The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-08-13
Observation-Disclosures
WITH EARSDY's HELP
BY r. w. SULLIVAN.
(ConYright.l


Now, Dick, isn't this simply ador-
able?" demanded Eloise, Tightening
the reins over the unkempt back of
Earsby.
THE situation has it's merits, I'll
admit" | replied, CHANGING happily at
the radiant girl
We we're seated side by side in the
little two-wheeed vehicle known as a
donkey-cart | tried earnestly to dis
entangle the leaping landscape to dis
cover our whereabouts.
And you have tried to convince me
that an automobile is the only means
Of seeing the country she remarked
scornfully
It's the only means of seeing it in
one place" | jerked out. "If those
trees would only stay put for minute
might enjoy it more"
The padded board that passed for a
seat back struck me sharply beneath
the shoulderblades, for the three
hundredth time.
"Oh, It's all in getting used to it,
Dick" was the patronizing reply.
Same as broncho," | hazarded.
folling the seat back triumphantly by
leaning forward Eloise did not deign
to answer this tlippancy.
We had left Northampton shortly
after luncheon to drive along the road
that circles the bay on the south shore
OF Long Island. After two weeks Of
pleading, interspersed with glorious
rides In my humble roadster, | had
finally agreed to become Eloise's guest
for the afternoon behind Earsby, on
one condition-tha the duke should
be left behind.
This In itself was regarded by con-
sentative observers as triumph in
itself, seeing that the duke--a real
one, at that-had been the girls con-
slant companion Of late during most
Of the hours between sunrise and mid
night
His Grace of Twizdale was not a
half bad sort In his way but, often
asked myself, how could he love Our
Lady of Joys as | did, who had been
to school with her In pinafores and
hoped vainly for so long?
Where are we now" | asked.
"On our way home, my fine humor-
ist,' replied Eloise trihe icily. Il
suppose you are glad"
only because you have an engage
ment with the duke at half-past three"
] replied, land ought to be on time
You reminded me of the fact yourself
before we started out"
Eloise colored trifle and I cursed
my bluntness.
"The duke will keep" she said
dryly
He wasn't picked when we left"
suggested, but you can't tell what
he has been doing since"
Please confne your witty observa-
lions to the landscape, Richard"
warned Eloise stiffly.
SLOW down your mule and ! will"
] retorted with an equal amount Of
spirit.
The conversation langulshed after
this, and the afternoon appeared about
to become failure.
We approached a little grove and
surreptiuously looked at my watch.
1t was just three o'clock, and judged
we would not disappoint the duke
resigned myself with twinge Of bit
terness.
AS we entered the cool greenness of
the little arbor Earsby dropped from
his racking canter to walk, and in
the very center of the shade stopped
short, pulling at the retns to loosen
their tension.
Get upl" commanded Eloise
sharply.
The brute twitched his ears and
turned his head so as to observe us
with kind of asinine insolence His
expression WAS so far from compli-
mentary that took 1t as personal
affront.
Here, let me have the reins,"
commanded, and took them from
Eloise.
Knotting the ends, | belabored the
animal with considerable energy and
precision. Earsby turned his head to
the front, whisked his tail and slew a
fly that was resting on his seventh rib
After that demonstration of marks
manship | paused
Perhaps a switch will do the bust
ness better" suggested Eloise, and
Immediately got out and cut one from
the nearest tree. Again | attacked
the stubborn animal, but only succeed
ed in raising a cloud of dust
Earsby yielded great sigh of COM
fort and commenced to nibble the
grass at the side OF the road. Ny
herculean blows might as we'll have
been raindrops.
stop" cried Eloise. when | was
about to swoon with fatigue, 81 think
love will do 1t. never did believe In
using brute force with animals"
mo, keep It for humming birds, -
said |, heaying the splintered club into
the underbrush
Eloise again chose to disregard my
words and descended from the cart.