The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-10-02

either house and there's nobody back
of the billboards. Unite the man."
| When this was done, the officer said:
"Now, tell us what's happened; and
don't forget any of the details"
Jones told a simple and convincing
story; it was so simple and convinc-
| ing that the police believed it without
question.
We'll, if that amt the limit! Did
you hear any autos outsider"
81 don't recollect," said Jones,
stretching his legs gratefully. "Why?"
"The auto bandits held up bank
messenger today and got away with
| twenty thousand. Whenever a man
draws down big sum they seem to
know about it. And say, Murphy, call
up and have the river police look out
for a new-fangled airship. Your mas
ter may have been rescued" turning
| to Jones.
IF l we're only sure of that, sir"
When the police took themselves off
Jones proceeded to act upon those
plans laid down by Hargreave early
that night. When this was done he
sought his bed and fell asleep, the
sleep of the exhausted. When Har-
greave picked up Jones to share his
! fortunes, he had put his trust in no
ordinary man.
A dozen reporters trooped out to the
Hargreave home, only to find it de-
Ind xf,hi1n fhnu rim oiT nc
bells and tapping windows, the man
they sought was tramping up and
down the platform of the railway sta
ton.
Through all this time Norton, the
porter, Hargreaves only friend, slept
the sleep of the just and unjust. He
rarely opened his eyes before noon.
Group after group of passengers
Jones eyed eagerly. Often, just as he
was in the act of approaching couple
of young women, some man would
hurry up, and there would be kisses
or handshakes. At length the crowd
thinned, and then it was that he dis
| covered young girl perhaps eighteen,
accompanied by young woman in the
early thirties. They had the appear
ance of eagerly awaiting some one.
| Jones stepped forward with good
deal of diffidence.
"You are waiting for some one?"
"Yes," said the elder woman, coldly.
"a broken bracelet"
The distrust on both faces vanished
instantly. The young girls face
! frightened, her eyes sparkled with
suppressed excitement.
You are my father?"
mo, miss" very gravely. 81 am the
butler"
Let me see your part of the brace
let" said the young girls guardian,
! a teacher who had been assigned to
this delicate task by Miss Farlow, who
could not bring herself to say good-by
to Florence anywhere except at the
! school gates.
The halves were produced and ex-
amined
81 believe we may trust him, Flor
ence."
LET us hurry to the taxicab. We
must not stand here"
MY mother?"
she is dead. I believe she died
shortly after your birth. have been
with your father but fourteen years.
I know but little of his life prior to
that
'Why did he leave me all these
years without ever coming to see me?
Why?"
1T is not for me, Miss Florence, to
inquire into your fathers act. But I
do know that whatever he did was
meant for the best Your welfare was
everything to him"
'It is all very strange" said the
girl bewilderedly. why didn't he
come to meet me instead of you?"
Jones stared at his hands, miser.
ably.
"Why?" she demanded. 81 have
thought of him, thought of him. He
has hurt me with all this neglect.
expected to see him at the station, to
throw my arms around his neck and
forgive him." Tears swan in
her eyes as she spoke.
Everything will be explained to
you when We reach the house. But
always remember this, Miss Florence:
You were everything in this wide
world to your father. You will never
know the misery and loneliness he
suffered that you might not have one
hour OF unrest. What are your plans %
ne asked abruptly of the teacher from
Miss Farlow's
THAT depends" she answered, lay
ing her hand protectingly over the
girls.
You could leave Miss Farlow's on
the moment?"
YES"
Then you will stay and be Miss
Florence's companion?"
Gladly"