The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-15
CUPID's
WORK
By ETHEL HOLMES

ground fell off. A motor was coming
up at the accelerated speed used by
all chauffeurs in hill climbing. At the
wheel was girl. the only occupant
Not being quick enough in turning or
not having the strength, she shot out
on TO the wrong side of the road-on
her left.
Armstrong; car received the blow
on the bumper and was not injured
The girls ear was put out of commits
sion, and the girl-well. the girl was
caught In AmStrong's arms. But il
should be noticed that Armstrong was
famous baseball catcher
Are you hurt" he asked anxiouSly
Il think not" she said. but she lay
limp in the stalwart a us. Armstrong
looked down into her face anxiously
Tier eyes We're closed. His lips were
within an inch of hers lie reduced
the interval to zero.
"Oh. my, Good gracious she ex
claimed. starting up and looking at her
car.
How fortunater said Armstrong.
Fortunate. DO you call that wreck
fortunate:"
Il mean that you are sot seriously
hurt"
But my brand new car is ruined"
Better that than you should have
been killed or mangled. Had you been
thrown against the car or hadn't miss
ed the wind shield by a hairs breadth
you would have been killed. AS il
was, being thrown into
He stopped short.
"Oh. dear. what am | going TO do:"
moaned the girl.
IN take you home. Ny ear is all
right"
But mine-what shall we do
with it?'
Armstrong looked puzzled. They were
In the country. far from any town
ITS Off the road" he said, "and won't
endanger any one Well go to the
nearest garage and have them send
out for it But I'm afraid 1t isn't
worth hauling In"
This being the only thing that could
be done. she consented reluctantly
Armstrong got out of his car. gathered
up her belongings. then. returning to
his car. pushed n button. pressed foot
brake, made other starting moves and
began to descend the slope before him
The girl east a lingering look ut the
wreck and wiped away tear.
Ihnpn IL ~. Lnl Inn
cupid had sat beside the girl and
caused the disaster. Else why should
il have occurred. and why should she
have been shot into Armstrong; arms.
being just enough upset to lie there
long enough for him To kiss her ruby
/ llpst And there is every reason TO
believe that Cupid having caused the
collision, hoppcd into the rear seat of
Armstrong; car. At any rate. every
+ thing from that moment was beauti-
fully arranged to hasten union be-
tween these two young persons.
In the first place, il was late in the
i afternoon and growing dark. As soon
as he had started Armstrong pressed
button to turn on his lights. No light
came.
That's bad" he said The shock
I must have broken the electric connec-
ton"
IL Cupid was managing the affair
this was his most important work. No
one but fool dare run an auto at
night without lights. Another clever
stroke was that Armstrong had no
skid chains. and there was lot of
ice ON the road. which, being of as
phalt. was thereby made very slippery.
In addition to this. the country was
billy ana the road full OF turns The
time was late in November. and with
in twenty minutes after the collision
darkness fell over the face of the land.
Coming 10 what looked through the
gloom as If the road suddenly ended
il was sharp turn-Armstrong pulled
as far out of the road as he dared and
stopped.
"It'n never do to go any farther In
this machine. he said.
''Oh. dear. what shall we dof"
we must lind house. And don't
see any way but for US to stay there
and GO on in the morning"
THAT would be impossible In my
case
why SOY
After some pressure the girl said
that her father and mother were
French The French have very strin-
gent notions as to a girl being away
from home. unacconnted for overnight
Her life would he blighted
We'll have to find house. all the
same" said Armstrong The rest OF
il we can settle later "
Leaving the auto. they went back
over the road. having seen light
some distance to the rear Maybe II
had been put out At any rate they
didn't find il. They wandered for
miles before a house. darkened. doomed
up before them. They were in small
.-ttta,-o ArnaSfrone, hanged at tho door