The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-03

Adventure
That's queer" said Deadrick.

Everybody stopped talking and
looked at the small wooden box which
the maid had just taken at the door
and brought into the library.
why queer?" asked Horwatt. idly.
He had just had very good din
ner. and was entirely at peace with
the world. Just plain box"
Deadrick looked at Horwatt stern
ly and the whole dinner party caught
It's breath. Deadrick edged away
from the box, which had rope ham
dies. This morning" he announced,
Il had TO discharge my man and the
proceeding was not marked with what
YOU might call grace and ease. In fact,
had 10 throw him out. He DEPART
cd. yoNing vengeance. expected moth
ing By express-the maid says the
driver SAYS it was billed as some
kind OF machine. What ii it is an in
fernal machnc?'
Every woman screamed. Two of
them AT once got on their feet. The
bride crossed The room and held her
husbands hand.
That happens only in stories" said
Meagle. go on and open the box"
Mr.. Meaglc,' said the hostess in
Gignanlly, "yon may not care If my
husband is blown through TIE ceiling,
but do"
Yes" chimed in Deadrick, "she just
got new rug in the room above and
naturally
you are a brute" said his wife.
"Only please don't open it,"
'lm dying TO know what's in it,"
cooed the fluffy girl.
81 always thought he was queer"
pursued Deadrick, "and If you had
seen him this morning! What are
you doing?' he ended as Horwatt laid
his head tenderly on the box in an at
titude of rest.
Listening for the Textbook" Hor.
watt explained. "All these up to
date bombs are attached to an alarm
clock, set to go off at certain hour,
and"
"Ha-a.arvey!" Mrs. Horwatt shrek.
ed. grabbing him. "Come away! Why,
1t might be set to 60 OF this minute!
What on earth"
do they really do such things?"
begged the fluffy girl Of young
Meagle.
YES he admitted. "Come, let us
60 and sit in the conservatory, which
Is far enough away to be quite safe II
the thing does 60 off,"
That's what your internal machine
has dOne!" Horwatt Kissed at his
host. Hell propose to her In there
as sure as guns, and her father'll see
you further! He has well preserv-
ed millionaire in storage for his daugh-
ter. Put the thing out of doors be.
fore It does further damage!"
Truly" said Deadrich. I'm suspi-
cious of It! How am l to get 1t
opened?"
Call a policeman" suggested Mrs.
Berker. That's what they're for.
isn't It? And you could get him some
coffee and sandwiches afterward."
Assuming. Of course" said Dead.
rick. that there was enough Of him
left to drink the coffee! Haven't 1
heard that they put suspected in.
fsrnal machines In water before open.
ing them?"
"Hooray!" said Horwatt. ITO the
bath ROOM" He grabbed one side Of
the rope handle.
Deadrick took the other handle and
trailed by all the protesting women
and the other men. they marched to
the bath room. Tenderly depositing
the box In the tub. Deadrick turned on
the water.
Turn that on at once and turn on
the cold water!" cried his wife. you
don't know what hot water might do
to q bomb! It would cook It or
something! told you not to hire 10
seph in the first place. for I never
liked his nose!"
1T is perfectly awful" said Mrs.
Horwatt. ITO think you can't sit
peacefully in your own house with.
out being attacked by dangerous an.
archists! Anyhow. isn't 1t time We
should be going. dear!'
mot till I see how far Deadrick
flies when he gets blown up" said
her husband. Hes a heavy man."
"Plpl-please DON'T" begged Mrs. !
Deadrick as her husband. pushing
back his cuffs, began prying the cover
loose under the water. Don't be
rash' Remember Willie and me!"
Everybody jumped at every rip
OF the nails. The box proved to con-
tain excelsior. Gingerly Deadrick |
picked it out
Here it isl" he painted as he struck
something hard.
There was wild exodus from the |
bath room into the hall. Pale but
heroic, Deadrick undid the wrappings.
holding the parcel as far from him as
possible. A card tumbled out.
For Willie's birthday, from Grand
pa. Horwatt read. just as Deadrick
brought finally TO light-a dripping
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