The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-09
The Runaway's
Return
BY ETHEL HOLMES

when be was fifteen and did not com
municate with his father during an
absence Of ten years. His was case
Of stepmother The second Mrs. Bar
ringer was one of those women who
whom they marry a man propose TO
appropriate him and everything that
belongs to him to themselves. The only
person. except herself. for whom her
husband had any affection was his son.
and on this account she hated the
son. Ned. who was of rising gener
alton. concluded to take himself away
But there came a time when Ned
having made a strike. concluded to go
back home and see his father. Posi-
bly, he might add to the old mans
comfort. though he doubted his ability
IL the second Mrs Barringer were liv
ing. The homecOmer reached at 10
O'Clock at night the town where be
had spent the first fifteen years of his
life.
On reaching the house he saw lights
within. but heard no sound. He rang
but received no answer He tried the
front door and found it locked He
walked around the house. looking
through the windows, but saw no one
Standing below the window of what
had been his own room, he looked up
at It. There was the trellis that he
had so often descended at night and
assembled in the small hours of the
morning. Yielding to temptation. he
put foot on it and went up almost as
spry as when a boy There was no
light in the room, so he could see moth.
ing. He tried the sash. and 1t went
up. Softly stepping inside. he was
heading for the place where the gas
fixture had been when suddenly there
came flood of electric light A girl
stood with a finger on button beside
the door. while in the other hand she
held revolver pointed at Ned's head
Come. lower that gum" he said 1T
might 60 Off. I'm no burglar. Why
didn't you answer my ring?"
The girl had no voice for reply. and
Ned went on:
"I'm Ned Barringer. Is my father
alive or dead?"
The weapon dropped from the girls
hand. and she showed signs OF keeling
over. Ned started toward her. but she
shrank back. BY an effort she con-
trolled herself and finally said;
"Your father is living
Where is he?'
in hospital. lie has just submit
ted to a dangerous operation. He needs
something to pull him through. hope
your return will do it."
81 will go TO him at once"
Not tonight. have just left him
sleeping"
Did you just come inf'
Yes; by the front door"
That's how | missed you. Is the
cat still living"
What cat:'
The second Mrs. Barringer"
"She died three years ago"
'And you are
Your cousin Margaret Curtis"
| "Ah, my mothers sister. Aunt Mar
| garet's child"
Yes When Mrs, Barringer died I'M
Gle asked mother If | might not come
and live with him"
Ned approached the girl, put an arm
around her drew her gently to him
and kissed her.
so you have been doing" he said.
what | Should have done-taking care
Of father"
How fortunate that you have come
back. He has been pining for you for
years"
How about his wife?''
THAT Is "A sad story. She was hor-
rid to him"
80 you think Id better not try to
see him tonighty
Certainly not, and only tomorrow if
the doctor advises it !"
We'll, cousin. I've had nothing to
eat since noon. | think I'll go down
to the sideboard. where mother used
to keep nice things TO eat. She kept il
locked to prevent my getting them. but
| had Il way of taking out n top draw
er and reaching down through the
opening"
You don't need TO do that now
Come"
Margaret started TO lead the way
downstairs. but Ned stepped up be
side her and insisted on going down
hand in hand. Having turned on the
lights in the dining room. Margaret
brought out some substantial refresh.
ments from the refrigerator and some
delicacies from the sideboard. Then
she sat on the table, aud Ned pro-
ceeded to make himself at home as
he had not done since the advent of his
stepmother. When he had finished
he lighted cigar and he and Wis cousin
sat on sofa i'm the living room till
midnight Then Ned went up TO the
room he had entered earlier in the
evening by the window and went TO
bed
One thing Ned was sorry to see in
his old home. The place had become