The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-31
Q silver left carelessly upon the side

board.
Halves had a burlap bag to hold
these articles, but that part Of the
work was to come later. There were
the jewels. left. as RED" believed.
upon the bedroom bureau at night.
To get these was the problem. Halves
had not sunk so low as to attack
woman; he was doubtful whether he
could enter a strange room without
awakening the occupant. Then he did
not know the situation Of the bureau
in the dark. He was half minded to
content himself with the silver. But
the thought Of Reds" jeers made
him resolve to reconnoitre at least
He crept slowly upstairs.
There were four rooms leading
from the top of the stairway. One
of the doors stood slightly ajar
Halves crept to the entrance. He
heard light breathing within.
The moon shone through the win
dow. After a moment Halves made
out the figure of a child in the bed
This, then, could not be the place
He crept out. A board squeaked un
der his foot. He heard the child stir
and then, in sudden access of min
gled disgust and fear, he FASTENED
down the stairs. The silver would be
enough for him. And thenceforward
he would confine himself to forms Of
crime which did not require the
faculties possessed by Red 1t was
one thing to make war upon the
world and another to be a sneak thief
He entered the dining room
switched on the lights again, ant
turned to the silver. He had just
taken up the first piece, a coffee pot
when he heard light football behint
him. He turned. to see the chile
staining in the door, looking at him
Daddy said the child.
Halves cursed his folly in going up
stairs. This little creature in the lonl
white nightgown, with the bare feet
that regarded him with friendly inter
est-he felt helpless before it. A
sweat broke out upon his forehead. HI
set down the coffee pot and stood star
ing at the baby.
Daddy" said the child, smile up
on it's lips.
"Hush!" said Halves gently, ant
closed the door behind it. But tina
helped him no better; its absence
must shortly be discovered. Hawe
did not know what to do.
At that instant he heard plainl,
the creaking of the wheels Of tn
bakers cart in the rear Of the house
He must act Immediately.
"Hush!" said Halves again, and, LII
ing the child, he set 1t down In
chair. Now you sit there" he said
and don't say a word until l com
back"
Daddy" said the child more loud
ly.
, Halves was becoming frantic. T
fly might mean that the child woul
scream, or cry, and awaken the pal
ents. To stay more than a momen
would mean failure, and Red" woul
drive away.
I'm not your daddy said Hawe'
"Daddy's upstairs" A sudden though
came to him. Go back to bed" b
said softly. Daddy will come pre-
emily" He only wanted thirty SCI
onds to pack the silver and &c
through the window.
The child toddled toward the doc
and began rafting the handle. Have
heard the sounds magnifled hundre
fold. Each turn Of the knob SCENE
like a hammer blow. He sprang TO
ward and opened the door-to see
woman descend the last Of the figt
and stand looking at him.
The child toddled toward he
Daddy" 1t cried again.
The walls began to swim roun
Halves. The hall became q mist, th
stairs seemed to stretch up and ava
into infinity. He saw only the fac
of the woman at the bottom.
"Minnie!" he cried.
She was In his arms, and no othe
word had been spoken. 1t was hi
wife, restored to him; he knew as b
held her in his embrace that the
lives would never again be sundere'
John! How did you find me?" sh
gasped. Come In here!"
In the dining room was the burla
bag. The window was wide opel
What would these evidences mean
But she saw nothing; she had n
thoughts but for him.
Father died last week. she SAT-
half sobbing with Joy. Before b
died he forgave you. He wanted m
to find you. telegraphed TOTO tbs
place-but they knew nothing Of 20,
l always needed you, John! kne'
that I could turn fathers heart q
the end-but It came suddenly, an