The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-02-05


hand and had become quite expert
with the ivory balls.
Then. without stating his purpose
except to his parents and sister, Dale
left the town and was gone a month.
He returned to face a new sensation.
Mr.. Parr had been robbed. even beg.
CARED. gossip had it. A misery, mar
row-minded old man, he had bulked
most of his means in some land upon
the river. A colored community had
bought it at an extravagant price for
all cash. The money Parr had placed
in small safe in his house. The
next morning he awoke from a
drugged sleep to find the safe and its
contents gone.
The old man had become frantic.
He had sent for his daughter he had
hired all the local sleuths in the place.
but they found no clue to safe or
despoilers. They found no wagon
tracks near the house and theorized
that the burglars had carried it away
bodily. They had probably dumped
| it In some safe hiding place, as they
could not of themselves carry it far,
but they had left no trace as to their
| identity
Dale looked brisk and bright as he
| went down to the billiard hall that
evening. He had reason to feel that
way, for a great blessing had come to
him. He smiled as he passed a group
of children, and one of them narrated
gravely how his mishap had come
about through the "esplosion OF a
great big football" 1t was a cold
dreary evening and there were not
many at the billiard hail. Dale, passed
into its little reading room and
scanned the newspapers there.
A man, stranger stuck his head
through the doorway, frowned slight
ly at finding the apartment occupied
and turned to the owner of the place
who stood near by.
"rd like to have few minutes
confidential talk in there with a
| friend Of mine who will be here in
a 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 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 were 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 car
and load In lantern and a stout
rope and chain. Then drive over to
the Parr home"
Murray stared hard at Dale, mysti-
fed, but ne respected his young client
and proceeded to execute the order
without cavil Dale ran up the steps
of the home OF his fiancee few min
utes later He rang the doorbeu. Mr..
Parr appeared.
"You were robbed of a safe contain
ing a small fortune few days SINCE"
began Dale.
What of it," demanded Parr, sus-
piciously viewing the visitor whom
he had tabooed.
Il have got a trace of it," replied
Dale simply
How? How?" cried the old man
excitedly.
Il overheard the burglars telling
where they hid the safe the night of
the robbery"
"You-heard!" gasped Parr incredu.
lousy. why, aren't you deaf as q
post?"
Never mind that" retorted Dale.
with a confident smile. Come with
u.s."
Which Parr did. to be led to the site
OF burned-down farm house. There
Dale uncovered an old we'll, descend
ed and attached the rope to something
at its bottom. The three pulled 1t
up-the missing safe!
And its contents intact! Then the
police were notified to lay in wait for
the criminals
"But-but--your deafness?" STAN
mered the marveling old man on the
way back to his home.
Cured In the city a week ago
through a successful operation" ex.
planned Dale.
"The reward" began Parr. niggard-
ly thinking OF the one thousand dol
lars he had offered.
Then Dale Armstrong asked for
Myrtle's hand in marriage-and got it.
Copyright. 1914. by W. G. Chapman)