lawn
mower to declare his love and short
lover arrived The lover Was greeted
with such cordially that Grigge went
to the kitchen and asked the cook
who is thai jackanapes that came
down with the boss
What, You speak of Mr.. nagcn-
port in that manner was exclaimed.
Then who is Mr.. Davenport
Hes what they call the Ramsay
Of Miss Gertrude. and you'd liter
look out what YOU say abpi Hl
10 you mean ihey are cHa ~"
Sure thing Goiug to be Il ;ed
as soon as her aunt gets ba, 'ram
Europe It's real loye mairi
Mr.. Griggs wobbling leg R led
him to his room to sit dow and
think things over. The cook a;s
liar. Miss Gertrude was not in love
with Mr.. Davenport. He, Grigg Lad
met up with several young ladi" Nho
were in love, and they were no' eigh-
ing and looking friendless. / Hiss
Gertrude were engaged, then Lad
been forced into it by cru Ter,
who was hard up for cash at4 as
selling her to Davenport Or lat-
ter young man had caught 81 - Il
crime committed bv the be- I'D
was demanding his daugh. nd
as the price Of silence
When he eft his room c.. "w
just what he would 10 If IT, ne
chance, and he fclt that Ia ii
to whom chances cane,
At Ii O'Clock til nlaaf IL
port s.r0lied in Tie egeHa
cigar before going To a.
At aboat FIVE minutes aft r.
as vas afteraafd renee. an