The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-22

house. It's just been painted white.
and it's spelling it. OF course, you
can't help that You're hardly able
TO afford anthracite at ten dollars
ton. eh?"
Maybe not" responded Martin, Sc
riously, but can be just, even If 1t
costs me something. never thought
of it before
When he came to look at the side OF
the Stevenson house. Martin saw that
the SCOT had, indeed. marred and de-
faced it, Especially up under the
caves. the clapboards were grimed
with feathers OF SCOT Acting on
generous impulse. he hailed his neigh
Dor, who just happened to be coming
into the house.
81 say, Stevenson" spoke the blunt,
| honest fellow. I've just found out
| that my soft coal is hurting your
property l shall use coke through
the rest of the winter, and first holi.
| day I'll get a ladder and give the
side of the house good scrubbing
"Why-thank you'll must say
you're thoughtful and kind-yes.
thank you" and Stevenson acted as
though this unusual courtesy OF a
stranger fairly overcame him
BEFORE the opportunity to remedy
things came about, however. some
startling events transpired One morn,
ing Martin came out into the yard to
find a ladder taken from his shed
standing against the side Of his neigh
boris house. The window OF an up
per room was open. Mr.. Stevenson
was under a great strain of excitement
He declared that the house had beer
burglarized
WAS anything taken?" asked Mr.
Martin
"Why, not much" explained hi:
neighbor In a bewildered sort Of
, way. THE room the burglar got int
is the one my poor dead son occupied
We have left 1t just as 1t was whel
, he went away. Whoever broke int
, the house opened drawer wher
! Warren kept few trifiing trinkets
A watch. revolver and some gol
cuff links are missing, but nothin
else was disturbed
THAT is singular" observed Martt
thoughtfully. and he went up the lac
i. der a step or two. "Why. say, Nj
:, Stevenson" he called down to hi
:, neighbor, here is something queer
What is that?" was asked.
i. "In getting into the window tn
a burglar has left some hand mark
around its frame"
"Why, yes-I can see 1t from here
r replied the owner of the despoile
= home.
- Right among that troublesoH
y black SCOT OF mine" continued Marti
- rather alphabetically. And say-wh
hello. Whoever the fellow was he
:, left clue"
- What do you mean?"
~ Hand prints show that he had thr'
q short fingers on one hand-why, 81
" What is the NATTER"
Quickly the speaker descended u
ladder. With sharp cry OF enligi
) eminent, Mr.. Stevenson had start
back
; Three short fingers" he gasp
r out hoarsely "Then-it must ma
J been Warren Oh, he is not dead, b
alive. Mother! mother" he shoutt
. rushing into the house and seeking
wife, and leaving the sturetied Mart
= standing staring after him. unable
= comprehend the meaning OF
strange actions
= What the father surmised turn
e out correct, little later His S
was indeed alive. He had stolen ba
& home, poor, homeless, III. 1t wo'
F. be no robbery to take his oS
L Shamed at his mistaken past. he h
X hurried away. after taking the pr
Il Of a few needed meals, but his faith
with the aid of the police. soon loo
n ed him.
u It was a Joyful moment when
IL recovered son was told that the DIRE
: ed hand Of the law had been remov
"All because Of that blessed SCOT
yours-all honor to soft COAL the
| lighted Stevenson had told his mel
(. Dor.
y And a true neighbor he made
n him and naturally Warren Steven
met Winnie Closer and closer 81
the ties OF true neighborliness,
of love, and then the natural selue
Of happy wedding.