The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-16

poor old Peter. You knocked him
down the day Of the fire and he has
left the town, too"
Il tried to knock some of the liquor
and stupidity out of the old varmint,"
retorted the farmer. Good radiance,
for he'd got too lazy and muddled to
work"
All Milwood was talking about
Farmer Sloan and his experience with
his daughters sutton and the burned
barn and the mysterious disappear
ance of young Hal Edwards. The lat
ter had come to the village a stranger
about three months previously. He
had secured modest position in the
office of the local implement works,
had met Mary and they had gone to
Sether good deal until the whimsical,
harsh-natured old farmer had inter-
fered. The night OF The fire there had
been scene and Sloan had insultingly
sent the young, penniless adventurer,
as he called him, about his business.
Sloan was welltodo but miserly and
grasping. He was in a constant tur-
MOL with his neighbors, and usually
deeply involved in litigation. lie had
advertised in the local paper reward
for the apprehension of young Ed.
wards.
I've settled his hash!" he chuckled
maliciously to his wife. He'll never
"a fo 70 hoo ~
that saves Mary from a fortune
hunter"
Il don't know about that" demurred
the sensible housewife. "Mr. Edwards
is a gentleman and perhaps he has
gone away to bring back the proofs of
1t to you"
"Pooh!" derided Sloan "He got
mad and burned me out from revenge
and has made tracks, like the miscre-
ant he is"
The very next day the quarrelsome
old tyro got into a new ENHANCEMENT.
Every farmer whose land bordered on
Lily lake kept small boat They
were usually crude weather-worn
skiffs, and anybody and everybody
welcome to use them for rowing or
fishing, provided they returned them
in good order.
Farmer Sloan found his boat miss.
ing. A search discovered it driftcd
ashore two miles away and the oars
gone. He made some inquiries to
learn that Nelson Dye, a neighbours
stance. Sloan met the boy, who
scared faced, acknowledged it. Sloan
gave him half dozen cuts with q
horsewhip and he and the father Of
the lad had regular fisticuff battle
later on.
Young Dye told story that stirred
up the town nightly. He had used
the boat to visit Swamp island, a
marshy. densely over-grown island in
the middle Of the lake, to get some
cattails to be used in decorating the
schoolroom.
Upon landing, the terrified lad had
been startled by frantic yells. A great
form clothed In white and waving
blazing firebrands had chased him to
the boat. 1t was ghost" and half
crazed with fear at the sight of the
dreadful apparition the boy had upset
the boat and swan for his life to the
mainland.
The next night mysterious lights
were seen on the island. Recently
many farmers had found their chick
en- roosts and pantries despoiled. Did
these thefts connect with 1.-THE ghost?"
A group of boys made up an expedi-
ton to visit the island and rout out
its uncanny guest.
That very day, however, new sem
sation obscured and eclipsed the cir
cumstance of the haunted island. Hal
Edwards returned to town. He was
promptly arrested by a constable. to
whom Sloan instantly paid the adver-
tised reward. In some way Hal Sc
cured bail and the case was set for a
few days later. Sloan came home be-
fore the release, elated and excited.
well, wife," he pronounced with a
gleesome chuckle, we've got the vii
lain! l hope Mary will forget him
after this disgrace. Where is she? l
want to give her sensible talking to-"
You are too late" said Mrs. Sloan
/ gravely. MARY has left the house."
What! do you mean-not for
good?'
Il do mean just that and so does
She" asserted Mrs. Sloan steadily
Mary heard of your last persecution
of the man she loves, packed up her
! things, has gone to my sisters house
and says she will marry Hal Edwards
! the minute he asks her."
Ezra Sloan fumed and stormed.
He'd see about this, now! He'd soon
have that independent young rebel
! back under the home roof! And then
some quiet, sensible advice from his
wife quieted him down considerably
Mary had taken a firm stand" said
! Mrs. Sloan. "She is in the right and
you won't move her. The girl has
some of your strong. stubborn will,
Ezra Sloan, only in a different way"
Farmer Sloan passed an uneasy
night. When he got to the court
house the next day he felt more than
sheepish, when at the start it was
proven that Edwards had lost the
match case week previously some
where about the farm. Then there
was a great commotion outside Of the
court rooms. A mob Of boys hustled