The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-13
The Quest

should naturally share In this outpour.
ing Of kindly emotion. But the night
that the McLane's cow lost her happy
home nobody in tho summer commun-
ity sat up and wept in tender commits
GRAFTON.
Just why the cow should have chos.
en- to wander from the comfortable.
hay stuffed barn toward dusk when the
McLanes' man had his back turned for
fatal instant is one Of the mysteries
Of bovine psychology which nobody can
figure out. The cow, intoxicated by
her freedom. wandered far down the
lake shore. After wandering for a
while, however, the darkness and the
scurrying of small unknown animals
in the underbrush made her nervous
and she began to look around for her
warm and coy barn.
In something like panic she lum.
bered along through the trees until
she saw a light. Aha" said the
COW. home at last"
The light shone from tho cottage &C.
cuped by Miss Atkinson. q maiden Of
a considerable number of years, who
was entertaining at the moment three
other staid and elderly women at
bridge.
Just as one Of the three had said
disgustedly that she made it spades
Miss Atkinson, who was facing the
porch. gave b!oodcurdling shrek
and her cards few all over the room.
"A man." she Kissed. There was
a man peering In through the porch
screen door! He disappeared when I
jumped"
Her guests tipped over the card ia.
Bile in arising hastily. II there were
providers at this quiet and safe resort
they were Of the indignant opinion
that something ought to be done about
It!
Ono Of the bravest Of the four ven.
tured out to the porch and in . qua
vering voice demanded to know who
was there, while tho others support.
ed her with the carving knife and the
broom.
Nothing answered from the silence.
which made It all the worse.
The guests put Miss Atkinson to bed
with the hot water bag and the smell.
ing salts and locked every window In
the cottage. Then. shivering with
fright. the three held hands and bolt.
ed for the hotel.
It was q little later that the Bundy
cottage was upset. Mrs. Bundy had
put the children to bed and was
crocheting while her guest, Mrs. Hui.
ton, was reading aloud . particularly
gruesome detective story. Suddenly
Mrs. Bundy made q startled clutch at
Mrs. Hulton's wrist and said: "Lis.s-s-
tent"
Mrs. Hutton heard It, too "Th-th.
there must be two Of 'em!" STAN.
mered Mrs. Hutton. Il can hear four
f.f.feet Just as plain!"
There certainly were several differ
ent footsteps outside the cottage
slow, careful footsteps.
II Just knew something awful would
happen when Charley went back to
Chicago yesterday" she gasped.
Mrs. Hutton said wildly:
"G-gget the g-g-ggun!"
Mrs. Hulton's great-grandfather had
fought In war. so she knew imme'
diately the best method Of defense.
Holding the family revolver at arms
length and with her head turned the
other way. Mrs. Bundy sat down again
and listened. There was nothing to
be heard They passed the rest Of the
night on guard.
Farther down the lake shore. on the
rustic seat facing the moon, Laura
Spilger and her young man sat talk
ing. Their absorption In each other
was so great that they heard nothing
until something strange was thrust
over Laura's left shoulder Youne
Burmaster made Wild but futile graf
as she leaped In the air.
Landing on the extreme edge Of The
slippery terrace. she tumbled down In
to the tapping waters with gurglinl
splash.
Then as young Burmaster, too
sensed the presence Of somethin.
weird and inexplicable he felt hi
. scalp witch in freezing horror. an,
leaped after Laura. Hand In han,
I they arose. dripping. and stood aYrigh,
ed In two feet Of water at the shore
edge.
From the Spilger cottage came ques
tioning rumblings. Laura's father va
demanding to know the reason for al
that uproar. Getting no answer. be
cause the two In the lake were still
: paralyled vocally. he came forth I
= Investigate.
!. what do you want!" he roared q
something creeping BY. I'm teach 20
: to prowl around my house. consar
; you!" Presently there was spit,
!. full pop Of the little Spilger boys ali
!. gun.
y Then there was silence.
! Nothing happened. The Spilger
:. and young Burmaster sat up very la,