The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-26
1rlfling Telephone
TangIss
By CLARA HOLMES

hlttle Smith and John Colson were
lovers, but perversity in matters mat
,inoniai nave become proverb, and
thelf case was no exception TO the
rule.
Niue hved with a married sister.
ana as frequently happens. she as
sumed more authority than the most
eAactlng parent would have done. She
most decidedly refused consent to
'helf marriage. That child. she ex
Chained Indignantly, and promptly
forbade John the house.
But love finds way. and their
ussuhg place was in the thick shrub
Dery al the lower end of the garden.
John was trying to persuade her to
clandestine marriage, but she lacked
courage to assent Her sisters shrill
call from the back porch decided the
Question.
kittie, kittie Smith, Come here
this instant and put little Billy to
bed
AS If you were her servant" wills
pered John Indignantly That set
Ties 1t, you are going to marry me to-
morrow night
oh, John, she'll never let me,
breathlessly.
She won't? Then wen not ask
her You put those kids to bed as
soon az the chickens go to roost, SO
you can get to the telephone office by
10 o'clock III put in the call with
the operator and she'll give you the
line so | can tell you where to meet
me. Ten o'clock. sharp Ill be
waiting and so will the parson
Sisters coming, whispered Kit
tie tremblingly
| Let her come. she'll not find me, "
replied John airily, and leaping the
fence, was gone
| kittie met her sister with demure
Inconsistencies We're you calling ?"
she asked
| kittie presented herself promptly
| on time at the telephone office and
| giving her name asked Is there a
call for me-"
Yes, Miss Olsen, was the reply
at the same time indicating her box
kittie smiled consciously "Colson
Well, now, or an hour from now viii
make no great difference she
thought
Hello, John" she called softly AT
soon as she had closed the door
Hello. lIet." came the instant re
ply. Its all right. come to the cor
ner of Belmont and Main have ar
auto waiting SO hurry up
"All right" she replied. and hunt
up the receiver Wasn't it funny tina
he called me Pet? I've heard hin
say hundred times that he deteste'
it-but | don't, think it's Just sweet
suppose it's just the phone but hi
voice didn't sound a bit natural, sh
murmured as she wrapped her vel
about her head, completely conceain
her features
| John at the appointed place, LITE
her to the sea without speaking A
he backed, preparatory TO turning, ar
other auto came swiftly down tn
street, and on the corner sweryed tc
ward them
| "Oh, no, you don't, Dave Olsen !
exclaimed John, speeding az y
Hi, there! Stop, you idiot, or r
have you arrested" yelled the drive
of the other car.
Come on. then shouted John d.
risively. To Kittie he said Hold fas
I'm going to let her go.
But go as he would his pursuer keF
pace with him, so he began tWistin
and turning, around one corner swa.
ing CONTINUOUSLY, skidding on anothe
sharp turn until Kittie shrieked
alright
Escape seemed impossible, so i
doubled back through dark and ma
row streets, the lamps on the purs
ing machine cleaning like menacin
eyes almost within touch On ligh
ed corner a policeman ordered hi
to halt and as he failed to obey, fire
a shot at him Kittie screamed ar
half rose as If to leap from the ca
sit down" called John angrily.
At sound of a second shot she b
gan to sob aloud
Il "Oh shucks, muttered John
yexation. A moment later he remar
ed repentantly, Why, Het. we dor
get married every day in the year, b
we are going to be married tonight
We have to smash the automobile re
ord | do believe that fellows 10
= himself. or else the cops got nm
He began to slow down
Ki,tie inarticulately murmur
something about smashing the aui
mobile instead of the record. TO VIII
John paid no attention.
AS he lifted her down at the parse
age he whispered to her ! neN
thought you'd show the white feat
or" With a laugh he half pushed h
nm the steps to where the parson "
waiting for them
Kittie, essaying to unite her y
with trembling fingers, glanced
= ward John. who stood, hat in hal
sneaking TO the clergyman. She ma
rush and took refuge behind
reverence.
y don't want 10 marry this man
don't even know him. and-and-
he's a maniac, she cried historical
John turned to look at her we
would be crazy to marry you. Thu
der they'd have me up for baby ste
~ inc who are you. anyway.
! "Fm Kittie Smith" sobbingly, 4
don't know who you are
We'll. I'm John Smith. My tr
i numerous, but II doesn't inelt
habies Sarcastically