The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-24
Retaliation
By WILLIAM CHAMBERLlN

I've heard story about a certain
orator that will bear repeating They |
say that when he was in college he '
was "A member of debating society |
and was on debating team chosen TO
meet a team from another college for |
the intercollegiate championship.
When this young man came home |
on vacations he was used to spending !
good deal of his time with a girl who |
lived in the adjoining place TO his IA |
TIERS. Both places were in the coun-
try. with large grounds about them.
The college boy used to go out in the
rear of his home and practice elocu-
ton. When he was not practicing clio
cution he was talking soft to the girl
next door. Young fellows of that pc
riod in life, especially collegians, don't
mean anything when they spoon with
girl, and the goyernor-we'll call
him the governor. since he afterward
became the chief executive of one Of
the United States-didn't mean any
more than other boys of his age who
pretend TO he in love.
One afternoOn-the governor was go
ing back to college the next day for
his senior year-Grace from her win
dow saw him Grating in a wood at the
| back of his home. She could see his
gestures, but could not hear a word he
/ said, not even sound. Any one who
| has thus seen person addressing an
audience must have been impressed
with the absurd appearance he pre-
scented. smile came over the girls
face, which suddenly gave place to the
! expression of an idea having entered
/ her brain Going to a telephone, she
( took down the receiver and called
number
is this the county insane asylum
Yes, ma'am."
81 think one of your patients must
have escaped. At any rate, there is
young man back of the house next to
this who is talking to himself and fling
ing his arms about wildly"
The person at the asylum took down
the address and hurried away.
Not ten minutes had elapsed before
a couple of men in buggy, with the
letters NJ. l., \. $. painted on the
side, drew up in front of the governors
home and, passing through the
grounds, saw the governor in the po-
sition that had been described to them.
Walking slowly and carelcssy toward
him so as not to excite his suspicion
of their intent, as soon as they came
near enough to him they sprang for
ward and pinioned his arms. OF course
he was greatly astoniShed, asked Il
lot of questions and made many pro
tests The men paid no attention to
, either, but one ut each of his arms,
, walked him through the grounds to
the road where the buggy stood.
Now, it happened-that's what Grace
said, 1t happened she was looking
out of her window as the prisoner was
l walked by in the adjoining lot. When
5 they came opposite her she called out:
T. whats he been dong?"
2 "Loony," replied one of the captors.
e This was the first the governor knew
t of the reason for his arrest. The cause
of his being considered II lunatic dawn
n ed upon him at the same time.
e "Really. gentlemen he said. tryin4
t to laugh. this is very funny. Grace
!, explain. please.
$ What did Grace do but withdraw
$ from the window without Il word. The
governor looked at her, first with as
h constituent then with anger, then will
It terror. He was hustled to the buggy
u placed between the two men and driv
IS en- away.
', Before they reached the asylum
1t Grace had got out Il pony cart AM
e driven there herself by Il shorter route
q At the office she informed the man OF
IS duty that she was the person who la,
telephoned about the maniac next doc
II and had come to tell them about him
e a few minutes later the two asylum
n men with the governor drove up AM
le entered a waiting room Present.
It Grace came in. raised pair OF glasses
D. through which she stared at the pris
u oner, then dropped them and said:
" "All right; that's the man."
h Grace" cried the governor, "fC
It heavens sake. what does this mean"
II But Grace walked away. evidentl
:, not inclined to argue with a madmal
As soon as she was outside. howeve
she told the keepers that she was quit
- sure the man was harmlesS-indeet
she regretted having caused his cal
ture-and. after considerable vouchin
for his being merely queer. persuade
~ the authorities to release him, agreein
to drive him home in her cart
IN IN The governor was put in the ca
~ J by his captors. looking by this tin
u positively dangerous. Not word wi
spoken till the pony had battered h
% little hoofs on the stones for half
- mile
H 81 presume" said the governor, 9TH
VI you think You have done somethir
!, very smart"
Tin sorry. Forgive me-"
~ There was no sorrow in her tone al
~ no pleading in her request to be fo
given.
What was said during the rest of Il
:. drive home was never revealed. II
~ governor left the next day for cole
"e with a flea in his ear. 1t breaks
man up to be beaten by woman, al
an the governor at the Christmas holida
4 went Htllt ltduN " bthu thS MI
~, r to the girl who, as he expressed it. h
"e wiped the floor with him.
She sent him back much more of
lunatic than he had been when ARE
ed. but after he got his profession
Tented and married him. He now sa
that his wife. not he, is the govern
I and, whether or not she governs
u0 state. she governs the governor.