The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-14
PAWNS!
BY HOPE AiNSLiE.

cnlmeQ elSnt several LuiuuteS ueloio
and Anthony Saxton had not put in an
appearance.
After bit. Mr.. Podderington's keen
ear detected the sound of rubber
tires on gravel, and the lines of his
wrinkled old face softened as he
touched a bell. One could never tell
at Anthony's age which game Of chess
would be the last.
Hello. JIMMY" Anthony, fat and
apoplectic of complexion. waddled into
the room. "Sorry I'm late"
Mr.. Podderington grunted sourly.
"You look it! What did you come at
all for if you have to be late?"
"Tut-tut, Jimmy. Don't be SO vine
gary. I'm late because had to send
a telegram. Nellie's girl is coming to
visit her granddaddy. had a letter
today. l haven't seen her since she
was a baby, and-let's see-how old is
she now? forget. but she graduated
last spring"
Are we, or are we not, going to
have a game tonight? II you'd rather
have a quilting bee, where everyone
can talk his head off, we might ar
range it,"
Anthony put out protesting hand.
"All right James. Ill play right now
and won't say another word"
And secretly tickled to DEATH"
snapped Mr.. Podderington, moving his
queens pawn two spaces with jerk.
When your relation arrives that
means an end to all this. l hope you
realize"
Mr.. Saxon looked his wretchedness.
Podderington decided to change tao.
tics.
"All right, Toney, don't worry. Well
fix it some way. l have it! I'll send
for one of Bertha's boys to visit me.
Anything over twenty, say. There
now, drop the whole thing and play"
The week before Mr. Anthony Sax
ton received the disturbing news OF
his granddaughter's visit, Mrs. Tom
Weatherby happened to look out of
her living-room window just as Vir-
ginia Weatherby and Harold Harcourt
parted company.
Mrs. Weatherby's keen eyes de-
tected something in his manner that
made her bristle with indignation. And
when Virginia came in with blazing
cheeks and soft, happy light in her
deep blue eyes, the rage in her moth.
er's heart overflower it's bounds.
Virginia, this nonsense between
you and Harold Harcourt has got to
stop Your Grandfather Saxton would
never permit it. You must remember
your duty to your family. II we al
lowed such a thing as marriage with
anyone OF the Harcourt family. We
should be cut off without cent"
And after heart-to-heart talk will
Mr.. Weatherby, it was decided that II
was time to remind Grandfather Sax
ton Of their existence anyway, and Vir
ginias trip was planned.
Virginia" said Grandfather Saxtol
across the prodigious dinner table The
{ first evening, IAN old friend is comm,
tonight to play cards"
Something in her sad face made i
hard for him to suggest that she maxi
any effort to entertain strange younl
man at his bidding.
The old man felt misgivings. pod
derington's an old fool" he exploded
suddenly, to Virgina's surprise ant
wonderment. Look here, Virginia
he's bringing young cub Of grand
son of his along for you to entertain
, You look him over and il you don
like him say so and out he'll co.
At eight o'clock precisely, motto
sounded upon the drive. then came
few loud taps of the knocker. In ar
. other instant, Mr.. James Podderingto
came into the room followed by
: younger man, who stopped suddenl
/ when the girl got up from her chat
and turned to meet them.
virginia." he cried, starting To-
ward.
Harold" cried Virginia at the sam
l. moment and looking as though sh
were undecided whether to faint G
: rush headlong into the arms he wa
: making it apparent were quite read
to receive her. But the color in he
: cheeks made it plain to Grandfathe
Saxton that her recent indispositio
was not due entirely to poor health.
: "Huh-huh! What's all this?" erie
Mr. Podderington.
|, They seem to know one anothe
), Jim," ventured Anthony. Virgins
! this is Mr. Podderington. Now pleas
! tell us the joke and who it's on. S
down, everyone
Yes, yes And times flying Pleas
p be quick!" added the other old ma
impatiently as he looked at the clock
I'm tell you" put in Harold, notin
Virginia's beseeching look. Virgin
i and / love one another and have fl
a years But she isn't allowed to look
r. me for fear Mr. Saxton will disinher
. the family, and to tell you the trut
a grandfather, I'm not supposed to loo
n at Virginia, for dad says mother WI
n. never get a sou from you il marry
v Weatherby. That's the truth"
"A Rot" exclaimed Mr.. Podderingto
n "I'll disinherit the whole lot of do
n keys if you don't marry her-that
IN what! Tony, are the things new
coming? We're late beginning o.
game"
Eyes, James, right away! You YOU
folks go into the library now and ia
- about your troubles. And, Virgini
AZ you write to your mother in the NOR
" ing and tell her I've picked your HI
10 band, and his names Harold Harcou