The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-06

| had seen and now worshlped Con
stance Marsh. I think first won her
kindly attention by my steadfasbness
OF purpose in pursuing an apparently
hopeless case to the end. Then when
I said that | coveted not the reward
but the fame of finishing up a difficult
case. and intimated what comfort the
restored wealth would bring to her
father, she became my true friend.
had not seen Dan Haley since ne
entered the penitentiary. ! was
shocked at his aged appearance. He
stopped and walked feebly. There
was none of the buoyancy and eager
ness one might have expected from a
man who was about to reap the rlch
rewards of secrecy and patience.
Another thing. he seemed lost in his
new environment The free air, the
bright sunshine and varied crowds did
not inspire him, they rather confused.
I saw at a glance that he was q bro
ken man.
His first move with the money the
prison authorities had given him was
to board train for the town where he
had formerly lived. He was widow
or. Haley proceeded to the site OF the
house where he had once lived. 1t
was easy to shadow him. In his dis
pirited way he seemed Indifferent to
surroundings.
The house he expected to find had
been burned down for two years. A
new one was now in course Of con-
struction. stood outside the yard
while I watched him wander around
It. It was evident he was seeking
something, but could not locate 1t. He
would start along, hesitate, rub his
brow in a bewildered sort Of way
and finally, after an hour, he turned
from the place.
MY heart sank within me-Dan Ha-
ley had forgotten!
knew 1t surer than ever the next
day, when he left the little lodging
house he had put up at, with myself
for a vigilant neighbor in the next
room. He started out seeking work.
I was near to him when he approached
a carpenter building fence. The lat
ter held board across saw horse
and was just turning it to mark where
it should be sawed with the pencil in
his hand, when / noticed a sudden
glow in Haley's eyes. He uttered
what was almost a scream He start
ed from the spot on a dead run, the
astonished carpenter staring wonder
ingly after him, myself In close pur-
suit.
Straight to the railroad depot Haley
proceeded, thence by train to the
prison town and then to the very
doors of the penitentiary he had left
less than twenty-four hours previ-
ously.
l am a detective and therefore have
to think. | mentally connected the
carpenter and the prison, and when
/ heard Haley humbly solicit the war
den to allow him to revisit his former
cell l nodded to the latter and fol-
lowed Haley.
Once inside of the cell Haley got
down and looked at the under surface
of the bench riveted to the wall. He
transcribed some words written there,
probably when he feared the lapse Of
memory that later overlook him.
I traced those tell-tale words later.
They were: Under the woodshed
floor" Then l was on his trail again.
took him in charge as he returned
to his native town. Then visited the
shed. 1t was to recover the long Sc
creted plumber.
/ refused any reward from the de-
lighted Mr.. Marsh, the love Of Con-
stance outweighed all sordid consider
ations. Haley did not realize any par
ticular disappointment, for he forgot
his recent discovery in day or two.
Mr.. Marsh found him work and the ex.
convict developed into quite respect
able artisan.
irrl, htyI