The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-01

then he understood. OF course, the
old mans mind had been slowly fail
ing. He must be crazy 1t would do
no good to start habeas corpus pro-
ceedings. He must rescue the girl
and take her away.
A reconnoitering visit that after
noon disclosed, first, an eager face and
fluttering handkerchief at top
window; next, old Bannister himself,
armed with a gun, and pacing up and
down the lawn.
Roger waited till dark before put
ting his plans into effect. His obser-
vations had disclosed to him garden
er's ladder, left by chance in such
way that it reached up toward the
maiden in the tower" Ascending
that unobserved. he believed that he
could stretch up his arms and pull
Amy down to safety.
At dark he started out in his auto.
The house was a little way outside
the town limits. 1t was lonely neigh
borhood, and this left him more free
dom to deal tactfully with the situa-
ton. He left the auto at the back Of
old Bannister's little garage, and made
his way toward the back of the house.
The ladder was still there. Unob-
served, as he believed, Roger set foot
upon the lowest rung. and soon he
was tapping at the window pane
above.
Amy opened the window with lit
tie cry Of Joy. She was fully dressed,
and carried bag in ner hand.
Il knew you would come, dearest"
she whispered. and her arms chung to
down to the top rung Of the creaking,
swaying ladder. and thence, rung by
rung. down to the ground
A moment later they were creeping
through the darkness toward the hid
den auto.
Now the girl was inside, and Roger
was desperately cranking when a sud
| den shout rang out behind him. 1t
was old Rannister. and he was rushing
| toward them In his hand was the
| CLINT of a revolver
Roger leaped into the auto and
| started away as the frenzied old man
drew near. He sped down the road
toward the boundary of the state, ten
| miles away, where marriage could
be performed without the formality of
license.
But he had hardly left the house
behind him when old Bannister's auto
was heard chugging along behind him
Now ensued weird race through
| the shadows. Roger let her out to the
limit AS he ran his mind revolved
! about a friend of his, young minis
ter. who would certainly perform the
ceremony, even in his pajamas. But
it was hard to throw the old man of
the scent. The rattletrap behind new
er failed to indicate its presence II
their neighborhood. Family the ole
mans cries came to their ears. Blu
now the state line was crossed. ant
at length Roger, with Amy clinging t
him in terror and Joy. had thrown thu
pursucrs off the track among thu
|
burban town.
Roger dashed toward his friend
house. He pulled up, left the auto q
the doorstep, and hammered vigor
ously upon the door. It opened, an
the Rev. Hugh Hughes-in his pa
jamas-stood confronting them, Will
in the distance a rattle, rattle ind
Gated the approach Of the enemy
How soon can you marry us?" de
manded Roger.
Instantly said the Rev. Hug
Hughes. Come in"
And as the blows of Mr.. Bannis
tors fists upon the door reverberate
through the house, Amy was saying g
will"
The Rev. Hugh Hughes opened tn
door. You're too late" he said I
Mr. Banister
The old man strobe forward an
, self-satisfied smile.
BLESS you, then-bless you"
chuckled, gripping Roger by the ham
TITS hard to lose an only daughte
but, by heck, I've got what every Il
Their wants when he let's her 60"
What's that" demanded Roger
amazement.
''Fatherly privileges-stern refus'
!. desperate Observation-Disclosures
answered Bannister in breath.