The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-07
The Runaway S
Return
BETHEL HOLMES

| io 'dtAtT uNrlu. au
o'''''c % ten years His was a ems.
u s'epmother The second Mrs Ror
ringer was one Of those wo,,,o, 49,,
wi"h they marry man rronoso -
appropriate him and everything ,ba.
belongs TO him 10 themselves -r,,aa,.,.
person except herself for whom bor
husband bad any affection was his SON
and on this account she hotad ~.
son Ned. who was of a rising pener.
! ation' concluded 10 take himself AWAY
But there came time when Nod
having made strike concluded 10 90
PACK nome aud see his father Posi-
oly he might add To the old mans
comfort though he doubted his ability
II the second Mrs Earringer were liv
ing The homecomer reached nj IL
O'Clock at night the town where 4,
had spent the first fifteen years Of his
life VIZ
On reaching the house ne saw light
! within. but heard uo sound He r,nc
but received no answer lie tried IN.
! front door and found it locked II.
walked around The house. looliu..
through the windows. but saw mo- one
/ Standing below the window of what
had been his own room he looked M
, al IT, There was tile trelis thar N.
had So often descended M night ana
. assembled in the small hour, of the
4 morning Yielding to temptation. h,
( put foot On it and went up almost AZ
spry as when a boy There was no
/ hsllt IN the room. SO lie could see moth
4 Inc. He tried the sash. ana il went
( up. Softly stepping inside lc was
heading for the place where the gas
fixture had been when suddenly there
( came food of electric Hght 4 girl
stood with finger on a button beside
the door while in the other hand sh,
held revolver pointed at NcdS head
Come. lower that gun" he said. 1T
might - or I'm no burglar why
didn't You answer my ring%"
The girl had no voice for reply. and
Ned went on.
Tin Ned Rarrineer 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 Ey an effort she con
trollcd herself aud finally said:
"Your father is living"
Where is het"
in "A hospital lie has lust submit
ted to "a dangerous operation. He needs
something 10 pull him through. | hope
your return will 10 it,"
IL will 20 TO him at once"
Not tonight have just left him
sleeping
did You Just come in?"
Yes; by the front door"
That's how missed you Is the
cat still livins:'
what catf"
THE second Mrs. Barringer."
"Shc died three years ago"
And you are
Your cousin. Margaret Curtis"
"Ah, my mothers sister. Aunt Mar.
garets child"
Eyes. When Mrs. Barringer died un-
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.
80 you have been doing" he said,
what should have done-taking care
of father.
How fortunate that YOU have come
back lie has been pining for you for
years"
How about his wife,"
THAT is sad story She was hor-
rid to him
80 YOU think Id better not try to
see him tonight"
Certainly not. and only tomorrow if
the doctor advises it
well. cousin. I've had nothing 10
eat since noon. | think I'll 90 down
TO the sidebeard. where mother used
TO keep nice things to eat. She kept il
locked to prevent my getting them, hut
| had way Of taking ont a top draw
err 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 log.
side her and insisted ON going down
hand in hand Having turned ou the
lights m tie dining room. Narslrct
brought out ~eme substantial re.se-A.
ne,its from the refrigerator and sofar
ielicacios from the sideboard Then
She sat on the table. and Ned pro
ceeded to make himself at home aS
he had not done since the advent of bis
stopmother When he had finished
he lighted a cigar and he AMI Wis cousin
sat on sofa in the living room till
midnight Then Ned went NJ to the
room be had entered earlier ia the
evening by the window and went TO
bed
ono tbina Nod was sorry to see in