The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-19

'She's wise to your homicidal
schemes. Dade." chaffed his compan-
ions.
If Miss Willy was suspicious she
gave no further sign, and one morning
when Dade Holcomb especially needed
his black horse it was discovered that
Miss Willy had dashed away on Sa-
tan's back to the evident CONSERVATION
of the Besse family
81 hope Willy knows what she's
about" murmured Mrs. Besse doubt
, fully.
Trust her, Anne" treasured the
boss good naturally.
Bob Linton, overhearing the CONVEX
sation, wondered at Boss Besse's calm
attitude, and, 1t being his own after
noon of, he rode of down the trail I'm
the wake Of Black Satan.
Dade Holcomb was limping along the
trail In his high heeled boots confident
every moment that he would overtake
horse and rider or else-here he felt
wretcheday guilty-And Rack Satan
riderless and limp heap of girlhood,
for Black. Satan did not belle his name
As he passed Dade, Bob cast lock
Of loathing at the practical Joker.
"I'm going to look for Miss Willy,
Dade," he remarked driiy. "If you
have really broken her in-I'n kill
your
81 hope you willr' muttered Dade
miserably. 81 sure deserve 1t, Bob"
And just then Miss Willy flashed
into view with the plunging Satan at
mercy Of her quirt and spurs.
She glanced mischievously down at
the astounded Dade.
Rather a riotous little lamb, this
Satan Of yours, Mr.. Holcomb." she
threw over her shoulder.
"Great catsw yelled Dade, as they
vanished around the trail toward
home
Bob Linton was staring after them
with queer look in his eyes. II won
dered-I wondered" he muttered over
and over.
That night, as they sat around the
supper table in the mess house, the
boss came down to them.
Boys" he said, I've twenty tickets
here for moving picture show over
at the creek. Just say who wants to
go and I'll pass 'em out. After the
show well have supper at the Palace
hotel-my treat"
Fifteen hands reached out for the
tickets, for they were mere boys in
their love of amusement, and the mo-
ton picture theater at Scraggy Greek
was closed half the time, being subject
to alternate periods Of aff]uence and
bankruptcy and constantly changing
ownership.
At $50 they set out from the Big Y
in the boss big red automobile, escort
ed by all the cowpunchers on horse
back.
In the motorcar was Mr.. Besse and
his wife and Miss Willy.
Bob Linton rode beside Miss Willy.
Dade Holcomb and Hannibal drag
ged along in the rear, as became cul-
prits. They were still gasping over
Miss WHY'S miraculous escape from
death. Inwardly they were thankful.
Inside the Family theater the boss
guided them to a block Of reserved
seats, while he and his wife and Willy
were escorted to lower box.
When the theater was filed the
lights were lowered, and on the magic
white screen appeared the scenes Of a
rollicking comedy.
When that was over the manager
appeared to announce the special pic
ture of the evening, the favorite film
actress, Miss Billie Moore, I'm "a Lover
OF the Plains" And he further an
nounced that at the end Of the picture
Miss Moore would appear in person
and greet her audience.
Wide eyed, staring silently, as the
love story Of the west was unfolded
before their eyes, sat the fifteen cow.
boys from the Big Y ranch.
There was an indrawn breath of sur
prise when the charmingly familiar
face Of their Miss Wilhelmina Moore
mashed forth as the heroine of the
play. Dumbly they watched her per
form such deeds Of daring on horse and
afoot as they never dreamed a mortal
girl could survive.
She could break a bucking broncho.
she could throw a lariat and bring a
"critter" to its knees; she could ride
ike mad on an unsaddled horse: she
hung over precipice and dragged her
imperiled lover from certain death, and
In the end she was restored to his
arms.
Not a man In the Big Y outfit but
was furiously jealous Of that screen
loverl
And when the lights flashed up there
was such thunder Of applause that
the fimsy building threatened to col
lapse under the strain.
Then the manager was introducing
the heroine, slender, pale girl with
smiling lips and friendly gray eyes,
who, he explained. was resting after
long illness and spending the time
with our well known citizen, Benjamin
Besse Of the Big Y"
The Big outfit arose to a man ana
yelled themselves hoarse, and Miss
Willy stood there dimpling and smiling
and full of mischief at having turned
the tables on the cowboys. Boss Besse
and his wife finally carried her of to
the Palace hotel, followed by the cow
boys, who were to be Miss WHY'S
guests that night.
You've broken them all in, honey"
grinned the boss, as he lifted Miss
Willy out Of the car when they reached
hnFn0 49, n
nieee's hand gently closed his lips, and
her face went red.
There's one whose name you
mustn't mention just yet" she whis-
pered.