The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-08-22


ings, and saw ladder leaning against
the wall. That was all right-only
there was no reason why anybody
should have wanted to go up the wall.
Looking closer, Catesby saw that
somebody had gone not only up the
wall but upon the sloping roof, for
there were footprints in the frozen
snow. And there we're no nail-marks
In them II was evidently refined,
gentlemanly boot that had trodden
there.
Catesby ascended the ladder and
got upon the roof Then he saw
something that made his heart beat
faster. 1t was a lump OF clear ice
In the snow-frozen in. so that 1t was
not readily discernible from below,
but unmistakably clear ice. Catesby
sQuinted at the west, which was still
red with the sunset clouds. Then he
looked across the lane toward the
back door OF the store. Then he
pulled out the ice with his hands, and,
taking the precaution not to melt 1t
by too careful lingering, he climbed
down the ladder again. He placed
the ice in a nice cold snowdrift, where
it was unlikely to be noticed. and
went home.
It was ten o'clock the next morn
Ing before he walked out Of his hotel
and round to the insurance agent.
Got him." said Catesbv.
What" shouted the agent, Why,
everything's burned out. What was
1t? Kerosene?"
Guess again" answered Catesby.
Il don't know, unless it was q ton
OF dynamite"
Lets call 1t a Rochester burner, F"
said Catesby, and the idea appealed
to him as a humorous one. Want
to come and see the fun?"
20, sure" said the agent
Mr.. Hanson was chafing and fret.
ting upon the ruins OF his store when
the two men put in an appearance.
He welcomed them with a cordial
handgrip apiece.
Now. let's get down to business
he began. You advertised to settle
all claims promptly, didn't you? Well,
and you've had the night to think 1t
over in. And there amt no eighty per
cent clause In my policy-you know
that. So 1t comes to this: When do
l get my check?"
You wouldn't think of arbitratlng
now, would you?" inquired Catesby.
mo, sir. l want to pocket my loss
and get my people to work again as
quickly as l can. It's quite blow
to this town. and l wouldn't relish
being held up. And, what's more, II
there's any talk of arbitration or com
promise put the case into my law.
yer's hands today"
20, pshaw! Maybe you'll be only
too glad to compromise" suggested
Catesby. Come, make me an offer.
"One.quarter Million" said Hanson
Your lowest otfer?"
You bet It is. What d'you take
me for?"
All right. I've heard yours, and
now you can hear mine. Not one
penny, but We won't prosecute If you
drop your claim, because ice is deli
cate commodity to keep, even when
It's cold.storaged. You see, we
couldn't very we'll bring 1t into court.
En-" stammered Hanson, begin
ming to tremble.
Come here!" said Catesby, and led
Hanson and the agent to the cool
snowdrift He bent down, scraped
away the snow. and pulled up huge
and neatly FURNISHED circular disk oi
ice
Il guess it formed on top Of tank
or somewhere, and that gave our
friend his idea" said Catesby Catch
on, Mr. Brown?"
why. its-it's like burning
glass" cried the agent
That's what it IS, and pretty well
done. | guess you were in the optical
business once, weren't you, Mr.. Han
SOM"
Why, he was the first optician ir
town" the agent cried. That was
before he built this store"
Exactly" answered Catesby. What
would jury say to that, wonder
However, there's one more thing tc
take into consideration, and that's the
focal length. We've got to prove that
| at three o'clock in the afternoon the
sun is In direct line with the top Of
that shed, where the glass lens was
fixed, and those split stones at thf
back OF the store, where the fire be
gan. Furthermore, as l was saying
that is the correct focal length to
concentrate the rays. Now we'll &C
up this afternoon"
stop, for Gods sake!" whispered
Hanson, and his face was pea.green
You got me. All right. Make II two
hundred thousand and it's ten pei
cent Of that apiece to"
you scoundrel." yelled Catesby
catching Hanson by the throat. Nov
we'll send you to the states prison
for sure. I'm glad you said It, I am
wanted my chance"
"Shucks, Let's call It all of, Mr.
Catesby, interposed the agent. "Yor