The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-19

II
home. around by the road. and there
isn't a house near. My best hat-Will
be spoiled.
Wen haze to run for it, I guess.
Jim declared.
Couldn't We make short cut
through Farmer Chords pasture!
Jessie suggested. His creatures are
all in the other pasture now, you
know"
THE very thing" Jim agreed.
! He let down the rickety bars, ana
| the two started across the field.
] When they reached the middle OF
the pasture Jessie came to-a full
stop, clutching her companions arm
frantically, and shrinking close TO his
side.
"Oh, Jim, look!" she breathed.
The dim outline of member OF the
bovine family loomed up huge and
startling, In front of them.
Its that dreadful animal OF Henry
Potter's," Jessie shuddered. "oh,
what shall we do?"
| Jim's face blanched beneath Its tan.
A shudder of fear swept through
him. He covered back step or two.
Terror was on the point OF over
mastering him. Then thought
flashed into his mind. He remem-
bered having seen a couple of men
at work In this very lot that after
noon.
Courage filled his heart.
Here was the very chance he had
longed for-well, not exactly that.
but one that would answer as make
shift. he reasoned-to show Jessie
that he could be brave on occasion.
A look of grim determination
settled upon his face as he smothered
slight feeling OF shame for what ne
was about to do.
} Then he called out, Run for the
fence, Jessie. l won't let him hurt
you"
"oh, Jim, 1 can't go and leave you,
Jessie faltered.
, Run" Jim commanded in tone
that she could not refuse to obey.
, She ran as she had never run be
I fore, stumbling over hummocks with
} out needing them, and sobbing alout
} like a child, from sheer excitement.
How cruel have been," sht
thought. "And to think he, in spit'
! of his fear, was ready to risk his III
t for me! Oh, how ashamed ami"
y Jim did not move from the stan'
o he had taken before the huge, gloom
I shrouded figure, until Jessie ha'
n reached the fence in safety, and ha
climbed over 1t.
1 Then he did curious thing.
/ He deliberately turned his bac
upon his adversary, which, by tn
! way, had apparently not moved
4 muscle since Jessie had first spie
y 1t, and ran.
a The great form still stood like
A craven image where he had left IT,
4 With a bound Jim vaulted light
1 over the fence.
d "Oh. YOU are brave" Jessie sobbe'
clinging to him. I'll never forgi'
myself for calling you coward. Yo
n were splendid. oh, Jim, take ever
u thing back-everything / do 10y
j you"
II Again Jim smothered a feelir
akin to shame, as he stopped al
kissed the sweet. tear-wet face, u
raised to his.
III On his way home. little later il
stopped in at Farmer Chords.
There's an animal In your sou
II pasture I'd like to buy" he said wi
assumed carelessness.
"why, there amt any animal the
except that COW sign-board Potter
men put UP there this afternoon
! twelve-year-old Willie Clifford bur
out wonderingly.
you shut up, bub," his father co
:, handed sternly.
Then he gave Jim an understaI
"a ing wink.
Fl saw you and your girl goi
- through there awhile back" he
- marked. 81 guess nothing seric
~ would happen II the thing dis,
ow peared right now. Potter didn't ey
lo ask leave for putting 1t there. Oh
don't leave any kindlings lyi
-. around"
Just as the town clock STIR
~ ~ long drawn-out strokes suprel
~ ly happy man climbed the fence
rs Farmer Chords south pasture. Z
- soon, by the light of lantern.
S az was singing to the tune OF "A
Fair in Love and War"
-. But the man would have been c
az siderably surprised could he HI
~ heard blushing faced girl whisI
ing to herself. in the seclusion Of
-. own room:
''"0 "Oh hope Jim will never
out that l saw. Henry Potter's \
a. putting that sign-board up.
~ would never forgive me for KIN
n ingly playing him such a trick.