The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-29
Third Times CHARM
By CATHARlNE CRANMER.


widowers through their second sum
mers." mumbled Jack Ellis to himself
but it'll be a miracle if Dorothy
Leigh gets through her second season
without becoming engaged. Shes
pretty, popular, wealthy, adorapie--ih
other words, just Dorothy"
Jack frowned at the awful POSSIBLE
tiles of the case. He was in love WIN
Dorothy, but would not be in secure
enough financial position to propose
to her before January, when he would
be taken into the firm as director
He determined to go to her that
very day and offer her his heart, ask
ing her to let him add his modest for
tunes, which would be greater within
the year.
In a frenzy of love and hope and a !
rather foolish certainty of success !
Jack made a careful afternoon toilet
and went swinging along the lew
blocks to Dorothy's home. But alas
for mushroom hopes, AS he passed
through the iron gateway leading INTO
the residence street where Dorothy
lived, Henry Ardmore's shining Dlack
automobile rolled noiselessly toward
him, with Dorothy and Ardmore in its
roomy rear seat. Ardmore leaned for
ward and faced Dorothy just in time
partially to obscure the glory OF her
charming smile of greeting to Jack.
1t was only four o'clock and Jack
went home, took out his car, and went
for an aimless run into the country.
He avoided the Country club lest he
should seem to be trailing Dorothy
and Ardmore, who would probably
stop there for tea. The short after
noon faded and was followed by dark
ness and fastmoving clouds.
Rounding a corner at a pretty good
pace, Jack had to bring his car to an
abrupt stop to avoid danger OF col
liding with two disabled cars which
were standing facing each other, with
dead engines and anxious passengers.
Jack recognized the one headed for
the city as Arumore's. He promptly
offered any possible aid, and his heart
beats broke all speed records when
the task assigned him was to take
Dorothy cityward lest the approach
ing storm break before the damaged
car could be repaired sufficiently to
make the trip.
With wicked thankfulness that his
! little gray roadster could accommo-
! date but one passenger Jack handed
Dorothy in and drove off feeling
| luckier than Aladdin when his lamp
was at it's best Rejecting that
| though Fate had snatched one oppor-
tunity from him she had flung another
| at his feet. Jack decided to wash up
to him to make the most of his oppor-
tunity.
Dorothy" he began, just as they
entered the park, but he never got
any further with his speech, for big
limousine coming toward them halted
and Dorothy's father called her name
as he stepped from the door,
"Ardmores chauffeur telephonet
that there had been an accident so
started out to see if | could find yol
along the way. It's lucky we met here
in the light concluded John Leigh.
Jack accepted their cordial invita-
tion to tea, consoling himself with ;
vague recollection of the alleged
charm of all third attempts agains
failure, and he determined that h
would make third attempt to pro
pose before he left Dorothy.
Dorothy was charmingly flushed an,
exuberant. In the little family groul
Jack began to feel quite at home
though he was longing for an oppoI
tunity to be alone with Dorothy, whel
frightened servant girl burst int
the living room screaming that tn
house was on fire.
Dashing up the back stairwa
where the frightened maid pointed
Jack smelled burning cotton. and il
the maids room on the third floor h
found the Swiss window curtains ha
dropped in burning fragments upo
the mating floor covering. Grabbin
small rug from the hallway flool
he extinguished the flames startin
from the mating just as Dorothy, he
parents and the excited maid entere
the room. While Mr.. and Mrs. Leig
talked to the girl. Dorothy searche
Jacks hands for burns. two of whic
she found, and she marched him dow
stairs to administer first aid
"Oh, jack It's too bad" she mu
INJURED in a fearful voice, as she CAV
the bandage final pat. Does it hui
so very much?"
Hurt? Why, it's heavenly, Do
othy" Jack exclaimed Dorothy wol
dered what he meant, but when h
heard her fathers voice on the stat
, way, he lost no time in making h
meaning quite clear
The third time charms Jack
whispered Dorothy. land I'm glad We
, didn't succeed in telling me the 9th,
: times YOU tried. for | didn't know u
til five minutes ago that | loved you
| Copyright, 1915, bv the Mcclure Newsp
per SyndiCatel