The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-13

dl UST.
/ Why. no father. I'd be sorry Il
10 anything in opposition to you
wishes. but you know l have q righ
TO my happiness" Her voice wal
curiously like his own as she spoke.
You mean that you will elope will
him."
oh. no: some day you will give
Your consent"
"Never!" declared Jacob as be
picked up his newspaper. by the way
Alice. you've invited lot OF people
down to Edgebank for the Fourth,
haven't you?"
"Yes-and will you please order
the fireworks. father? We want a
display for the evening after the big
dinner"
Very well. I'll attend to 1t my.
self"
1t was the very night before the
Fourth when Jacob Sellew remem.
hered the fireworks. His daughter
and the servants had already gone
down to the country house. and he
was stopping at Il hotel. There was
new motor car to 20 down. too
and he had decided to drive it him
sell as he was a skilled operator and
fhe roads were perfect.
tie ordered the fireworks by tcle.
Phone and stopped for them with
the new car. for Alice had sent in an
urgent reminder Of their need A
lew minutes aftcrward he went on
his way the tonncau Of the car and
every available inch of room in the
seat beside him being filled with
explosives.
Rockets and Roman candles. red
and green fire. set-pieces and cannon
crackers made up the assortment.
Jacob Sellew made an annual sac.
rifice Of gunpowder to show his
patriotism.
Ills trip across the ferry and along
the suburban roads was uneventful.
Things did not really begin to hap.
pen until he reached the turnpike and
speedcd a little.
The new car worked like a clock
welloilcd, smoothly running clock.
The moon rose and made the road
White and clear. There were still five
miles between him and his home.
lie decided to smoke. lie forgot that
he carried load Of explosives.
tie lighted "A cigar and hummcd a
little tune. Something went wrong
and the machine wabbcd. II would
not respond TO the steering wheel.
and just as he reached the curve Of
the road that bordcrcd Cyrus Ken.
bricks estate the machine swung
into the welltraycled roadway and
entered the grounds of Jacob Sci
LEWIS bitter business enemy.
To describe Mr.. Se.lcw's anger
would be painful. He swOre as he
tossed his cigar asid, and jammcd
all the levers and turned the vince
this way and that
In his chagrin at tho situation he
lost his nerve and sat hclplcssly ms
the machine wabblcd up the avenue
frcakishly turned aside to cross the
lawn, only to staggcr to n standstilI
IN the midst of a rose garden In front
Of the big house.
There were people sitting In the
veranda and he heard ordinations
and "A mans shout.
Then the real performance began.
A rocket Kissed from behind him and
shot horizontally across the park. II
burst it's flaming way through .
handsome spruce tree and left de.
struction In Its wake. Other rockets
shot forth In the most Independent
manner. Fortunately most Of them
were headed away from the house.
Roman candles pouted, red fire
blazed luridly and the cannon crack.
ers roared as they wrecked the new
automobile.
Jacob Sellew was on the ground
dancing franically around the dan
gerous display, lodging rockets and
candles with surprising agility.
All at once came some stablcmen
headed by Jack kcndrick, carrying
long hose. in three minutes the
blaze was eytinguished and Jacob
Scllew was standing by the singcd
and smoking machine waiting the
approach Of his arch enemy.
What could he say?
Jack stood little aside.
Cyrus kondrick stamped across the
lawn and shook his fist In Mr.
Sellew's bewildcred face.
What do you mean. sir, by tres.
passing on my grounds and making
an exhibition like this-eh? Are
you crazy"
For the first time In his career,
Mr.. Sellew found himself making
humble apologies TO Cyrus Kendrick.
He was deeply grateful when they
appeared to believe his story. lie
could have embraced Cyrus Kendrick
when that gentleman told him 10
forget IT," and led him into the
library to par'ake Of stimulants.
Truthfully speaking, Jack had
winked at his parent. Otherwise
Cyrus might not have displayed this
forgiving spirit, for his garden was
aa the annie az fis eve