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

So 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 contemptucus. in 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 a 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 II 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 a 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 a
county fair was in progress. There
was a short cut possible by crossing
a narrow bridge. used rarely except
by teams. At either approach the road
curved, and it was customary for any.
one crossing in 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. 1t held two men. AS 1t struck
the wagon 1t splintered 1t to a thou
sand pieces. The machine gave a
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 a dozen persons
headed by the village marshal, come
dashing over the bridge to the spot
where the disabled machine lay, a
wreck.
Old Dobbin was running affrighted
in the direction of home The vehicle
had been torn bodily from him and he
was unhurt.
Some of the newcomers started to
search for the two men who had been
in the automobile, but they had dis.
appeared. A hurried voice informed
Mark that they had entered the bank
and had secured portfolio containing
oyer fifty thousand in bonds and bank
notes at the point Of their revolvers.
rs this it?" spoke the futtering
tones OF Mary, as she extended the
portfolio in question. 1t had fallen at
her feet. flung from the grasp of the
thief who held 1t when the collision
came.
The president of the bank, coming
up hatless and pale, grasped the hand
of Mark in wild fervor as he learned
that the robbers had been baffied.
Reckon I'll have to send in bill
for that wrecked wagon" intimated
Mark. Well call it eighty dollars"
We'll call 1t one thousand dollars,
my friend!' suddenly shouted the
bank man. Why. If those fellows had
got away with all that money. how
gladly would we have paid five thou.
sand dollars for its return. You come
right up to the bank and get your
check"
Mary" whispered Mark, as quito
willingly they followed the banker,
hugging closely his recovered
money-"we'll buy an auto for cash
now-all cash."