The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-30
FOOLING A
GUARDIAN
BY ETHEL HOLMES

|
spirits and bent on having good time
Kate went to college, not because
she wished to learn all about the
Greeks and Romans, comic sections and
philosophy, but because she had heard
that college girls have lots of fun, and
she wished to see something Of college
life. Her guardian was willing that
she should spend an ordinary sum
while a student, but did not approve
of extravaganza. The old lady was
very fond of her niece-her sisters
child-and felt responsible for her
bringing up. She therefore limited her
ward to list of reasonable eXpendi
lures
But there was weak spot In Miss |
Harding's efforts. Kate was twenty |
years old and would come into her es
tate when she was twenty one. This |
fact enabled her to borrow at an eX-
orbitant rate of interest or to buy |
things for much more than they were
worth.
Among these was the purchase of a
$1,000 automobile all on credit. The
car could have been purchased for 81,
500 cash. but Kate was charged $4,000.
and the seller kindly agreed to wait
year for his pay, charging per cent
| interest and a bonus of 5000 for the
accommodation.
The possession of an auto is not an
1 easily kept secret. One can more read
| lily own a gold mine without its being
known, for a car is of no use except
for riding purposes, and that is exact
ly what Miss Phillips wanted 1t for
She was an expert driver and fond of
taking her fellow students for spin,
The consequence was that everybody
knew she owned the handsomest car
in college, and the fact was reported
to her aunt
Hates alma mater was but dozen
miles from her aunt's residence, and
the old lady resolved to 60 over and
learn If the report were true and If it
was how her ward had obtained the
purchase money Miss Harding pos
sessed mare and vehicle called a
rockaway, and in this she set forth in
quest of the truth about her niece's
extravaganza. She chose a Saturday
afternoon, since Kate would not be
engaged in her studies at that time and
there would be no interruption to the
investigation.
That Kate did not study on Saturday
afternoon was as true as that she stud
led only enough to keep up with bel
classes. And that was very little, fol
she learned easily. On this especia
Saturday afternoon she invited as
many Of her classmates as her cal
would hold to go for spin, and abou
II the time the old lady set out for thu
II college Kate touched the starting but
ton in her auto.
II Kate, in order to reach the road sh'
wanted, took one that led to point
few miles from her home where thu
two roads crossed. Shortly before
reaching the crossing she caught sigh
! Of the familiar rockaway, every part
which was as familiar to her as tn
= jog trot of Nancy, the mare.
"Oh, heavensv' she exclaimed. "Ther
comes my aunt"
\ At the same time she pulled on va
rious levers with her hands and shoI
ed certain brakes with her feet, an
the car came to standstill, while eN
cry eye in it was fixed on the distar
face in the rockaway, lighted by tn
sun striking the glasses Of a pair
spectacles.
"What shall do?'
"Here," cried q girl in the seat b.
hind, take my veil! The sun is shil
ing directly in the old lady's eyes. an
she couldn't see you even without
veil.'
Kate took the VEIL or, rather, it wa
put on by the lender; then she starte
her car and whirled by her guardia
so fast and so near the rockaway thi
Miss Harding was altogether to
frightened to take good look at IL
driver Nevertheless there was su
picion in the glance she did take. an
it made Kate uneasy.
Eve must get back to college befol
she arrives" she said. land prepal
for her coming"
On reaching the crossroad she turne
II DuI IDSItdu vi tdhlhS hitS hiiiS 49, '
as had been intended. she went bat
by the first road she came to leadir
collegeward. and while the aunt WI
jogging along at seven miles an ho'
her niece was doing the distance b
fore her in ten minutes. The car W;
liz put in the garage under lock and Ike
and Kate and her friends, haviI
changed their costumes to innoce
white, went out on to the campus, al
when the old lady drove up to the dc
III mitory where Kate roomed Kate re
to meet her and, leading her to b
friends. gave her formal introdu
ton.
I'LL During the ride back to college 1t h'
been arranged that every girl was
/ show the old lady some attention, tn
taking up her time so that she wou
have none for inquiries.
iii 81 met an auto on the road" sa
Miss Harding to Kate. "and the dri
er's figure was just like yours.
u Co. 20