The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-04
The PIG IN A Poke
By KEITH KENYON.

him?"
Betty gave final pat to her fresh
ly coiffed hair, adjusted an invisible
hairpin and surveyed herself critical
". Tell him I'll be down right away,
Mamie
81 wish father wouldn't send for
people to come when he's away,
Betty complained. And particularly
when / want to 60 skating. The new
heating system is nuisance anyway.
How do you do" she asked politely
of the young man who got up and
bowed as she came into the living
room. Il know you came to see
father, but he's taken the car and
gone to hunt a delegate for the con-
vention. But if you like I'll show you
over the house and let you look at the
what-you-may-call-it in the cellar-the
furnace, / suppose
Il think, if you don't mind, I'll wait
until Mr.. Bradshaw returns" He
smiled his amusement. Does he gen.
orally go around hunting delegates as
he would a prize pig for Christmas
dinner?"
Betty laughed. Not exactly, al
though, after all, delegates are pigs
in pokes. You never can tell what
you are getting
Nice lovely place for delegate to
come,' commented the heater man.
I'D rather like to be one myself"
SAY wish mother wasn't away.
She's in Florida. It's such dandy
day and the ice on the lake is like
glass. Do you skate? | could keep
an eye on you as well outside as l
can in the house. Dads so afraid
you'll get away"
Il should say do! Love it! But
/ have no skates"
"Oh, that's all right. Bobby has his
sled out this morning and his skates
are in the hall. They are adjustable,
you know"
That's fine! I'm glad you suggest
ed it. II you don't think Bobby will
care, I'll use his skates gladly. 1t is
too fine a day to waste on heaters,
isn't it,"
1T depends" said Betty demurely,
whether the term Is masculine OF
neuter gender. To prove that it all
depends upon the meaning of the
word, I'm going to waste little more
time on you by winding up the phono-
graph for you while get my things.
What record shall it be. Here's a
lovely waltz-Estellita' and SO
dreamy and smooth you forget you're
dancing and just float. There, isn't
that pretty?"
Dandy! It's fine tune! But run
along now and get your coat"
I'D better not skate with you until
I know your name," said Betty, put
ting her head through the door,
Henderson" returned the man
quickly. Il get Hen usually"
"All right, Mr.. Henderson. Put on
new record if you like. I'll be ready
in minute"
After many turns around the lake
Betty exclaimed: "My but I'm hun.
cry! Let's stop long enough to GO
over to Boyd's and have a hot choc.
olate!"
THE very thing" assented the
young man. So they had hot choco
late and Betty was presented with q
box Of candy.
Let's 90 home now and talk until
dad comes" suggested Betty. I'm
tired and, besides, l want to hear
about the football you used to play
and the golf you play now, and
want to eat my candy. Really, Mr.
Henderson, you are q very interesting
man and I'm glad you came. I'm sor
! ry you don't dance, though. It's &C
easy to turn back the rugs! Fathers
home! That's the car at the door
and do wonder what orr delegates
like"
I'm beginning to feel rather sorry
for the delegate" remarked the younf
man.
, Here's the heater man. father
called Betty. Il kept him for you.
, was afraid he'd be bored and leave be
!. fore you came home. so amused hin
= by taking him skating"
Il don't understand" puzzled daddy
The man from Steel and Hardman',
is downstairs now. He says the gauges
:, need adjusting"
, Then who" began Betty 4,
: amazement.
But the young man interrupted
I The comedy is ended" he sal,
a solemnly. And as a fitting climax
e have to declare my identity. Mis-
Betty, forgive me, I'm Henderson
o Hewitt, delegate, the bug-a-boo of
Q preacher, the pig-in-a-poke, and tn
n most remorseful creature in the worl,
q for what I've done. You took me TO
}. granted. so l allowed my mistake,
identity to be my excuse for a mos
wonderful morning"
What shall we do to him, Bettvp
n asked daddy, with twirkIe in hi
y eye. BE lenient-he's you?g dargt
it ter, and human"
If And he didn't mind if I did NAV
If waltz. conceded Betty. IN fact h
e even said it was pretty. Let's ,ea%
IS 1t to Bobby, dad. He'll know what +
o. do. And so it was settled.
D. Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure Nev,sna
per Syndicate.l