The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-12
The ORANGE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

on her way home and bought dozen
oranges. It was raining. and besides
two other packages she had an UNI
brella to manage against a strong
wind.
Gradually the bag softened with the
dampness and chung like plaster to
the round. yellow spheres within. A
tiny crack appeared, widened, length
ened, and the whole dozen oranges cat
apulted into the street as though shot
out Of machine gun.
Mike Kubeiik, carter for Sellem &
Hatch, was hauling a wagonload of
oranges from the Bay street market
to West end branch. Crossing South
avenue, rear wheel caught in a car
track and came of And Immediately
there was an avalanche Of oranges in
all directions.
Now when Lucia's bag broke, she,
too, was crossing South avenue, and,
moreover, 1t was at the same instant
that Mike lost wheel So she looked
down to see, not dozen, but hundreds
of dozens OF oranges roll about her
feet.
Already half a dozen urchins had
gathered around and were filing
jacket pockets as fast as they could.
Mike, with fist, whip and many ours
ings, was doing the best he could to
defend his treasure, but it was futile.
Lucia, seeing no chance of reviving
her bag into semblance of use, de-
cided to use her umbrella as a recep-
tacle and closed 1t. Then she stopped
and started deliberately to count a
dozen oranges into its silk recesses.
Hi there!" Mike came up bellig-
erently fiourishing his weapon. you
putta dem down.
Mike reached for the umbrella just
as man stepped between them and
put out restraining hand.
Let the lady alone" he said quietly.
At the tone Of authority Mike stepped
back without another word and his
whip fell.
60 and attend to those boys and I'll
get policeman to help you," the new
conner said, and to Lucia, Have you
got all your property? II so, I'll help
you out of this"
II think have. 1t was hard count
ing with that man shaking his fist un-
der my nose," she laughed. THE or
anges are all here in my umbrella"
But it's raining hard. You'll get
soaked"
Eve no other place to put them"
| HWhaf,c tho N, a tor NTH fhaoa Haan
| pockets in my coat?"
"But you mustn't go home with me-
live-oh, ever so far"
$50 much the better. There, and
there. and there, and there! I guess
I've got them all" raising the UNI
brella.
At the door the oranges had to be
transferred. Won't you come int"
asked Lucia. "I1l get dish for
them" So the man went in and they
emptied the fruit into a black-and-
white china bowl
"Thirteen% he exclaimed. by Jove,
we've cheated the dago."
The man divided the odd orange
carefully in two parts and gave her
half.
"In movies" he remarked. they tear
cards, or smash shells and each takes
a piece. A sort of kismet, you know,
for each of the two contracting par
ties. Now why not an orange skin.
See!"-fitting two pieces together.
"You take one and I'll take the other.
To keep as long as we live!" solemnly.
| Whnr hnv sro1 NJ AafanAar hoH do
parted, II suddenly occurred to Lucia
that she did not even know his name.
A week passed. Busy days for Lu-
cha, as all days we're, but not too busy
for many thoughts OF her recent &C
quaintance and his identity. But she
was to have a shock. One evening she
opened the paper. and there on the
first page was the picture of the man
Below it she read. "One of the sus.
poets arrested in connection with the
Alison jewel case The man, who
gives his name as John Emerson, was
seen coming out of the alley in the
rear of the residence at $3.50 Thursday
evening, and he could not explain his
presence there, although It was doz
en- blocks away from his lodgings and
/. place of business"
Tuesday, That was the night he
had taken her homei And $3.50 was
about the time he had left her. The
! alley in question was between hel
street and the Allisons'. He had prob
ably been taking a short cut home!
But why had he not told them hiI
errand?
Lucia thought over ell the details
b and the orange skin popped into he
7 head. She would send 1t to him anC
he would not refuse to see her, sh,
I knew
o An hour later, among grim surround
8 ings, Lucia was shown into q littl,
n white room, and John Emerson cam,
!. in a moment later.
d Why didn't you tell them wher
& you were last tuesday," was he
d breathless greeting. This is terrible
Il couldn't without bringing you
u name into 1t and thought I'd rattle
lie be convicted than have your nam
N breathed here. You shouldn't hav
n, come-unless there is something ca
er do for you"
it There isl Tell them all about it.
Il won't"
to Then I,willl"
OF The district attorney heard tn
re story. Mike was sent for and adde
th his share to the testimony. Then job
Id Emerson was allowed to depart
tn And that was only the beginning {
gu the end for John and Lucia were ma