The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-13

30 Mrs. Warner went to the city
and returned with a new lease Of life
and Mark worked harder than ever.
He did not like it particularly when
Nat Brown rallied at him from his ele-
CANT roadster, because he did not join
the real set" and take pleasure fly
ing. Mary, too, for a moment was
glum as Nellie Blair flashed by proud
and contemptuous. in a dainty outing
gear that enhanced her youth and
beauty. In fact, Mary and Mark were
in a measure ignored by former
friends because they did not keep up
with the procession
But all this was forgotten as. re-
turning from some show at neighbor-
ing town, they let old Dobbin pick his
| way along the moonlit river road,
while the night birds lulled them to
serenity in warbling harmony, and
the clear stars twinkled as if smiling
upon the happy, contented faces of the
loyal pair.
Then once, they came along with
old Dobbin Just in time to haul Nat
and Nellie back to town four miles to
have broken steering gear fixed. and
at another time they pulled touring
party of four friends out of ditch and
won meek, shamed thanks from for
mer deriders.
One afternoon old Dobbin was TAX
ing them over to Gayville. where .
county fair was in progress. There
was a short cut possible by crossing
narrow bridge, used rarely except
by teams. At either approach the road
curved, and it was customary for any
one crossing in a vehicle to halt and
see that the way was clear, as two
teams could not pass at one time on
the bridge structure.
Nothing coming. Get up, Dobbin,"
ordered Mark, after peering ahead, but
as they got half way up the approach
clatter caused him to turn the horse
sharply, hoping to be able to get out
of the way.
AN automobile!" exclaimed Mary
in surprise.
Jump" suddenly shouted Ned.
He spoke Just in time. Mary leaped
lightly to the ground and ran a few
yards down the side Of the incline.
Mark sprang to the head of the horse,
saw that he could not turn in time.
and also sprang out of the way.
Crash!
What happened came with the rap
idity of swift movies picture An
automobile came flying down the in
cline. It held two men. AS it strucN
the wagon 1t splintered it to thou
sand pieces The machine gave q
lurch and threw one man over into
the river. The other jumped. AS the
man in the water swan for the shore
and the other made for some under
brush, Mark saw half dozen persons
headed by the village marshal, come
dashing over the bridge to the spo'
where the disabled machine lay, {
, wreck.
Old Dobbin was running afrightet
in the direction of home. The vehicle
had been torn bodily from him and h
was unhurt
Some of the newcomers started Il
search for the two men who had heel
in the automobile, but they had dis
appeared hurried voice informe
Mark that they had entered the ban
and had secured portfolio containin
over fifty thousand in bonds and ban
notes at the point of their revolver'
rs this it?" spoke the flutterin
tones Of Mary, as she extended tn
portfolio in question. 1t had fallen @
her feet, flung from the grasp of tn
thief who held it when the collisio
came.
~ The president of the bank, comm
:, up hatless and pale, grasped the han
- of Mark in wild fervor as he learne
that the robbers had been baffled
Reckon I'll have to send in bi
= for that wrecked wagon" intimate
~ Mark. Well call 1t eighty dollars y
~ We'll call it one thousand dollar
~ my friend!" suddenly shouted tn
r. bank man. why, II those fellows ha
"a got away with all that money, ho'
ID gladly would we have paid five tho'
70 sand dollars for it's return. You com
,e right up to the bank and get you
40 check"
m Mary" whispered Mark. as quit
willingly they followed the banke
II. hugging closely his recovere
in money-"we1l buy an auto for cas-
20 now-all cash."