The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-06
IN A
DEAD TOWN
By Martha McCulloch-William

stepped from the dining room out on
the hotel piazza.
Lights We're winking up and down
the towns billy street as glow worms
were winking in the gardens round
about, A little wind, blowing south
erly, brought the freshness of the
river. and the scent Of ploughed
earth from the cornfieds in the bot
toms beyond. Clay had fed well.
therefore his mood was complacent
Not so Mason, who stood in wait for
him. Discomfort lined his face even
more than common.
"Nothings doing. You can bet on
that here always. and anyhow" Mason
answered sourly. "Deadest town this
side the planets-that's the size of
Ashmore-"
"Yet-you stick to IT," Clay inter
rupted.
Mason laughed hard laugh. II
have to stand what amounts to death
in life, because another man persists
in living after he is dead" he said
very low. Haven't they told you
about Grandad? Just a breathing
lump he is. Ninety-five II he's day
he won't let us see the record. AL
most blind. deaf as post, belfast
now for seven years-yet with the
appetite of a coal HEAVIER! keeps him
alive, the doctors say-that and his
grip-on life and his money"
20! | begin to understand" Clay
interjected.
Mason ran on eagerly: Il shouldn't
grudge him life-to a hundred and
far beyond tiff he had any sort of
consideration for anybody but him
self. Keeps me tied to his chairarm
virtually This Is the first time I've
been out except to go to the post
office and the bank, in a month And
| had to lie to get out now Told him
there was chance of getting big in
terest of gilt-edged short-time loan
1t was the first thing could think
of, after | got your note
Il shouldn't have written-not II
I'd known This is my first time
here Clay muttered confusedly.
Mason stopped him with an eager
gesture do you grudge water to a
man dying of thirst?" he asked An
other lie will square me-l've only to
say. the collateral was fshy. and
Grandad will pat me on the back.
Meantime, let's be moving | want
to show you-say. you'll help in a
good deed?"
Unless there's a girl in IT," Clay
answered chuckling. "A petticoat al
ways scares me stiff"
We know you're lying, Jack" Ma
son flung back.
They were going with long strides
up the main street. At the third cor
ner Mason turned sharply about, say
ing, wait. l mustn't startle Elsie"
Next breath Clay heard him whistle
softly in thick shrubbery just in
side ragged garden.
There was no answering sound. but
in half a minute. Mason was back.
with a slim black-clad shape beside
him.
Get your carl know 1t is in the
garage-never mind now-and meet
us DlOth HUN hcIc, MdoOu odiu
breathlessly. You're going to run
away with us across the state line
and be best man at our wedding. It's
the only chance for us-you're safe
and discreet-if anybody else knew
1t would ruin u.s."
Tell me how? go into nothing
blindfold," Clay said almost stubborn
ly, in Mason's hushed key
Mason flung up his hand crying
fretfully: Man don't potter! Every
minute counts We must be married,
and back in place long before mid
highland there's run of twenty
miles each way"
Whats the use of running" Clay
persisted doggedly,
Mason clutched him feverishly ITO
save the fortune I'm shaving in prison
for" he said "Grandad means to
leave 1t in his will that / am to marry
the girl he has chosen for me- OBJ
married to somebody else, that provi- |
sion Is void, without hurting the will
otherwise"
81 see! Meet you in two minutes"
Clay said, running away. But as he |
turned the next corner he Stacked to |
a slow walk, asking himself If he were |
not doing wrong.
An hour or so later, he had no such |
doubt Elsies radiant eyes, her smil- |
ing mouth, treasured him. She was |
worth a lot of risk. Clay decided He |
felt a chivarous pity for her. and was
ready to go all lengths to help her.
Mason had told him briefly their love
Capulet affair-her people the Enslys,
had been at odds with the Masons
time out of mind Then Grandad had
all a miser's instructive hatred of I'M
success for them. Their fortunes had
fallen until Elsie went out sewing
by an irony of Fate she was even then
making fine white lacy things, of the
very newest shapes and patterns. for
Flora Mcleod, the girl Grandad ap-
proved.
No doubt he would have insisted
upon the marriage, except for his de-
termination to keep his grandson be-
side him. Flora came dutifully once
a week to call on him-though he
could neither see nor hear her, he
knew the feel of her hand. and ate
with enormous relish the good things
she fetched him.
Lucky, me boy-that's what you
are" he mumbled toothlessly as he
gulped the dainties Beauty fades
but cooking stays by woman to the
end"