The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-10-13
Love and Law
BY MIRIAM LEE DALLAS
Copyright. 1919. by the western News.
paper Unionl

Cidlmeu neuDeu Idll, III Woilicu
way.
what is the trouble now. Reuben?"
inquired his wife.
"verda. She's on my mind and 1t
makes me suspicious and uneasy"
Suspicious Of whatf Uneasy
why" demanded Mrs. Hall, rousing up
considerably, for her favorite niece
had won from her almost motherly
regard.
"Just this, Martha" explained Reu-
ben soberly: "verda has been here a
month, and talks Of staying two.
Doesn't 1t look to you as If there Is
something In the wind when a city
bred girl prefers this dull, way-back
life of ours to the excitement Of the
! town? Then, again, who supposed
when Brother Luke sent her on that
the bewitching little fairy was going
to have every young man in the village
fall head over heels in love with her"
"You great goose Verda is simply
enjoying the heydey Of her beautiful
youth. Do you want to shut her up
like a prisoner in nunnery?"
Il don't" dissented Reuben, but
owe duty to her father to see that
she doesn't fall in love with some poor,
shiftless fellow and us get blamed by
Luke for 1t to the end Of the chapter"
"She is up to enjoying life like the
sweet, rational creature she is" per-
sisted Mrs. Hall, "and don't 60, like
the meddling simpleton you are, and
interfere with her innocent pleasures. y
It was coincidental and suggestive
quite that at the general store that
evening the usual indolent, gossiping
group making their headquarters there
should be discussing new legal meas
ure "the search and seizure law
Now Reuben did not very deeply take
in the merits Of the proposition and
Rugged the delusiOn to his narrow
mind that he had discovered way out
Of his troubles.
SEARCH and seizure" he meditated
on his way home. "That strikes me
right. 1t must mean that when per
son, say a relative or guardian
wishes to protect a person under his
care and responsibility the law says
search and seize for the benefit OF the
relative or ward. My duty is plain.
won't tell Martha; she'd only encour
age verda under all circumstances.
J owe 1t to my brother and to my con
science to keep close eye on tn
girl, and I'm going to do 1t!
Verda went away with some girl &C
=. Quaintances the next day and Mrs
Hall had occasion to visit the tow
stores. AS soon as he was alone Reu
ben locked himself in the house, so a
to be sure there would be no Interrupt
ton, and went upstairs to the room
, / appOrtioned to Verda.
81 like the girl" he soliloquized
land I'm no prying spy. It's for he
own good and my duty to Brothe
Luke" and he went to the bureau II
one corner of the room and opened 1t
Q top drawer. There was ring with
4 dainty bit of ribbon tied around 1t, am
y faded rose and little packet Of lei
tiers. The first of these began with
Dear Miss Hail." the next three o
: four with "Dear Verda," and the las
ardent, full of love and expressed dc
votion, bore such words as darling
and dearest" They were signed wit
an initial only--it was r."
"Who is RY" ruminated Reubef
and wonder what Martha would So
20 all that gushy trash? Why, the fe
low writes as If he owned Verda Er
gagged? Oh, must advise her father
or get the girl back home at once"
Reuben sat down under tree In tn
garden and cogitated deeply over tn
e subject In hand Then the hayrac
% wagon came up and Verda went up
.. her room, but came down again almos
.. Immediately and, with an expressio
of palpable anxiety and excitemer
. clouding her face, discovered Reube
and ran up to him.
"Oh, Uncle Reuben!" she exclaime
breathlessly, "some one has been raj
; sacking my bureau and they hav
Z taken some-some things | wouldn
I lose for the world Maybe some bu
Z glar has visited the house,
& "Was it some letters you hay
! missedT questioned her uncle.
{ "Why, yes, uncle-how did yo
I know"
& "Sit down, verda. | have somethin
Z to say to you," and forthwith he e,
: planned the merits of the case, viii
I his niece, open-eyed and astonishe
! stared at him as though he were
& professional rObber.
I "Oh, uncle! How could you" she u
4 tered poignantly.
) "And who is 'R,T" he challenged.
4 HE is the only man l shall ev'
!! love-" declared verda. "He is Ra
4 mond Breer, and although only kne
+ him two weeks, and he has gone awf
& for spell, he writes me every da
2 and who has a better right?" al
8 verda broke down with tears and sob
Z while Reuben Hall muttered to hir
) self: well, she's got good sense
Z win the wealthiest young man in Rus
VILE"