The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-27
The TREsPAssER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

| ster preparatory to turning a sharp
curve in the road, when around the
corner catapulted a small hoy who
shed apples as he ran, blouse, pockets
and arms full to overlooking.
The look of terror in the fugitive's
eyes went to Priscilla's heart. Invol-
UNFAIRLY her foot went to the brake
and her hand to the door. Hop inp
she cried, and Dickie needed no sec
ond invitation, but tumbled In, apples
and all, just as man came around
the corner brandishing a hastily pro-
cured switch.
As the little car whizzed past, he
caught a glimpse Of his enemy riding
away to safety and peace beside the
pretty representative of family he
had no reason whatever to love.
"what was he after you for?" quer-
led Priscilla little sternly.
"why," answered Dick, 81 was going
along the road and got kinda hungry
and l saw those trees in the orchard
all full of apples and a good many on
the ground, and l thought I'd eat one.
But there was so many and l didn't
know which one to take, so l thought
I'd take several. Say, you're awfully
nice to save me. Don't you want an
apple?"
mo, thank you. But I'm going to
take them all, little boy. You see, you
didn't mean to steal, but you did, and
after l take you home I'm going to
] take the apples back to Mr.. Criswell."
Once in town. they sought the street
upon which the culprit lived and Pris-
ella delivered him to his mother, and
: then with her cargo Of stolen fruit she
turned back to the farm.
81 rather WISH" she said thought
fully, "that it were anyone else but
that old Mr.. Criswell. He is likely to
be very unpleasant. wonder If Bob's
flush to her cheeks, but in the depths
of her blue eyes lay the shadow OF
trouble. Her thoughts went back t.
the time when her fathers farm JOINED
Il the Criswells and when she and Bol
II had gone to the district school to
h gether. They had been companions al
II ways, then sweethearts. But coal hat
II been found on strip of land between
| the two farms, strip which botl
| families had claimed to own for years
The coal had made bad situation
worse, and Bob and Priscilla were FOL
II hidden to speak to one another.
H "rve brought back the apples tn
II little boy took" said Priscilla to MI
II Criswell when he came to the door
answer her knock.
II 'You folks aren't always so partic'
| lar about giving people what is just
II theirs" remarked the old man acidl.
II Priscilla turned to go. Her silent
merely Infatuated the old man.
inst want to tell you," bawled h
| '.that If you ever write another lett'
II to Bob I'll burn 1t, so you might
we'll save yourself the trouble. \
| wonder you can sport around In
II automobile of your own, spendir
II money that justly belongs to 9TH
II people"
Hi One day, week later, Priscilla
II her car was passing the Criswell far
III when she picked up passenger
Il fact the same passenger who had be-
fleeing from Mr.. Criswell's wrath
a few days before. "Going my wa
Dickie? Where have you been
dayP
MI "Catchin' clubs down in Criswel
creek"
Ill "The old man will get after y
again for trespassing What have y
i. got there"
I'LL "That! Oh, 1 guess It's coal. 81
the funniest thing. almost forl
about 1t. While was sittin' there
the bank above the creek two m
came along and stopped. They did
soc me. but / could hear what IN
were talking about. One of them sa
It's coal all right An the other Z
saws. yes. the vein runs over this w
uH FOO. You we're right, Bill. All
IL digging amt for nothin' now.
Criswell mustn't know a thing
we'll buy his farm for a figure
can't refuse"
Iii Priscilla turned her car. "Dickit
III saved you one day, now you do sol
III thing for me, will you? I'm going
take YOU TO Mr.. CrIswell and l WI
lib YOU to tell him all you told me-"
H So Priscilla and Dick drove back
II the Criswells and Dick told his W
IL derful tale.
H "Humph! These men are In
HI kitchen now" said the old man,
sneakin' thieves. So, sonny, you
Won can show me the place they
IL been diggin' and I've got really II
- coal on my lam? Just wait I'll
them 1 have to have week to IN
II over. Then I'll go with you TO
u spot. Miss Priscilla, If you ana
II care to go along, maybe you'd hk'
~ hunt him up. He's somewhere arc
the barn.
III Bob, oh, Bob, where are 20
called Priscilla blithely.
~ Bob stuck his head over the cog
the hay loft.
HI "Have died and gone to heaven
has the millennium come? 1t Is re
H YOU. Priscilla, dear? What's
Dened?"