The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-13

er tavern he caught the echoes OF
some wild jubilation. He learned its
cause when he reached home. His
landlady looked frightened and agi-
tated.
oh, / am so glad you have got
home safe," she exclaimed They
have been here"
who has been here?" questioned
Griffiths.
THE committee from the rustlers.
It's about renewing the license of the
dance hall, sir"
Il answered them once" spoke Crit
fiths. his lips setting firmly. They
have had my ultimatum."
Yes, sir; but they threaten big
row. They had Giant Gabe with them,
and his gang 1t seems they've hired
him to come here and upset the town,
if you don't give way
mot an inch!" pronounced Grit
fths, determinedly.
Then, sir, don't show yourself on
the streets. The mob IL drunk and
ugly, and bound to do you up II you
don't grant that license"
Grifiiths paid no attention to this
warning. He felt 1t beneath his dig
nifty. He called upon Velma that
same evening Her father was seri-
GUS and she anxious over the situa-
ton Neither, however, attempted to
influence him to recede one step from
his fixed position regarding the carry
ing out of the law.
The next morning Grifiths proceed
ed quietly to his office. He had
heard of a wild debauch at the tav-
ern and of this imported bravo, Giant
Gabe, and his gang. 1t seems they
had appeared in similar circumstances
as hirelings to help the half-subdued
rowdy element of the towns voting for
reform, hoping to intimidate the
champions of the new movement.
The convivialists Of the evening
previous were, it seemed, sleeping OF
the effects Of their debauch during
the morning Just after noon, how
ever. as Griffiths was crossing the
public square he saw a hooting, strag
Cling mob pouring out through the
doors Of the tavern.
At their head was a red-shirted
brawny-f1sted fellow over six feet In
height and viciously intoxicated
Grifiths doubted not that this was
Giant Gabe. Urged by the crowd he
hustled along to the spot where Grit
flths had halted. He squared of in
front of him. egged on by his turbu
lent cohorts.
you're the mayor, they tell mel
he beloved. well, I'm nominated
by the people to protect their liber
ties. RattlesnakesI eat 'em!"
Giant Gabe glared horribly. leapet
up two feet in the air and cracked hi.
heels together.
"Dnawite!" he roared-"I sleel
over a box Of IT,"
Calmly Griffiths regarded thu
mouthy demagogue, but planted firm
ly, his glance noting every movement
of the raging bully.
Powder and shot-my chewing
gum! You goody-doody specimen Of
tenderfoot, I'm going to wipe you gu
with one whack!"
Swish! Giant Gabe struck out, blu
Griffiths lodged. Then up came hi
fist. The burly bully lay in a heap a
his feet.
None of that, you big coward"
A woman's rasping tones uttere
the words. She shot through tn
crowd, and as Giant Gabe tugged a
his belt for a revolver, grabbed hir
by one ear.
You greet hulking buffer" sh
cried. you'd shoot at the unarme
man, Ell? There! and there an
there!" and she cuifed him scundl!
Know who this man is?" she d.
manded, pointing to the mayor. He
the man who saved all our valuabl
papers when our old shanty burne
down. March"
Giant Gabe struggled to his fee
and slouched away from the spo
Most of the crowd roared with laugl
ter The tiny woman dominated tn
great rugged giant as though he wei
a pigmy,
An hour later word went out frol
Giant Gabe to his adherents to retur
to their homes. To the rebellio,
home town mob Gabe sent other wor
that II any further move was mac
against the new mayor "he woul
wade in and clean out the crowd, ia
ern and ALL"
So Nancy, wife of Giant Gabe, save
the day, and Tolliver Gulch settle
down into responsibility, and its ma
or married Velma Dalton