The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-05-15

ldLlOH / y kE
shreds, honest "A a
motives twisted Y
and warped"
Didn't you expect it," she asked.
well, not anything SO bad as this"
he confessed. Its nice mess you've
got me into, isn't it?"
"Oh, Billy you're such gutter"
she sighed
81 never wanted to run for mayor,
anyway" said he. "You egged me on
to it."
Il wanted you to do something more
worth while than amuse yourself,
said she Billy, you have great pos
sibilities in you, if you'll only really
try"
well, I've tried said he And
this is the result. Mudslinging, repu-
-wrecking, a joke to all your
friends. Why, only this afternoon as
| was coming up here met Bob Whit
ing and Charlie Green and they
seemed to think it was eXcruciatingly
funny to give three cheers for her
honor, the next mayor OF course,
there's no chance of my being elected,
but they needn't make quite such
silly joke of it.
Perhaps you won't be so much OF
Ill, ~
Don't you believe that said he.
I've got just about as much show as
SNOWFALL in-in-July," he ended
lamely.
| 1t was o'clock the next afternoon
when Billy Capen, rather whitefaced
rushed up to the veranda where Mar
ion Orion sat fussing with tea things.
Say, what am I going to do?" he
groaned helplessly
about WHAT" she asked
1--WE been hanging around headquar
ters," he said. 1T seems that I'm
! going to be elected beyond the shadow
Of doubt"
"Oh, Billy" she cried radiantly
ITS awful" he groaned. "What'll
| do?'
She stared at him.
Il believe If really am elected, III
go right down and resign" said he.
Billy Capen, she cried, I'D like to
shake you!"
Il wish you would" he said lugu.
briously. I'll make a sweet little
mayor, won't I? Well, the downfall
Of this beautiful burg be upon your
head, You put me up to it. You in.
duced me to run when the reform
crowd put my name up. Now, see
what you've done?'
IT'S perfectly splendid" she cried
"Why, Billy, you're the right man for
the right place. They've needed you
for ever so long. l know you've got
1t In YOU"
Il wish I thought that way" said he
Didn't you want to be elected?"
mo-"
She stared at him.
"Then-then what on earth did yoJ
run for?"
We'll, I though there wasn't tn,
least chance Of my getting It; so
didn't see how 1t was going to do an!
harm, and though the attempt, tn,
trying, would show you-well. woulC
please you, Marion, and-and-oh
hang it, the plain truth Of the matte
is | wanted to make good with you
Now I've gone and got elected mayor
and-and-if I've got to be his honor
you'll have to be her honoress-th
power behind the throne"
She flushed slightly. She did no
look at him. Instead her eyes wer
fixed on the blue flame Pickering b.
meath the bubbling brass kettle.
"If do-if consent to be her hor
Dress, as you choose to call it-wi
you do just as I say?"
why, of course"
Then you won't throw Mike Touhe
out as head of the street department
You know Mike was our gardener her
once. I'm very fond of Mike"
Billy Capen stared at her silent
for good minute.
why, Mikes the biggest CRATER {
the whole ring. It's his scalp the r
form crowd is particularly after. I
have to throw him out whatever yc
say
Even If l won't marry you if yc
do?"
Even II you won't marry me if
do" he repeated.
She put out the lamp under Il
kettle. She jumped from her chat
And just for that I will marry 70
Billy" she cried. 81 was afraid
afraid it really was as you said; tn
you didn't care anything about the 7
form crowd or about being mayor.
was afraid you were doing it just
make good with me-"
Well that's all I'm doing 1t fol
he maintained stoutly.
"Oh, indeed" said she. But s.
was smiling proudly as she slipp