The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-06

=
her purse.
Mrs. Brannon, trying to hope thai
Cynthia's scheme might prove a sue
cess, while not daring TO believe Il
really feasible, was a delighted anC
thankful woman when, much sooner
than she had thought possible. hei
daughter drove up to the door, wav
ing a bunch of greenbacks triumph
antly aloft
Now you must acknowledge thai
amp the business woman of the fam
lily" she cried.
Later on Cynthia said soberly
Mother, believe have found the
way for paying off the principal as
well as interest Just think of the
quantity of fruit that goes to waste
because there is no use for It.
mean to write Cousin Arnold and ask
If some store in town would not sell
preserves on commission. and | shall
not let the shore people escape with
only one load another year. We must
put In the rest of the season preserv.
ing everything there is to preserve
MIR. Thompson will trust US for
sugar"
Her mother looked proudly upon
her daughter and answered, You are
the business woman as you said, Gym
thia. and win do just what / am
commanded TO-"
week after her excursion to the
shore, Cynthia was returning from a
trip to the village, When driving
through a deep pass where the ground
rose steeply on both sides into hills
crowned with stunted pines, she
heard voice calling loudly, Miss
Preserves! Miss Preserves" Look
ing up she beheld the smallest of the
st. John cadets scrambling down the
steep incline to the road.
At once she drew rein, and called
back, Am | Miss Preserves?'"
Il didn't know what else to call
you" painted the youngster as he
reached the wagon. "Oh, Miss Pre-
serves, won't you let us bring Johnnie
Action down to you. and then drive
him over to camp? He fell into a
hole and sprained his ankle SO he
can't walk, and Captain Morgan sent
me to watch the road for wagon and
was just in time to catch you"
Yes, indeed" answered Cynthia.
Bring Johnnie right along and will
get him to camp as fast as Dobbin
can travel"
i knew 1t was all right soon as |
saw you," said the small cadet crate
fully, and then fastened up the hill
after his comrades.
Captain Morgan and one of the
boys appeared soon, carrying the
famed Johnnie between them, and fol-
lowed by the whole flock.
You seem to be our guardian an.
gel" said the captain to Cynthia, as
they gently deposited the disabled
youngster on the seat beside her.
we shall be more than grateful for
your help today-and the boys have
carefully packed away all the Jars
we have emptied SO far" he added
laughingly.
The captain and three of the small
est boys climbed into the rear OF the
wagon, leaving the rest to follow on
foot.
The injured foot had been propped
up as comfortably as possible, and its
owner bore the pain bravely. Before
the shore was reached her compan.
ions had learned Cynthia's name and
where she lived, and the boys assured
her that they intended to pay her a
visit soon with an installment of the
fruit jars.
When the captain lifted Johnnie
Action down on reaching camp they
all felt like old friends, and Cynthia
was thanked effusively for her assist.
ance
At tho end OF another week the ca.
diets and their captain paid the prom.
ised visit to Cynthia. In the dusk
they returned home and after this,
seldom day passed which did not
see some of the cadets and often their
beloved captain, visiting at the Bran.
non homestead.
The weeks passed swiftly, and all
too soon for any of them the time
came for the cadets to break camp
The youngsters were enjoying a final
game of baseball on one of their last
afternoons, the grassy lot beside Mrs
Brannon's orchard furnishing their
diamond, while Cynthia and Captain
Morgan formed part of an admirins
audience.
What fine lot of boys they are
and how lonely mother and will
feel without them." said Cynthia with
a little sigh.
They are the best boys in the
world" answered their captain heart.
lily, but though you may miss them,
/ know of some one who will be a
thousand times more lonely when
leaving you"
Cynthia looked up in real surjrise
at his tone, for never word of senti
ment had passed Captain Morgan's
lips before-they had been good com.
rades, that was all.
The brave little girl who started
out alone to sell her wares won my
heart the first time saw her, and
every meeting with our dear Miss
Preserves has made me long to be.
come her prisoner for life. Won't
you try to spare little of your love
for the boys to their undeserving cap
tain?"
And then Cynthia's heart was re.
vealed to her, for suddenly she real.
lied that it would make life very
empty to have this big. kindly captain
%