The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-10-22
IN SEARCH OF REPoSE
BY SARAH E. HIPP,


and already her house was full.
Jimmy" she said to young Happle
at the close of a festal evening as
he and his cousin were preparing to
go out in the midnight rain, Its
shame for you boys to walk mile in
the wet and wake up your family to
get in. heard you say you had for
gotten your key IF you and Arthur
can manage in three-quarter bed you
can stay here All the other guest
rooms are filled"
Consequently they stayed. The
room was as charming as every other
room in the big house and Arthur fell
into slumber after vociferously admir-
ing 1t. Young Happle stayed awake
In the first place. Arthur's construc
ton was Of the sort that demands
considerable space fore. aft and broad
side. and he was not at all reluctant
about taking it. He occupied the
three-quarter bed comfortably and
spilled over the edges. Happle could
not help admiring himself for the
clever way in which he poised on the
extreme edge of the mattress after
the fashion of trapcze performer
about to do a leap for life. Proddings
mad no effect upon Arthur. Neither
did verbal remonstranccs His slum-
Der was as deep as the sea.
Young Happle at last arose. He had
determined to go home and let Arthur
have the undisputed possession Of the
three-quarters bed. Young Happle felt
that he might just as we'll be walking
the streets as suffering there. And
at the end of the walk was the goal
OF his own bed. He could get in at
window or something.
Quietly Happle CARRIED himself and.
taking his shoes In his hand tiptoed
down the big corridors of the Mats
mansion and descended the stairs
Noting approvingly that the hinges
were perfectly oiled, he shot the bolts,
and opening the big front door. step
ped out AS he stood there for a mo
ment blinking in the darkness there
came glare in his face and a large
and muscular hand grasped him.
Come out Of IT," said voice.
"Who the dickens are YOU" young
Happle demanded, with indignation.
"flaw. haw.." said the voice, de
risively. 1T is Il Joke, then? Who am
!? Ask the sergeant who | am when
you get to the station. my lad"
See here" said young Happlc. I'm
no burglar"
Then whO"-the voice was in.
tensely polite-"may you be. with yer
shoes in yer hands. a-sncaking out of
a house at two in the morning. max
ing no more noise than bunny rab
bite"
Young IIapple opened his mouth
and closed it again. It suddenly
seemed preposicrous to tell the truth.
Surprising he should confidc to the
policeman tina, his cousin was large,
and, not having room in bed for slum-
Der, he had decided to arise and go
home in the rain? He could in fancy
hear the iccrs of this disagreoablr Of
ficer. Still
~ see" broke In the voice " see,
yeh cant frame up an excuse at all!
It's lucky Mr. Mats tipped mo off to
watch his piac, special this summer,
with all the burglaries there is goin'
on Have yeh any of the family iools
about yeh. now I'd like to know
Get OUT" young IIapple said,
licrcely. as the hand slid into his
pocket. Then he told his story. Ring
tho boll and rouse the house if gou
dent believe mr,' he said. inclosng
his recital
''ris likely I'd be wakin' 'cm all up
with fool story like the one you We
been telling mo-" said the police.
man.
Well. if you won't do that" said
young Iiapple. YEARLY, come on With
me TO my own home and let them
identify mel"
81 don't believe you" declared the
officer. firmly. 'I'ut it's on my beat
an I'll humor you"
Through the rain they plodded the
distance to young lap
PIES home and up TO the front door |
the policeman marched him.
II haven't any key" younr iap- |
PIE blnrted out, after searcha@ his |
pockets II i forgot it,
Tho policeman gave q rooa altl- i
ion of IA man whose suspicion ave
been justified Il knew it, he
,huckled We're you pinin' lor a
walk that you took me clear up here
n the rain. I'd like TO know? Zone
If that. now" Young IIapple had
reached desperately for the door bell.
Get crowd Of people her ana hen
break away when the excitement Is
,oing on, know your kind You
,ome along."
Back they splashed through the
ain. the policeman triumphant, young
fIapple too angry to speak. He vas
soaked TO the skin and he loathed
he world The dawn was breaking
when he at last got into comminica-
ion with the Matt house. Arthur
arrived at the station at eight lie
ooked disgustingl. comfortable and
pc surveyed his ragged and be-
lraggled cousin with great enjoyment
Now you mention it, he told young