The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-04

loaded with deadly weepins, IKE
Davy Crockett But they don't shoo
anything. Never saw a man wht
wouldn't wear suspenders that coult
hit an acre O. pine stumps.
Here's where come in. This pla1
they're writin' Is backwoods dram
mer. an they need what they cal
local color Whenever l pick up
likely-lookin' chap goin' from Prince
VILE to Rocky Creek. my harness
breaks and I tote him up here. the!
feed him an lodge him an get hin
mad SOS he'll talk stun they can put
in their play.
81 get two dollars head for eacf
one. An I've brought en- some birds
A couple O. lumberjacks started te
rough-horSe one night. but little
money fixed EN-.
The girl don't like the way the1
act. She says It's abusing the name
Of hospitality. That keeps them II
bounds a little, for CORTLAND wants tc
marry her. But don't believe she
cares a cent for him. Old Tommy, he
Just laughs and tells them to &c
ahead. He says they'll get theirl
yet"
Folwell rose. Here's your dollar
Sam" The CLINT in his eye was more
pronounced. He was smiling a pleas
ed sort of smile.
Much Obliged" said the teamster
pocketing the bill Then he looked
curiously at Folwell Say, what you
going to dot"
I'm going to give them-'theirs.'
In less than fifteen minutes young
Slade was eagerly proposing that the
traveller put on the gloves with him
He believed it was his own suggestion
entirely; but Folwell, accustomed te
leading timid and close-fsted capita
into costly engineering projects, had
really goaded him to tho challenge
CORTLAND, the vain and handsome
was also blinded by his cleverness;
but in the eyes Of Miss Slade, as h<
was pulling on the gloves, Folwel
caught a look Of amused comprehen
sion.
Tommy Slade would never have
made his mark In the ring. He wal
game az q pebble, but too impetuous
He tried to rush Folwell after severa
smart raps had brought tho tears t
his eyes. One particularly angry and
incautious charge the engineer side
stepped. At the same moment he &C
celerated Tommy's speed with ,
swing behind the ear.
Al a result the millionaire's sol
crashed into the log wall, head down
and dropped in q heap. He was up II
an instant. but too dizzy to see. B!
common consent the bout was termi
mated. Courtland, doubtless eager T.
show his prowess before the girl h
loved, donned the gloves which Tom
my YEARLY relinquished.
The actor had reach and strength
but cigarettes had weakened his en-
durance and he lacked the engineer
science. So Folwell, his gray eye
emitting sparks, battered him with
right good will. The door swun
open on the climax.
Old Tommy Slade, smiling Quizzical
ly, and Sam. a-grin through his mus
tache, noted Tommy nursing bum
on his head as big as an egg; Court
land. sitting dazed against the wal
where he had fallen. his aristocrati
nose bleeding and his right eye swoI
len shut; Folwell, gloved hands OF
hips, dominating the scene from tn
center of the floor; and Grace curle'
up in a big chair, gazing spellboun'
at the victor.
"This ought to make the big act 70
that play" murmured old Tommy
with an edge In his gentle tones tina
made his son writhe and Courtlan
bite his lips. 81 thought you bucks
fkt with the jam till somebody got
bruisin'."
He turned to Folwell. you tn
chap that's goin' to put a power dar
across Rocky Creek?"
Tf can get the capital" said tn
engineer. unlacing the gloves.
Old Tommy's glance rasped owe
the crestfallen collaborators agais
you'll get 1t, all right-if you argu
like you fight BY cracky, this make
me think I'll back you MYSELF Com
over to the house. Wen talk 1t over.
The storm had increased and tn
wind bit the perspiring Folwell to tn
bone. But he seemed to float owe
the drifts instead Of blowing throug
them. for Grace Slade was beside hin
her hand nesting eonfidingly into tn
crook OF his arm. And he dared
hope that her heart kept time to th
mad, sweet dance OF his own.