The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-18

,estnered occupant ~ neglectedlook.
ing and cherries - it, owners.
oh. papa!" spoke the little xirl in
pleading. fearful tones. don't let them
sell poor dear Dckie!"
Robert Gregory moved to the side Of
the old man.
Don't know you!" he spoke
quickly.
You put me on watch duty nights,
Sir. was the response, but the old
rneumatics laid me up. We came
from the Dexter coal district when
they shut down. and had NO money.
what you 30 kindly allowed me to
earn here is al gone. and they're TAX
Ing our poor belongings for rent"
III stop that" spoke Gregory frm-
". Don't cry. little one. You shan't
lose your pet bird"
Robert Gregory was q good a his
word. Inside Of i've 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 ct the over
whelming gratitude Of his poor pen.
sioners.
The little child had the bird out Of
its cage and was caressing It % II Il
were a 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-fire 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 are
In the old shaft Seven? Why. sir. III
be glad to try the experiment"
Two hours later a dozen curious
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 Il
listening to an understood mandate
as board was pulled away from thu
shaft top.
Then, with bright cheep Dickil
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 looked
grave and anxious.
Then a great wave Of excitement
passed over the gathered throng u
there nuttered into view . waverinl
splaah Of yellow-Dickie.
The bird barely got through III,
aperture. Its head dropped, its wing,
folded. 1t sank, . helpless lump, Il
the ground. Its eyes moved once Of
twice. 1t Strengthened out rigid.
ITS death down there" spoke Johl
Dean in . hoarse suppressed tone
Poor Dickie-a hero to the last!"
At daybreak the next morning tn
warning Of the expert little pet bor'
fruit. Old Shaft Seven was belchinl
out smoke. the hre damp had begul
its dread work.
III We had pierced that wall. wher'
would the new levels be now" wa,
the pertinent question Robert Gregor,
gravely put to Mr.. Dale.
4. And the latter bowed his head, pu
out . trembling hand, and in his hear
was = great thankfulness.
In . manner utilitar1an, too. the mr.
damp cleared the way to safe progress
In the new work.
Robert Gregory did not lose hi
prestige with his employer. Nor di'
he lose the peerless Beatrice.
As to the mine owner. he surpasse,
even Gregory is providing the Deal
family a new home with permanen
comforts.
Little Nellie Dean mourned the los
Of her beloved pet. There was tina
which turned her sorrow into proud
peaceful calm, however.
| Near the mouth Of old shaft Sevel
. modest granite block Of stone wa
placed. bearing the simple and touch
ing inscription: Sacred to the Men
ory Of Dickie-a Bird"