The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-24

definitely. You have agreed not to
write to me. Don't. You have prom
Used not to meet me. Keep your
word. I'll arrange all that, but-trust
me to break down this wall of preju-
dice. Oceans shan't part us. In the
meantime, until things settle down
this"
Ned drew from his coat pocket one u
of the tools he used in putting in
wires. He waved it buoyantly.
"Yonder." he said, pointing to the !.
barb wire fence, lis a conductor right |
at hand. I'll connect up half a mile !
down the road with Farmer Moore's
house line The feeder will go up |
there" and he pointed among the !
branches of the old apple tree.
"Oh, Ned" cried Hetty, clasping
her hands in ecstasy, ''you-you don't
mean"
That | am going to put tele-
phone especially for you up in that
tree. Why, every evening We can talk
over the line for hours, if we want to-"
You darling!" exuberated Hetty
breathlessly. oh. how fortunate it
is that you know all about tele-
phones!"
"Ill be at my task bright and early
tomorrow before your uncle is up and
about" planned Ned. Come here to-
morrow evening. climb up in the tree.
There's comfortable seat on the sec.
ond branch. Take down the receiver.
, Call up Xxx I'll arrange with the
switchboard girls as to what that
, means. Then--last kiss here, but I'll
| send you a dozen over the wires
every evening""
[ Oh. the delight of it! That blissful
: twilight hour! The deft hand of the
: master workman had arranged the
r wires so that only suspicious, search
j. ing person could have guessed the
, mission of the double wire loop run
: ming from the fence up into the old
apple tree.
For three consecutive evenings Het
4 ty sauntered carelessly down the
z road. Her uncle supposed she was go
Q ing to visit the daughter Of the farm
9 er just next to them. Hetty had no
: ticed him standing at the door of tn
i house the last evening of the three
t watching her till she was out of sight
J, She made a cautious detour to reacl
" the old tree.
"a The fourth evening Hetty did no
start away until she saw Mr.. Barcla
busy in what he called his little Of
flee, looking over his business paper:
1t was quite dusk by the time sh
reached her destination.
She had climbed into the tree an
l had herself comfortably disposed
Il when she was startled by low quic
II whistle. A man Came over the fenc
/ rough looking and sinister. He stoo
\ directly beneath her leafy shelter.
n It was he who had uttered I'll
N whistle and in few moments cor
l rade of the same type slouched I'M
| view.
/ "Well, how's the outlook?" Querie
the first conner.
+ Capital"
Girl gomez"
Half an hour ago."
"And the old man."
TN the room where his safe Is, Z
alone. There's a rich haul, partne
Come on"
Mercy" gasped the startled Hett
as the two strangers disappeared
the direction of the farm hous
They are going to rob uncle!"
Her wits worked quick. She W
aware that the men folks on the ne
farm were not at home. Then
bright idea occurred to her. s
"a, snatched free the receiver Of the tie
phone.
'X-X"-oh, quick, please! please
m. she breathed frantically.
ed And then as the connection W
I'm made: "Oh, Ned! come quick, wi
help. There are two burglars he
MS who are going to rob uncle!"
ne "Will they never Gomez" she crit
int standing out in the road and looki
in townwards. Then her heart to
ire hope. Two distant sparks gr
,as brighter, the lamps Of a speed
automobile. Then she could hear
nd chug-chug of the flying machine. S
for ran out into the road and waved
neck scarf.
me Two town officers accompanied
ted lover. One guarded the front door
&c. the house as they reached it. n
and the other man went around to
his porch that opened into the Office
II old Simon.
Ing Just in time!" announced Ned, q
he and the Officer sprang into