Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-05-19
Dor. who Just happened to be comine

Dor. who Just happened to be comine
into the house. sj2a u .&,z@ ..}-
3, Il say, Stevenson" spoke the blunt,
honest fellow, 1--WE just found out
that my soft coal is hurting your
property. I 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 %
though this unusual courtesy OF .
stranger fairly overcame him.
n Before the opportunity to remedy
things came about, however, some
startling events TRANSFERRED. 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 been
burglarized. -E..E /; ,ss.a.
''Was anything taken!" asked Mr.
Martin. ',-t - II G., Y, =.
"why, not much" explained his
neighborl in a bewildered sort OF a
way. 1.-THE room the burglar got into
is the one my poor dead son occupied.
We have left It Just as 1t was when
he went away. Whoever broke into
the house opened drawer where
Warren kept a few trifling trinkets.
A watch, a revolver and some gold
cum links are missing, but nothing
else was disturbed" ,',~..l., .,s.-s,..
z %"That is singular" observed Martin
thoughtfully, and he went up the lad
der a step or two. 'Why, say, MT
Stevenson" he called down to his
neighbor, there Is something queer"
what is that?" was asks
y TN getting into the window the
burglar has left some hand marks
around its frame" ''-''
IS 'tWhy, yes-1 can see it from here.
replied the owner Of the despoiled
home.
fright among that troublesome
black SCOT OF nine" continued Martin
rather apologetically. "And say-why'
hello! Whoever the fellow was he's
left clue" 4. -.
what do you mean?" r.
"Eand prints show that he had three
short fingers on one hand-why, sir!
What is the matters" ss.&<
Quickly the speaker. descended the
ladder. With a sharp cry Of enlight-
eminent, Mr.. Stevenson had started
back. s4' Sc a. ,..ss$F ,%.,ys r g..
"Three short hngers!" he gasped
out hoarsely. "Then-it must have
been Warren. Oh, he is not dead, but
alive! Mother! mother!" he shouted
rushing into the house. and seeking his
wife, and leaving the stupefled Martin
standing staring after him, unable TO
comprehend the meaning of his
strange actions. H.
What the father surmised turned
out correct, little later. His son
was indeed alive. He had stolen back
home, poor, homeless, Ill. 1t would
be no robbery to take his own:
Shamed at his mistaken past, he had
hurried away, after taking the price
OF few needed meals, but his father,
with the aid Of the police, soon locat'
ed him. ILL.,.
1t was joyful moment when the
recovered son was told that the dread
ed hand Of the law had been removed:
"A1l because Of that blessed SCOT OF
yours-aH honor to soft COAL" the de-
lighted Stevenson had told his neigh
Dor. -+.-.--
And a true neighbor he made OF
him. and naturally Warren Stevenson
met Winnie. Closer and closer grew
the ties OF true neighborliness. and
OF love, and then the natural sequence
Of happy wedding. 6i,{a1