The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-20
A House of
Surprises
BY Martha Endicott Eaton

Daniel Rodell was dead, and nc
heir could be found.
He had left a picturesque old house
and few hundred dollars in a bank
People thought there might be some
money hidden in the house. as Daniel
had been called a miser. The village
lawyer closed the house and adver-
tised in the papers for relatives OF one
Daniel Rodell.
Weeks Heightened into months. and
nothing was heard from any kith G-
kin. Then John Black, the lawyer,
sent advertisements 10 the New York
papers. and one day there came a let
ter from a yoang woman who said
her mother was d niece OF Daniel
Rodcll.
Mr. Black replied and asked her 10
core 10 Barstedd and in a few day
4 young lady aligiifed from train
at the lil'l- station.
she was sty!iahly garbed, and had
way with her" 50 Jed. the village
hackman. said, He obeyed at once
when she requested him 10 drive 10
Mr. Blacks Office She had brought
papers with her to prove her kin
ship.
Well" said Mr.. Black, Il suppose
the house Is yours, unless other heirs
are heard from. have heard him
say he had sister out west and a
nephew somewhere"
They went and looked the house
over. Miss Strong was we'll pleased
with 1t and the dear old furniture. as
she called it; the fireplace. too. de-
lighted her
But she said. Il cant live here.
| am journalist in New York, and
cant leave now. | shall have to walt
until my summer vacation"
One cold wintry day an old lady,
rather poorly clad. called on Mr..
ROdell's sister. She had come from
the west and spent nearly all her
money, thinking she would like to end
her days in her gran fathers house,
for such 1t was before Daniel inherit.
ed il.
So John BLACK telegraphed Miss
Strong. Lady claiming to be Ro-
dells sister come to live IN house
What shah | do?"
The answer came. IF proven, lei
her by all means.
FRANCES STRONG"
Mr.. Hack was in n puandary. How
could anyone live without money?
Other heirs might spring up. He did
not dare to touch the money in the
bank He wrote to Miss Strong, and
asked her what he should do. Miss
strong send him check for $50, say
ing: she is my greai-aunt. can't
let her starve"
So the Old lady took possession. She
had only one trunk. She looked like
a Dresden china shcphcrdess
He had happy thought. An old
lady lived In the village who was
threatened with the poor farm" All
her money had gone she was smart
and active yet. but the selectmen
were afraid she did not have enough
10 eat and had told her she would
have to go. bul she always said: III
die first
Now. thought Black, she can 60
aud live with Mrs IoEcs and work a
i,'le for her room and board.
Mrs. Jones consented, and the old
Nhose name was Tahitha
snow, agreed to 70 If she could furnish
her room with her own lurniaue.
frarces had 10 he consulted Hcain.
"She te.esrr hgd. Ycs, Il r,y "a
Ml.vas satisfactory pnd Mrs Jones
and Tah.tha, with tie hnip o. Jed. who
Nas a manoiall work a. wen as
Iacknan cleared or a pleasant room
II the haca of tue house.
TIL" room had been used BY Mr.
sodell rs a SOFT of siorproom: as they
we're moving a small chest of drawers.
such as spools o, silk or cotton are
Kept in In shops, Mrs Jones knocked a
irawcr out: such a rafting and lang
ing noise ii made when it fell, II
vas full OF dimes, loosely thrown in: a
scrap of paper had fallen with them.
She picked II mp and read. These
lines belong to the finder!
DANIEL RODELI."
Being generous. she thought she
would divide with Jed and TabithA
There we're 200 dimes. Mrs. Jones kept
! hundred and gave Tabitha and Jed |
70 apiece.
They cleaned the room without flnd.
ng anything more. Jed would take
10 more pay. saying FIVE dollars was
'ery good pay for days work.
When Tabitha was settled. the two
lad happy afternoons together. Now
md then Mrs. Jones had a CHEEKY let
er from Frances. who was glad to
AVE found an aunt. She sent them
'apers and magazines. so the winter
'assed pleasantly. Then one day quite
arly in the spring Frances ran up to
pend weekend with her aunt
All day lprp Sunday che ,>o,-.,