The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-11
IN A
DEAD TOWN
By Martha McCulloch- Williams
tcopyrgh,. 1871 by Associated Literary Pres,.)

tcopyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press)
What's doing?" Clay asked, as he
stepped from the dining room out on
the hotel piazza.
Lights were winking up and down
the towns hilly street as glow worms
were winking in the gardens round
about a little wind, blowing south
erly, brought the freshness of the
river. and the scent Of ploughed
earth from the cornfields in the bot
toms beyond. Clay had fed we'll,
therefore his mood was complacent.
Not so Mason, who stood in wait for
him. Discomfort lined his face even
more than common
"Nothings doing. You can bet on
that here always, and anyhow" Mason
answered sourly, "Deadest town this
side the planets-that's the size of
Ashmore-"
"Yet-you stick to IT," Clay inter-
rupted
Mason laughed hard laugh. IL
have to stand what amounts to death
in life, because another man persists
in living after he is dead" he said
very low Haven't they told you
about Grandad? Just breathing
lump he is. Ninety-five If he's a day
he won't let us see the record. AL
most blind. deaf as a post. bedfast
now for seven years-yet with the
appetite of coal HEAVIER! keeps him
alive, the doctors say-that and his
grip-on life and his money"
20, | begin to understand! Clay
interjected
Mason ran on eagerly; Il shouldn't
grudge him life-to a hundred and
far beyond tiff he had any sort OF
consideration for anybody but him.
self. Keeps me tied to his chairarm
virtually This is the first time I've
been out except to go to the post
office and the bank. in a month And
| had to lie to get out now. Told him
there was a chance of getting big in
terest of gilt-edged short-time loan
1t was the first thing could think
of, after | got your note"
"a shouldn't have written-not II
I'd known. This is my first time
here" Clay muttered confusedly.
Mason stopped him with an eager
gesture "Do you grudgc water to a
man diving of thirst" he asked An
other lie win square me-Ive only tc
say. the collateral was fishy, and
Grandad will pat me on the back
Meantime, let's be moving I want
to show you-say, you'll help in {
good deed"
Unless there's n girl in it," Clay
answered chuckling "A petticoat al
ways scares me stiff"
, We know you're lying, Jack Ma
son flung back.
They were going with long strides
up the main street. At the third cor
ncr Mason turned sharply about, say
, ing. Wait. | mustn't startle Elsie"
Next breath Clay heard him whist,
softly in a thick shrubbery Just In
side ragged garden.
There was no answering sound, bu
in half minute, Mason was back
with "a slim black-clad shape BESIDE
, him.
J Get your carl know 1t is in thu
} garage-never mind now-and NEE
[ us a block from here" Mason sait
l breathlessly. You're going to rui
: away with us across the state line
, and be best man at our wedding. IT.
l the only chance for us-you're SAT-
, and discreet-if anybody else knew
1t would ruin us"
! Tell me how? | go into nothin,
| blindfold." Clay said almost stubborn
r ly, in Mason's hushed key.
n Mason flung up his hand crying
D fretfully: Man don't potter! Ever
minute counts We must be married
!. and back in place long before mid
highland there's a run of twent
v miles each way"
n Whats the use of running" Cha
/. persisted doggedly.
Mason clutched him feverishly 1T
: save the fortune I'm Shaving in prisol
= for" he said "Grandad means 4
leave II in his will that am to MARI
!. the girl he has chosen for me. OF
viously. If turn But to be alread
married to somebody else. that prov
sion is void, without hurting the vii
= otherwise"
:. II see, Meet you in two minutes.
: Clay said. running away. But as h
turned the next corner he Stacked {
a slow walk, asking himself If he wer
not doing wrong.
An hour or so later, he had no sue
doubt. Elsie's radiant eyes, her smi
II ing mouth, treasured him. She wa
q worth a lot of risk. Clay decided II
felt a chivalrous pity for her, and wa
r ready to go all lengths to help hel
Mason had told him briefly their low
g story-it was a rustic Montague an
Capulet affair-her people the Enslys
had been at odds with the Mason
time out OF mind Then Grandad ha
2. all miser's instructive hatred of vi
success for them Their fortunes ha
fallen until Elsie went out sewing
by an irony of Fate she was even the
s making fine white lacy things. of tn
l. very newest shapes and patterns, TO
l. Flora Mcleod. the girl Grandad az
s. proved.
IS No doubt he would have insiste
:. upon the marriage, except for his do
D. termination to keep his grandson be
e side him Flora came dutifully ono
d week 10 call on him-though h
# could neither see nor hear her. h
d kraw the feel OF her hand and at
d with enormous relish the good thing
II Sn fetched him
n Lucky, me boy-that's what yor