The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-25

with his heart in his mouth. But In .
few moments everything was quiet
again. and he managed to lead old
Molly out into the road without any
further mishap. He had plenty OF
light now. for there was full moon.
but he did not leap into the saddle at
one bound. because that huge saber
would get in the way.
When. at last. he had mounted ne
headed his fiery steed toward the
FOODS. which lay about two miles on.
oily was very drowsy. and 1t took
everal slaps with the fiat of the saber
70 start her. but finally she dropped
nto dog trot. which she seemed
BE to keep Up indefinitely. Sir John
'ngged along for some time, and felt
very happy. But soon the picturesque
helmet grew uncomfortably heavy.
he young knight tried to persuade
.mself that it did not hurt, that he
you'd really feel uncomfortable with.
out his "armor" At last. when his
hcad-ear became unbearable, he re-
membered how the knight barred his
head and drank in the sweet air."
With goat relief lie followed his
hero's example. But this was only a
TEMPORARY relief. Before long his
.fal developed an amazing tendency
% nod. and he yawned till his eyes
"are full Of tears. II seemed as II
no had been in the saddle for hours,
;nd he wondered why the woods SEEM
ID 70 recede BY a mighty effort he
4, last reached the forest and dis
mounted. after another struggle with
Lis sabrr. He hitched Molly to a con-
venicnt tree and threw himself on the
ground. A moment more and Sir John
was in dreamland.
Now. Molly had never approved of
these proceedings. and as she thought
Of her comfortable stall at home she
gave an impatient toss to her head.
The knot, which sleepy little Sir John
had only half tied. came loose and
Molly found herself free. Immediate
ly she started for home, and in half
an hour she strollcl in at the barn
door, which the knight errant had left
wide open behind him.
Meantime the aforesaid knight had
found the tree roots rather hard, and
had decided to resume his march, rest
ing when he should find a more COM
Portable spot. Imagine his consterna-
ton when he could not find his trusty
stecd. He called again and again, but
no Molly appeared. Then he noticed
how lawfully dark" it really was.
Some of those trees looked mighty
funny. What was that? Only the
leaves rustling. They never sounded
so in the daytime. Why didn't the
sun come up? A ghostly screech
pierced the air. The blood OF Sir
John the Valiant ran cold. Again that
awful "Whoo-oo-oo." and Sir John
toOh " uiS ii~-clS III iSHOUiC Hi6uI. Iic
tripped on his saber and fell. but was
too frightened to rise, and SO lay still
and sobbed. At last he sobbed him.
self asleep. and when he awoke the
sun was shining brightly through tho
trees. lie was very hungry. and stifi
a good deal frightened. He had lost
the corn bread from his pockets. and
he thought longingly Of the bacon that
his mother cooked for breakfast. He
got up and started to walk; but the
sword dragged him back. All his de.
sire for adventure had vanished with
the night. He trudged along, carry.
ing the sword In his arms.
Some time later a very humble
knight Grant stood at the kitchen
door looking into the worried face OF
his father.
Air ye goin' TO lick me. paw" was
what he said.
But his mother ran to him and kiss.
I'd him. and cried. and Sir John the
Valiant laid his head on his mothers
shoulder and cried too.
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