The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-28

she had been spending the summer.
Il believe" she ruminated. with q
shy, sweet smile. that | could really
love-him. II only knew him"
Then. out Of her strong desire to be-
come acquainted with the man who
twice daily whizzed past the farm
house on his way to business in the
city. Theresa formed plan
During the afternoon when every
one about the farm was either sleep
Ing or busily engaged. Theresa made
her way to the thicket Of fir trees.
Once within the shelter she drew from
her ample pocket three empty ale bot
ties which she had secured from the
kitchen. A moment later she had
broken them into Jagged pieces and
put them into cigar box. Making
her way stealthily toward the barn
she next added score Of thin rusty
nails to her box and some sharp steel
filings.
surely some Of these will pune
ture at least one tire" was the thought
centered in Theresa's mind while che
made her way back to the house. She
put her treasure within the thicket OF
vines that clustered over the porch
then swung herself into the big ham,
mock to await the twilight hour.
"He generally passes about 1870"
she decided before slipping OF into
q short nap
1t was the foot OF the motor horn
far In the distance that awakened
Theresa. She jumped up hurriedly.
picked up her box of evil looking
glass. nails and tilines and stole swift
| ~ down to the roadside, With trem-
bling fingers she strewed the con-
tents of her box across the width Of
the road and tossed the box into the
hedge
After a triumphant little glance at
her handlwork she sped quickly MP
the path and into the house. Breath.
less and guilty she watched tho mp.
preaching motor from her window
among the roses.
As the car drew nearer Theresa
felt cold chill run down her spine,
What II anything should happen
and ne should be hurt" she whispered
to the roses. She had prepared her
self in a way for the report OF
punctured tire but was not listening
for the terrible explosion OF all four
Of them.
She fell back against the wardrobe
In her room and could not summon
courage to look out and see the result
OF hor endeavor
Down in the road man was NUT
tpring short. improper words. He was
standing beside his big motor car, tho
tires OF which were all as fiat as
piece OF linen Twilight had fallen
with swift wings and the road was
no more than road.
And through tho soft twilight
Theresa heard her fathers voice In
conversation with the man Of the
motor.
I'VE have food and beds to spare"
her father was saying. Come In and
spend the night with US. We are al
ways glad to welcome stranger at
our table"
20. how glad" murmured Theresa
Her heart was beating now with the
success Of her scheme and her cheeks
were flushed There was something
hidden In the depths Of her eyes and
as she descended the stairs PERHAPS
the saint and the sinner were oddly
combined. Theresa felt very much
like the sinner as she found herself
looking into John Ridgeway's eyes.
1T Is strange" he was saying.
"that I have gone over this road twice
a day for two years and this Is the
flrst time" He stopped short, wheth.
er from the effect OF Theresa's blush
or the curve Of her lips he knew not
II have not lived here SO long" she
said and the meaning beneath was
OF course lost to John Ridgeway ut
Is fortunate that the accident to your
tires happened when you were near
q house." she added
Very. very fortunate" Ridgeway
said and the true meaning was not
lost upon Theresa
II knew I would like him." she told
herself with an inward chuckle.
II suppose YOU will never use this |
road again" Theresa suggested with a |
demure raising Of the lashes. |
"On the contrary" laughed Ridge |
way. 1T may be that I will give up
business entirely and take to driv.
ing back and forth In front Of this |
most delightful farmhouse"
It was not until after dinner when !
her father and Ridgeway were having
a smoke and her mother was reading
that Theresa found time to slip or un.
observed. Out into the darkness she
sped With the great kitchen broom
trailing behind her. The night was
black but she had no difficulty in find.
ing the rough scattering OF glass on
the road. With firm swing Of the
broom Theresa svept that trail of her
guilt out OF the sight OF men.
cfs