The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-13
'Trst I

ham in q timorous voice. First ]
heard the front door rattle. Then
someone tried the side windows. Then
there was window lifted in the gar.
ret. Oh, am sure someone is up
there! Now. Earle-do you not hear?"
You're right, Rachel" assented Mr..
Pelham, after a moment of intense
listening.
There was no doubling the fact that
the floor overhead creaked as hurried
footsteps crossed it. Then there was
scraping sound. as Of someone pull
ing trunk or box over the boards.
Then breaking sound.
Mr.. Pelham got out of bed. dressed,
and lighting a lamp got a revolver
from a bureau drawer. His wife fol-
lowed his example by throwing on
dress. She was close behind him as
they crept up the attic stairs.
"Oh, do be CAREFUL" she implored
whisperingly, as they reached the top
of the stairs, and low, vague Groom
ing sound reached their hearing from
beyond the threshold Of the attic
door.
Hold the lamp" directed her hus.
band. when l pull the door open
suddenly lift it so l can see where to
fire."
Mr.. Pelham gave the door quick
pull. With a trembling hand his wife
lifted and extended the lamp.
"Don't -. don't shoot" almost
screamed Mrs. Pelham. IT'S girl
woman!"
The Pickering lamp fell across O
woman, singing softly to herself and
taking dress after dress from trunk
she had opened. She turned toward
,, the intruders in a surprised way.
Visitors" she observed in soft
plaintive tone. You will have to ex
; cuse me till l get ready to go dow
and meet my guests. l have just ar
rived home. Some wicked peopl
stole me from my husband and
escaped"
;, "Oh, Earle!" gasped Mrs. Pelham
Juggling at her husbands sleeve
: don't you understand? It's that poo
!. lady next door they mourn as deat
Oh. quick! quick! run for her hu'
band She has found home at last
. and see, that open window She mus
have reached it with the stepladder
l Mr.. Pelham. terribly excited, hurrie
= away. Mrs Pelham advanced to tn
side of the woman. whose garment
: were nearly in rags.
"Pick out your dress, dear" ST
: said soothingly. your husband wi
Z be here SOON.
/ "But-strangers in the housed" b
{ gan the other suspiciously.
Z "Oh, we are just guests" assure
& Mrs. Pelham you will find ever
+ thing in order below"
1t was a great shock for Robert M
son when his neighbor advised him
the strange arrival of the night.
Gained himself as he realized the sit
alton AS he entered the attic, with
= wild cry of delight his wife ran in
- his arms.
"Oh, Robert! those wicked men WI
stole me away from YOU"
"Gone entirely out of our life, I
darling" assured Mason. Come
Z your own rooms and get ready to jc
= our kind neighbors at little luncl
= he proceeded, and made a sign to t
= Pelhams, who retired.
Half an hour later Mr. Mason led
( wife, neatly dressed and looking ca
and happy, into the rooms below. 7
quick-witted Mrs Pelham had spre
out a small rejection. TO the let
-. the program of visitors" was CARR
out, and in the eyes Of the poor wi
:. derer all could trace a slow but 81
ro returning of reason.
~, "You will have to keep up the
ar, tense of going over to the next hol
-, till / can arrange otherwise" WI
~. pered Mr.. Mason to Mr.. Pelham.
nm ooh, you mustn't disturb your W
~ with anything" answered Mrs. T
ham. "And besides like the lit
in home best!"
ot. Famously good people. the Pelha
no. shared the glad, grateful Joy OF tn
uo landlord, as the days went on and M
~ Mason came back into the full
49,, shine of reason and health.