The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-28

Il
heard the front door rattle. Then
someone tried the side windows. Then
there was window lifted in the gar.
ret. Oh, l am sure someone is I'D
there! Now, Earle-do you not hear?"
You're right, Rachel" assented Mr..
Peiham, 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, a. of someone pull.
ing trunk or box over the boards.
Then breaking sound.
Mr.. Pelham got out of bed, dressed,
and lighting a amp got a revolver
from a bureau drawer. His wife fol.
lowed his example by throwing on a
dress. She was close behind him as
they crept up the attic stairs.
"Oh, do be CAREFUL" she implored
whisperingly, as they reached the ton
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 1 pull the door omen
suddenly lift it so can see where T.
fire."
Mr.. Pelham gave the door a quick
pull. With trembling hand his wife
lifted and extended the lamp.
Don't - don't shoot" almost
screamed Mrs. Pelham. IT'S a girl
woman!"
The Pickering lamp fell across
woman. singing softly to herself and
taking dress after dress from a trunk
she had opened. She turned toward
the intruders in a surprised way.
Visitors" she observed in a soft,
plaintive tone. you will have to ex-
cuse me ill l get ready to 60 down
and NEE my guests. have just ar
rived home. Some wicked people
stole me from my husband and I
escaped"
"Oh, Earle!" gasped Mrs. Pelham,
Juggling at her husbands sleeve,
don't you understand? It's that poor
lady next door they mourn as dead.
oh, quick! quick! run for her hus-
band. She has found home at last
and see, that open window. She must
have reached it with the stepladder."
Mr.. Pelham, terribly excited, hurried
away. Mrs. Pelham advanced to the
side of the woman, whose garments
We're nearly in rags.
"Pick out your dress, dear" she
said soothingly. "Your husband will
be here soon."
"But-strangers in the housed" be
gan the other suspiciously.
"Oh, we are just guests" assured
Mrs. Pelham. "You will find every
thing in order below"
It was great shock for Robert Ma
son when his neighbor advised him Of
the strange arrival of the night. He
Gained himself as he realized the stu
alton. AS he entered the attic, with q
wild cry of delight his wife ran into
his arms.
"Oh, Robert! those wicked men who
stole me away from you-"
Gone entirely out of our life, my
darling" assured Mason. "Come tc
your own rooms and get ready to joir
our kind neighbors at little lunch,
he proceeded, and made sign to the
Pelhams, who retired.
Half an hour later Mr.. Mason led his
wife, neatly dressed and looking calm
and happy, into the rooms below. The
quick-witted Mrs. Pelham had spread
out small rejection. TO the letter
the program of visitors" was carried
out, and in the eyes of the poor wan
! derer all could trace a slow but sure
returning of reason.
"You will have to keep up the pre-
tense of going over to the next house
till / can arrange otherwise" whis
pered Mr. Mason to Mr.. Pelham.
ooh, you mustn't disturb your wife
with anything" answered Mrs. Pei
ham. 'And besides-we like the little
home best!"
Famously good people, the Pelhams
shared the glad, grateful Joy of their
landlord, as the days went on and Mrs.
Mason came back into the full sun
shine of reason and health.