The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-05
BURGLAR BEN BOOSTS
BY WALTER J. DELANEY.

Copyright, 1915, by w. G. Chapman.)
Going to bury yourself in q dead
country village?" asked BENJAMIN
Rudd, alias Burglar Ben. TITS shame,
Mr.. Wilton! I'm Of discredited sort,
but I'm your friend for what you've
done for me, and say it's shame
to see a man of your talent throw up
the chance of a lifetime"
why, I've demonstrated some abil-
ity as a lawyer. haven't II" challenged
Adrian Wilton in his smiling. con-
tented way.
Il should say sol" cried his client
enthusiastically. THE papers have
been full OF it. Rising young criminal
lawyer Of the day!' All you've got to
90 is to take a big office here in the
city and the clients will flock to you.
That's your line. Didn't you clear me,
with five Of the best attorneys In the
city ON the other side?"
THAT was because you were limo
cent, Ben," reminded Adrian.
For once-by accident" retorted
the ex-burglar with a ohuckle. ANY.
how, 1t gave me scare and I've re-
formed square and straight"
At all events Adrian babe good-by
to his grateful and would-be helpful
client and returned to Fordham. Yes,
the town had heard Of his splendid
record in the city, Nellie Wade es-
pecially, who had shown the newspa-
per clippings to all her friends. The
town, however, had half score Of
veteran attorneys, lock-rooted in the
estimation Of the people.
One morning Fordham awoke to the
sensation Of a half century. A skill.
full burglar had broken into the local
bank at midnight. Bills Of large de-
nomination representing $4,000 had
been taken. There was no definite
clue to the robber or the money.
At the end of a week, however, the
county sheriff received a mysterious
tip by telegraph. 1t told him that the
telltale handkerchief bearing the
initial "R" and a false beard found
in the bank belonged to a certain Ben.
janin Rudd and named his residence.
1t further stated that a Fordham res
taurant keeper, il confronted with the
burglar, would recognize him as a
stranger with a mysterious satchel
whom he had seen the evening of the
burglary.
Adrian Wilton lost a good deal Of
his faith in the reformatory process
as appertaining to Burglar Ben, when
the next morning he was sent for by
Rudd. The latter grinned at him be-
hind strong iron bars.
why, Ben" spoke the young law.
yer, you have fallen from grace, it
seems"
Not the mani" declared Rudd posi-.
lively. Il hire you to defend me. Get
to work and make record for your
self"
Burglar Ben practically directed the
case. He dictated the policy to pur.
sue. Adrian was amazed at his clear
and forcible outline of evidence. When
the case came on, both his wife and
child, golden-haired little cherub of
eight years, were in the court room
Adrian made good use of the evil
dence at his command. He proved
that the false beard, worn by any
body, would SO obscure the natural
features that later positive identiii.
cation would be difficult. He showed
that the initiated handkerchief might
have come accidentally into the pos
session of some OF Ben's former Grim
inal associates. Then little Sura was
placed on the stand. The date at
which the bank robbery was commit
ted was her birthday. Her father was
at home, 200 miles away, when the
, crime was committed
For all this, the hard-faced farmers
ON the jury looked grim and preju-
diced. 1t was then that Adrian came
out in full force. He depicted the
former life, the reformation Of his
client. He described his changed fam
lily life. He pointed TO the weeping
"AAS, w tAO luuOCcul llItle C0llO.
Oratory, elOQuence, sentiment-he
swayed the audience with a master
hand. Women we're weeping, strong
men looked grave and sympathetic.
The thrilling appeal moved every
heart. After five minutes elaboration
the jury returned its verdict
Not guilty."
That evening, at the town hotel,
Burglar Ben appeared at Adrian's
room.
Can ever be tried again for this
burglary?' he asked.
No" answered Adrian.
Then send for the president of the
bank and the judge" he directed.
Why" began Adrian, wonder
ingly.
DO as l say. Gentlemen" spoke
Zen. as the persons in question were
summoned, Il have a confession to
make. did not rob the bank, but ]
directed the robbery"
Hal" glared the banker.
Yes. l did it to put ON his feet nv
best friend, Mr.. Wilton. l did 1t to
force an acknowledgment here of his