Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-02-10

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 tho place,
but they found no clue to safe or
despoilers. Sj9 They found no wagon
tracks near the house and theorized
that the burglars had carried it away
bodily. They had probably dumped
1t, 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 great blessing had come to
him. He smiled as he passed group
Of children, and one Of them narrated
gravely how his mishap had come
about through the "esplosion of a
great big football!",s 1t was a cold
dreary evening and there We're not
many at the billiard hall. Dale passed
into 4 Its little reading room and
scanned the newspapers there. &:i
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. - 4.
I'D like to. have a few minutes
confidential talk in there with q
friend of. mine who will be here In
a few minutes he said. 80
sob, 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. a:
III Tomorrow morning you hire on
automobile and go out to the place
live described" spoke the first conner
finally. ''' ~ -. &rl'
IL 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 a ca,
and load. in lantern and a stout
rope and chain; Then drive over tc
the Parr home" ~ sal. PA
J. Murray stared hard at Dale, mysti
fed, but he respected his young client
and proceeded to execute the order
without cavil. Dale ran up the steps
Of the home Of his fiancee a few min
utes later. He rang the doorbell. Mr.
Parr appeared. ~
You were robbed of safe contain
ing a small fortune few days SINCE
began Dale. sy,- 49,. ~ Z. 49,
| K what of it?'''5 demanded Parr, sus
piciously: viewing the visitor whom
he had tabooed. ,2s,s 3 ..:.s,.- NJ.
Il have got a trace of It," replied
Dale simply. r.
"How? How?" cried the old man
excitedly. ., '>' 80. g..
~ overheard the burglars telling
where they hid the safe the night Of
the robbery Z, y = r. -. e. Z
$"You-heard!" gasped Parr incredu
lously. "Why, aren't you deaf as Z
post?" - .E,.s. # ,-,a' Il
M Never mind that retorted Dale
with a confident smile. Come with
us" ,I@. d.
Which Parr did, to be led to the2site
Of a burned-down farm house. There
Dale uncovered an old well, descend
ed and attached the rope to something
at its bottom. The three pulled II
up-the missing safe! 3d..
r. And its contents intact! Then the
police were notified to lay in wait fol
the criminals. ,isajs ss.la "a, g., ,.
"But--but -your deafness?" stam
mered the marveling old man on the
way back to his home.
Cured in the city q week ago
through: successful operation e1.
planned Dale. - ,-j-gS,t.. !
"The reward" began Parr, niggard-
~ thinking of the one thousand dol
lars he had offered. a7~t $tl
Then Dale Armstrong asked for
Myrtle's hand in marriage got it.
I Copyright, 1914. by W. G. chaaman)