The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-22

feathered occupant a. neglected-look-
ing and cherries as its owners.
oh. papa!" spoke the little girl in
pleading, fearful tones, don't let them
sell poor dear Dickie!"
Robert Gregory moved to the side Of
the old man.
Don't know your" he spoke
quickly.
You put me on watch duty nights,
sir" was the response. but the old
rheumatics laid me up. We came
from the Dexter coal district when
they shut down. and had NO money.
What you 80 kindly allowed me to
earn here is all gone, and they're TAX
ing our poor belongings for rent"
I'll stop that" spoke Gregory firm.
~. Don't cry. little one. You shant
lose your pet bird"
Robert Gregory was a. good a. his
word. Inside of five minutes the claim
upon which the sale was based was
paid out of his own pocket. the goods
restored to the house, and he was
more than embarrassed at the over.
whelming gratitude of his poor PEN
sioners.
The little child had the bird out Of
its cage and was caressing it a. IL Il
were petted child.
"You don't know about Dickie," ex.
planned the old man. Hes q hero, he
Is, and an expert. Down at the Dexter
mines twice we sent him into the
shafts. and twice he came out, stag.
gered and nearly gone. We knew
what that meant, sir-fre damp"
A quick idea came to the mind Of
Gregory. He had read once Of these
trained mine birds. For some time he
piled the old man with questions 70
garding the capabilities Of the feath
cred pet.
Can he do it," exclaimed the old
man-"could he tell how things arr
In the old shaft Seven? Why, sir. III
be glad to try the experiment"
. Two hours later q dozen curioui
miners watched a proceeding unique
and mystifying to their point Of view
Old John Dean had not boosted vain
ly Of Dickie and his clever abilities
The little bird stood on his finger
head on one side. watching him as 1
listening to an understood mandat,
as board was pulled away from tn
shaft top.
Then, with q bright cheep Dicki,
plunged straight down into the gloon
and darkness.
Five minutes, ten minutes-no tokel
Of the return Of the messenger. FIJI
teen minutes! John Dean looke'
grave and anxious.
Then q great wave Of excitemen
passed over the gathered throng .
there fiuttered into view q waverin
splash Of yellow-Dickie.
The bird barely got through tn
aperture. Its head dropped. its wing
folded. 1t sank. helpless lump.
the ground. Its eyes moved once o
twice, 1t Strengthened out rigid.
ITS death down there" spoke job
Dean In . hoarse suppressed toni
Poor Dickie-a hero to the last!"
At daybreak the next morning th
warning Of the expert little pet boz
fruit. Old Shaft Seven was belchin
out smoke. the hre damp had begu
it, dread work.
III We had pierced that wall. whel
would the new levels be now" va
the pertinent question Robert Oregon
gravely put to MI. Dale.
And the latter bowed his head, p'
out trembling hand. and in his hea
was . great thankfulness.
! In q manner utilitarian, too, the 81
damp cleared the way to safe prosrel
In the new work.
Robert Gregory did not lose h
prestige with his employer. Nor d
he lose the peerless Beatrice.
As to the mine owner, he surpasst
even Gregory is providing the Des
family a new home with permaneI
comforts.
Little Nellie Dean mourned the lo
|. OF her beloved pet. There was tn
Q which turned her sorrow into prou
t peaceful calm, however.
Near the mouth OF old shaft Sew
8 q modest granite block Of stone wi
o placed, bearing the simple and touc
!. ing inscription: Sacred to the Mel
/. DRY of Dickie-a Bird"