The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-11

bought e af an eztfavssant price Tor |
~ cash. The money Parr had placed |
IN small safe in his house. The !
next morning he awoke from .
uIusged sleep to find the safe and its
contents gone. 80
me OLD man had become frantic
ne mad sent for his daughter. he had
hired all the local sleuths in the n,.ca
out they found no clue to safe or
oespoilers. They found no wagon
tracks near the house and theorized
that the burglars had carried it avav
bodily. They had probably dumped
II IN some safe hiding place, a they
could not Of themselves carry it far.
out they had left no trace u to their
identity.
Dale looked brisk and brixht n he
went down to the billiard han that
evening. He had reason 10 feel that
way, for . great blessing had come to
him. He smiled - 10 passed Z group
OF children. and one q them narrated
gravely how his mishap had come
about through the Explosion of q
great big footbail!" It was Z cold
dreary evening and there were not
many at the billiard hail. Dale passed
into its little reading room and
scanned the newspapers there.
man cfpnnUav otrnyy Ia.
through the doorway. frcwned slight
~ at finding the apartment occupied
and turned to the owner Of the place
who stood near by.
I'D like to have a few minutes
confidential talk in there with q
friend Of mine who will be here in
q few minutes" he said.
"Oh, that's all right. Don't mind
Deaf Armstrong. He can't hear you"
Dale smiled behind his newspaper.
Almost Immediately a second stranger
appeared. Both glanced at Dale and
then began talking in low tones. Dale
yawned and seemed to browse.
Tomorrow morning you hire an
automobile and go out to the place
I've described" spoke the first conner
finally.
They we're no sooner out Of sight
when Dale sprang to his feet. He
made for the nearest livery stable
and sought out its proprietor.
Murray" he said, get out a cal
and load in a lantern and Q stout
rope and chain. Then drive over t
the Parr home"
Murray stared hard at Dale, mysti
fed, but he respected his young Glen
and proceeded to execute the ordel
without cavil. Dale ran up the step
of the home Of his fiancee a few min
utes later. He rang the doorbell. MI
Parr appeared.
"You were robbed Of . safe contain
ing small fortune a few days since,
began Dale.
what Of IT." demanded Parr, sui
piciously viewing the visitor whor
he had tabooed.
II have got q trace Of It," reptile
Dale simply.
"How? Howl" cried the old ma
excitedly.
II overheard the burglars tellin
where they hid the safe the night
the robbery"
"You-heard!" gasped Parr incred'
lousy. why. aren't you deaf a.
post?"
"Never mind that" retorted Dial
with q confident smile. Come wit
U.S."
Which Parr did, to be led to the 81,
Of a burned-down farm house. Thel
Dale uncovered an old we'll, descen
ed and attached the rope to somethir
at its bottom. The three pulled
up-the missing safe!
And its contents intact! Then Il
police were notified to lay In wait 4
the criminals.
"But-but-your deafness?" stat
mered the marveling old man on Il
way back to his home.
} Cured in the city week q
through a successful operation" e
! planned Dale.
"The reward" began Parr, nfggal
a " thinking Of the one thousand d
/ lars he had offered.
v Then Dale Armstrong asked
!. Myrtle's hand in marriage-and got
+ copyright. 1914. by W. G. Chapman.