The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-04

slightly pecked 1t, and the little crear
ture was partly disabled.
Il can't imagine where it came
FROM" observed Edison.
DO you notice that it is Of q bright
bronze?" suggested Nella- Cant you
mend it up? Perhaps it is suffer
Ing"
I'VE win try" smiled Edison read
ily." 1T is a rarity. should like to
study and classify it. Certainly it is
. stranger to this country" and he
took it into his library, poured some
healing oil upon its shattered wing.
and made q soft cotton nest for 1t.
which he placed under an open globe.
Sorrowful as Vance Edison was over
his money prospects and consequently
those Of love. he was cheered at See
ing more of Nella than ever. The lit
tie ones chung to her constantly. The
bronze bug became q positive institu-
ton with the family group. 1t seemed
as though 1t had q mind to appreciate
kindness and recognize its friends. AZ
1t was nursed back to normal strength
1t refused to leave the house. even the
room. It became domesticated in .
sort of playhouse that Edison con-
structed for 1t, more for the gratifica-
ton of the children than anything
else.
There was tiny trough for bath
;nD cr,{un I;v,ipntiuo cfor 1oddor
To all these novelties the strange in.
sect accommodated itself. For hours
Nella and her two child proteges
would watch the glossy bug.
One day an old messmate of the
dead sailor called upon Edison. Just
to talk over the best friend he ever
had" was the way he put it. He
brought some gifts for the two little
orphans. He CHANGED to see the bug.
'Shiver mel" he exclaimed noisily.
Where on earth did you get Ma
lacca flnder?"
you know what it is?" interrupted
Edison eagerly.
why surely" replied the old salt.
for they're thick as bees in Malacca.
They get their name from going after
other insects bold and pushing, ferret
ing them out of all kinds of queer
cracks and crannies. They are credit
ed with a very acute sense Of smell.
Why, say, this specimen must have
been imported here in some Of your
uncle's old truck"
Apparently this was true, for when
the beetle was first discovered it had
probably crawled on to the window to
the attic where the chest and other
belongings of the dead sailor were
stored.
The visitor departed two days later.
A week after that the bronze bug was
missing. Little Ralph came rushing
down the stairs one morning all ex-
element.
In the attic!" he announced breath
lessly. Il saw him-the bug, crawl.
ing out of one of those big idols"
All hands hurried to the attic. There
were a number of grotesque wood,
glass and plaster idols among the
curiosities taken from the uncle's
chest. Ralph pointed to one on q
shelf.
There! there!" he insisted.
Edison lifted down the idol. Sure
enough, out crawled the lost bronze
bug. Edison placed the idol on a
stand. In his excitement little Ralph
ran up against 1t, tipped the idol and
it was broken into bits upon the
floor.
But among the fragments was .
small silk purse. Within 1t was the
fortune the dead uncle had boosted
of-diamonds!
And now the future was provided
for. and through the kindly ofiices Of
the bronze bug Vance found a speedy
way to the heart Of the girl he loved.
Copyright. 1915. by W. G. Chapman.)