The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-30

HIT fSll NDt Vas ASKED.
Your crime has found you out."
Il lick my wife ten years ago, but
she don't so by der police"
4 Other callers were put through
their PAGES. but none of them was
frightened into confessing murder OF
bomb explosion. The day must come
however, and it did come It came
three days after little incident or
the street. A bare-headed young man
with pencil behind his ear, and who
seemed to be a clerk in store. &C
costed Miss Oracle at corner and
asked if she could give him a $40 bill
for five twos 1t was her salary day
and she was carrying home her s14
Why not oblige the clerk? The SO
was passed over for the twos, and II
seemed to the girl that she was be.
ginning to be Of some Importance az
a capitalist.
The cobbler took fifty cents for re.
pairing pair of shoes; lunch at q
restaurant was 80 cents; a bit OF
cheap jewelry that happened to please
was Is cents In each case one OF
the two-dollar bills was handed out,
The other two went into her board
money. and Nanny Jones passed
them along to the grocer and butcher
And then there was the arrival OF
the strange man He took back
room upstairs without board. He was
well dressed, but he had a sly look
In looks and talk he was not the aver
age roomer for that quarter-he was
above them. He had plenty of money
and paid week in advance, besides
assuring Nanny that he didn't play
! on flute or an accordion, and he
was given the room. 1t was two days
before the detectress caught sight Of
him, and then she said to the land
lady:
Your Mr.. Bennett is a crook"
MY stars"
Hes a confidence man or wire
tapper!"
Get the police at once."
And from the way he drags his
right leg ! should say that he was
| acquainted with the ball and chain!'
Then he'll rob and murder u.s."
No he won't" replied Miss Oracle,
in firm voice. Am | moi here? Isn't
| it part of my profession to rr7
down crooks"
but the police
Not word to them not hint!
When | have cot this man in my tolls
I'll communicate with police head
quarters. I'll shadow him and have
line en- him within three days Yea
must not say or do anything to fright
EN- the bird away "
The stranger seemed to stink out
and in. He asked no questions of
anybody, and if he gave any of the
people in the house more than a pass
Ing glance it was the stenographer.
Each evening for three successive
evenings she found him in her hall
when she came up from her dinner.
She had taken the precaution to lock
her door and had no doubt that he
had tried it.
All, ha, but I'll set snare for the
bird" she exclaimed to herself 1t
didn't take two minutes to invent the
snare.
When she went down to dinner the
next evening she left her door I'M
locked When the meal was half over
she rose from the table and tip-toed
upstairs. Mr. Bennett wasn't visible,
but she passed along and opened her
door with bang Mr. Bennett was
on his knees before her open trunk!
Three yells into the hall OF Help
Murder" Police" and then she
grabbed the crook The room filled
with boarders in moment, but Mr..
Bennett didn't seem very much EN-.
barrassed about it.
Il caught him going through my
trunk! explained Miss Oracle.
Yes" he calmly replied
Then you are sneakthief, and
we'll hold you until the police GOMEZ"
said one of the valiant actors.
Not quite a sneakthief," smiled MIR.
Bennett. This badge will show you
that belong to the government Sc
cret service"
He's crook, | tell you." shot
back Miss Oracle
Il was in my line of duty looking
after counterfeit money or plates!"
Counterfeit money" gasped all in
the room.
Just so. It's up to you, Miss Hol-
lands. to do some explaining"
why doesn't somebody telephone?"
she demanded.
| because no ore wants to see you
locked up" replied Mr. Bennett, will
you kindly tell me where you got
those five two-dollar bills you handed
out the other day."
"Why-why-"
Every one of them was counter
felt! ! came here looking for plant!
| did not want to ask for warrant
for you, Miss Hollands. until sure of
my case"
The next half hour was as full of