The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-13
CASE NEXT DOOR
CAUGHT in Trap, But She Found
Out Am About the Mysterious
Neighbor.
sy GRACE kERRIeAN.


cottage with an acre Of ground around
II The owner had died just as the
cottage was ready for occupancy, and |
a. had stood tenantless for more than
a year. There we're all sorts Of sto- /
ries as to why, as the agent who had !
1t in charge lived In another town.
but at length there came a young man
who announced himself as Mr.. Paul
Burton. and his errand to take a years
lease.
The young man met Mr.. and Mrs.
Needham and he might have met their
daughter Grace at the same time had
she been home that day Nothing was
said as to the young mans occupation
OF family. and the mystery was soon
deeper than ever
No mother sister or housekeeper
come with him
He did not engage board anywhere
He did not engage a woman 70 come
IN and do the cooking and other work
He did not seek 10 make acqpaint-
ances.
He evidently had no trade or profea-
sion.
And when the Needham's and others
had sized that all up and wondered
and wondered there was something
else. At the rear Of the deep lot he
built small house It was hardly
larger than an ordinary bedroom. If
there had been any children It would
have been pronounced a playhouse.
There was no dog and so II could not
be a dog-house
A week after the house had been
finished, and while the neighbors we're
holding their breath, an express wagon
drove up and delivered a goose In a
crate It was a gander-a pure white
gander, and those who got close look
said 1t was an old patriarch who was
living out the last half Of his century.
"A gooae7v uueried Mrs. Needham.
why. it's months and months to
Thanksgiving
"He may be a yivisectionist and 10
going to carve her up alive" re-
marked Mr.. Needham.
Hes got a goose for companion!
sneered Grace. That's what might be
looked for in young man Of bis
PARTS"
The old goose was taken out to the
goose-house and provided with excel
sior to lie on, dishes to eat and drink
from, and young Mr. Burton visited
him half dozen times day to ash
about his health 1t was said that hg
even got up twice a night to go Out
: there and speak a word or two o
cheer to his pet
"That young man is OF in his top
storyl" said some.
"The law ought to step I'M" salt
others.
IF he isn't making counterfeit
money then why all this secrecy
asked the wise ones with wink.
No letters came for Mr.. Burton H
answered no idle questions of tn
tradesmen A minister called to invit
him e attend church. hut.his ring wa
ignored. The mystery had lasted TO
three months when Miss Grace Need
ham threw down her book one ever
ing and turned to her father with:
q declare that If were you
wouldn't stand II another day."
Stand what?"
You know what I mean / wouldn
stand this case next door. I'd have
talk with Mr.. Burton and ask hiI
what he means by such conduct"
"As how?"
AS living alone.1
That's his business. choose |
live as live and that is my business
But be has to cook for himself"
"Yesf"
And make his bed, and sweep ar
dust"
"YesY"
"And he has an old gander for cor
panyl"
8 "But we have an old cat!"
= 'But-but you won't do anythir
- about it,"
Not thingl"
Then viii He's just got to g
plain himself or I'll know the reasC
whyl"
Spoken like Nick Carter" repli,
the father with laugh, and the su
iect was dropped.
The young boys Of the village hi
heard all about the gander, and Il
time came when they thought it wou
be good Joke to climb the alley fen
and bear the veteran away One mig
they tried It. but the ganders protes
called Mr. Burton out Of bed and
the rescue. He could have put a 10
on the door next day, but he didn
He bought q steel trap without tee
and set It where boy might put I
II foot in It.
Miss Grace Needham was very mu
In earnest in her intentions to sol
the next door mystery. but how "
she to go at it? She had puzzled for
week, when one day she saw t
young man leave the house with
market basket on his arm. He W
going to buy provisions. and would
gone an hour Mrs. Needham was
to a neighbors, so there was no 0
around to say nay. As a beginnil