The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-28

great things in that line. Gamble.
wager get drunk. Get a flying ma
chine Elope with somebody's wife
ALL three or four people with your
auto Start for the north pole. Go
ABOUT with a hobble skirt on. II
youli go in to be the biggest fool in
america I'll furnish you all the
money you can make use of it.
sorry, Gov.-sorry-but | cawn't
10 II, We know" was the reply. Got
my little plans to look out for. Would
IKE to oblige, but must decline. No
hard feelings, | hope Thanks for
your kind wishes. By-by."
Mr.. Perry Degraw lived at his
CLUBS and appeared at his fathers
mansion only at intervals. Some
times he was seen only once a month.
On this occasion he disappeared after
the interview, and it was weeks be-
fore he was heard Of again. There
was report that he was inyestigat-
ing the Panama canal, but 1t was
not considered reliable. No one wor-
ried about him. however.
The widow Strong owned and oc-
cupled manor house forty miles
from the city. She was still young
woman. a member Of the best So
clety, and wealthy. One afternoon,
as her auto was brought to the door
that she might proceed to a village
-FOUR or five miles away, she made
the discovery that her chauffeur was
intoxicated. He was DISCHARGED on
the spot. and just as a young man
who looked to be walking student
came along. He saw the situation
and offered his services. He claimed
| to have experience, and after some
hesitation was engaged to run the
auto for the trip. The results were
twofold. The widow had heard OF
Perry Degraws wager. and she be
lieved she recognized the young man
In the stranger who had arrived al
the opportune moment. He was
therefore engaged to act as chauffeur
gardner and man of all work
1t was plain that the new mar
knew all about an auto. Quite sure
OF his identity. the widow did as any
| other woman would have done She
Kept him at work from morning til
night. She found fault on all occas
ions. The cook was hidden to keel
an eye on him, and he was treated {
little worse than the average hired
man. He bore everything withou
complaint and did his best to please
After a couple of weeks he dropped
his "ye knows" and his "donchers.
and he no longer struck tremendous
attitudes The change in him wa
noticed even by the cook
The new man. who called himsel
Hopkins, and was familiarly know
to the servants as Hop" came to thu
manor house in midsummer. He wa
still there as winter set in. Not
word or look had betrayed the fac
that he was not Hopkins. The widow
now felt sure, but she was simply
bit interested Perhaps if something
were to happen
And one midwinter day Perry De
graw found his father in the librar
again. His arrival had not been eS
pected. In his surprise the fathe
looked up and said:
why. son. where did you leav
it,"
Down in the country, gov. Bee
a hired man for the Widow Stron
ever since that basting you gave me.
why, you fool. did you go dow
there and"
Gently, gov. Stuck in a snowdrif
four days ago in the auto. Might
cold. Snow three feet deep. Widoy
freezing to death. Chauffeur carrie
her a mile in his arms and saves he
precious life. She revives. Says sh
has known his identity all alonf
Says he is some fool, but not all foo
Says she rather likes him. Says
may come off in about three months
Wants to know. as I do. If you hav
anything to say about It,"
The father hadn't. He simpl
oh ka