The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-20

sprang up and
stood waiting for her at the door.
I've brought the tatting for Mrs.
Mendelheim," Rosina began diffldent-
ly. "Will you please give it to her,
and tell her that Aunt Ina, I mean
Miss Ridgeway, Is sick today and ,
won't be able to help with the fancy.
work booth. She's very sorry and !
hopes Mrs. Mendelheim will be able
to manage without her." She held ,
out small paper parcel which the
young man accepted with thanks.
Bob stood looking after her. Hmi
Who the deuce is she, wonder?
Don't remember having ever seen her
before. BY Harry! she's a cracker.
jack for looks, isn't she?"
Doctor Nevis stood smiling inside
| the screen door and Bob spied him.
Then you heard, dad!"
! Yes, couldn't help 1t and can't say
that | blame you much. Mighty pret-
ty young lady! But If were you
believe I'd have told the truth. That
Mrs Mendelheim does not live here,
and, incidentally. suggested showing
her the way to the right house"
Bob considered the matter He
didn't relish walk Of eight blocks
alone-when he had an interesting
book and good cigars.
So he called Sammy Croop, next
door. and gave him a nickel and the
bundle of tatting. telling him where
to go.
Sammy Croop stuffed the small bum
die into his pocket and started on his
way. AT the corner of Crissmore
street he met jimmy and David Har.
rowdale on thei.' way to the swim.
ming hole. Sammy yielded without
much coaxing and agreed to go along.
deciding that the return trip would
be time enough to make his delivery.
But Sammy got cramp in the deep
water and Jimmy managed to hold
him up in a way while David yelled
for relp to some men in a nearby
field. The result was that Sammy,
weak and su5dued from his sousing.
hay wagon and delivered to his
mother.
, All day. Mrs. Aaron Mendelhem
, worked at the church. wondering why
. Miss Ridgeway lid no. come to help.
v = If she can come she might have
Y sent word" she soliloquized indig.
nantly. Il ruld have gotten some
I one to help. And ow about that tat
Q ting she has been workin on fol
!. months? She Jay, there's twenty
l. dollars worth. And now where is
n she? Does anybody know anything
}. about Miss Ridgeway?" But nobody
y did At tx o'clock Mrs. Mendelheim
d left the completed yellow and laven
II der booth and dragged her weary way
: homeward. Her cup of tea failed tc
g revive her and she went to bed with
u splitting headache.
, One of the Mendelheims telephoned
to the Ridgeways and the result was
that Rosina went to take charge o.
o the proprietorless booth, puzzled about
o. the miscarriage of her message.
Is Mrs. Nevis, leaving the house thai
= night, asked Bob to 60 along, and HI
> soon found himself facing Rosina
. But Rosina had a disconcerting way
= of looking directly through him tha
:. made him feel decidedly insignificant
70 Il hear that can get some of Mis-
Ridgeway's beautiful tatting," said hi
=, mother.
." I'm sorry, but we have none. I
a was sent, but through some error hal
n not reached the church"
THAT is too bad!" returned Mrs
l. Nevis, moving away. Come, Rob
\, ert."
70 Robert discovered the Indian sui
i. and the tatting next morning, boil
le drenched with rain.
r. He took the tatting home to BIZ
i'd mother and started out to hunt tn
= Ridgeways to turn in twenty dollar
Mt to Miss Ina.
n Rosina came to the door.
I've come to contest" began Bot
a. humbly.
V, "Yes?"
I'd I'm liar and theft
pc In spite of herself Rosina laughed
y ,"How dreadful. You look contrit
i'll enough to be murderer also. w
may as well be comfortable whiia nay
ing this awful confession! Won't 20
sit down? Now tell me why you le
q me talk to you yesterday when 20
knew was at the wrong house?
e Because-because, you were
lovely and | vas afraid you'd go.
nd wanted to have you stay and-and-
90 say. I'm a stupid donkey. and here
a the money for the-Wh ateVef you Ca
1t that stuff. The little boy ! sent wit
ab II went swimming instead. You mu'
think me a muddle-head,"
IN ! Rosina laughed again. Oh don
ny 90, Here you have chance to tai
Nv TO me and now you are runhil
~ away"
Rob needed no second invitation.
Dr. oco,vrieht 1914, BY the Mcclure Newsp
per Syndcate)