The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-01

tomorrow DeIOre your uncle is up ana
about" planned Ned. Come here to-
morrow evening. climb up in the tree.
There's a 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 q 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
wires so that only a suspicious, search
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.
ty sauntered carelessly down the
road. Her uncle supposed she was go
ing to visit the daughter Of the farm
or just next to them. Iyetty had no
ticed him standing at the door Of the
house the last evening Of the three.
watching her till she was out Of sight.
She made q cautious detour to reach
the old tree.
The fourth evening Hetty did not
start away until she saw Mr. Barclay
busy In what he called his little Of
fee, looking over his business papers.
It was quite dusk by the time she
reached her destination.
She had climbed into the tree and
had herself comfortably disposed.
when she was startled by low quick
whistle. A man came over the fence.
rough looking and sinister. He stood
directly beneath her leafy shelter.
It was he who had uttered the
whistle and in a few moments a COM
rade of the same type slouched into
view.
"Well, how's the outlook?" Queried
the first conner
Capital"
Girl gomez"
"Half an hour ago."
And the old man."
In the room where his safe Is, all
alone. There's rich haul, partner
Come on"
| Mercy" gasped the startled Hetty
as the two strangers disappeared in
the direction of the farm house
They are going to rob nncle!"
Her wits worked quick. She was
aware that the men folks on the next
farm were not at home. Then q
bright idea occurred to her. She
snatched free the receiver of the tele
phone.
"x-X"-oh. quick. please! pleased
she breathed frantically.
And then as the connection wa.
made: "Oh, Ned! come quick. with
help. There are two burglars here
who are going to rob uncle!"
"Will they never Gomez" she cried
standing out in the road and looking
townwards. Then her heart tool
hope. Two distant sparks grew
brighter. the lamps Of a speeding
automobile. Then she could hear tn,
chug-chug Of the flying machine. Sh,
ran out into the road and waved he
neck scarf.
Two town officers accompanied he
lover. One guarded The front door O
the house as they reached 1t. Ne,
and the other man went around to tn
porch that opened into the once o
old Simon.
Just in time!" announced Ned, an
he and the officer sprang into tn
room. One Of the burglars was guard
ing their victim wifi a revolver. Til
other had Just lifted his strong bo
from the safe.
The officers departed with thei
prisoners. Ned explained.
"A telephone did ie?" muttered oil,
Simon, closely hugging his treasur
box. But for that-Join hands," h
said abruptly. I'm converted, Hetty
This young man may put in 'phon
In the morning. AS to coming her
regular, I fancy he's earned the priv
ilege."
And so love by telephone led t
love directly under the home roof.
Copyright. 1914. by w. G. Chapman.)