The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-28

We'll, Ike White had some powerful
friends here, and they organized
posse. They meant to start after him,
but one Of them-a man who's dead
now, 30 won't tell you his name
hit on a better plan to get him. Molly,
had borne the news like an angel and
this man, pretending to have . mes
sage from Jim, told Molly hed Be -
Fox Lane ON certain dV VIM q
spare horse, to take her sway 0t
Mexico. Then he got tn touch with
Jim and told him Molly would be wait
ing for him on the same day at The
same place, and he was to be there
with a spare horse for her. Wen.
sir. the plan worked all right. Jim
came to Fox Lane and found Molly
waiting; only the sheriff was thaae.
too, as well as the posse, and IN .
twinkling they had Jim disarmed.
4Jim might have made a fight for n,
but Molly begged him to go with the
sheriff. Nobody thought he'd get
more that a year or two In prison. and
Molly promised to wait for him any
number of years. Poor, thing, she's
waited twenty! She's hardly more
than q young woman now-can't be
turned forty, as you'll see for your
self If you look at her close-but her
hair turned gray very soon after the
sentence. Jim was put in for life. 40
l told you.
80 that's why Molly Deering comes
to Fox Lane four times year. She's
as sane as you or l. except for this
one queer little twist In her brain.
Every now and again she forgets all
that has passed and thinks she Is
going to Fox Lane to marry Jim.
Then she dresses up in her best, and
when l see her waiting for the coach
l know what's happening. Quiet and
gentle as lamb she Is. but she thinks
she's young girl again and that jim
Burnett will be waiting for her with
the spare horse. II you'll notice her.
friend. you'll see that she's wearing
riding skirt under her cloak.
when pick her up on the return
Journey she never says anything. but
u can see that her memory has come
| sack to her. And 30 1t goes. It's
9itiful-but everybody loves Molly
Deering. and it would 60 hard with
anyone who didn't treat her respect
full. And here we are at Fox Lane.
You getting off here too? Then per
haps you'll have a chance to look at
her."
The driver PULLED in his horses and
the gray-haired traveller descended
slowly, The driver jumped from the
box, throwiAo the lells loosely over
! the horses Mods He opened the
coach door and the ira, ellie, could see
him handing out the frail little lady
Here we are at Fox Lane, Miss
Deering," he said. Anything I can
do for you today? Not coming back
by the coach? Pshaw! I'm sorry to
hear that. Expecting to meet
friend? Sure now Miss Molly, wish
I wasn't a married man. It's me that
would be your friend IL you would let
me-"
! He placed the wOman's handbag
upon the ground beside her and, wav-
ing goodbye to the driver jumped
on the box again, took the reins. and
clicked to the horses. on went the
stage pell-mell. until it rolled into
| Acacia.
Poor thing! Poor thing!" ex-
claimed the driver, wiping his eyes.
III Uncle Sam knew, maybe he'd let
Jim out again
He took on his passengers, but he
reserved q vacant seat inside the
coach.
"No, sir, that seats taken" he said.
Must go? Well. friend, you can ride
on the box but you can't have that
seat-not if it costs me my job. Who's
bribing me? It's being held for Molly
Deering Certainly no offense, friend.
I knew you would understand. Yes,
sir she came up to Fox Lane today
as usual. poor thing"
The stage coach ratified and rum
bled back until Fox Lane was reached.
| Then the driver pulled in.
Glad to see you, Miss Deering," he
called cheerily to the little figure that
was waiting for him. 81 didn't know
you was up ip these parts. / guess
I've got seat for you inside. How
do you do, sir?"
He was certainly surprised to SEQ
the stranger, but more so to see Miss
Deering clinging to his arm.
Come down, JIM" called the man.
"Toss down the reins and jump. SEQ
here! Don't you know me, you old
rascal? And me sitting at your side
all the way to Fox Lane!"
"Jim Burnett" yelled the driver In
amazement Jim! It's you! And
they've let you out. you-you-"
Hush. JIM" said the other, holding
up a warning finger Take care what
words you use in the presence Of my
wife. Molly. dear, this is Jim, who I
was telling you about"