The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-05-14

house. It's just been painted white
and it's spelling it. Of course. YOU
can't help that You're hardly able
10 AFFORD anthracite at ten dollars a
ton, eh?"
Maybe not responded Martin, &C.
riously, but ! can be just, even IL it
costs me something. never thought
of it before
when he came to look at the side of
the Stevenson house. Martin saw that
the SCOT had, indeed, marred and de-
faced 1t. Especially up under the
caves, the clapboards were grimed
with feathers of SCOT Acting on
generous impulse, he hailed his neigh.
Dor, who just happened to be coming
into the house.
I say, Stevenson" spoke the blunt,
honest fellow, i've Just found out
that my soft coal is hurting your
property. shall use coke through
the rest Of the winter, and first holt
day I'll get a ladder and give the
side Of the house good scrubbing.
"Why-thank you-I must say
you're thoughtful and kind-yes,
thank you," and Stevenson acted as
though this unusual courtesy OF q
stranger fairly overcame him
Before the opportunity to remedy
things came about, however, some
startling events TRANSFERRED One morn
ing Martin came out into the yard to
find a ladder taken from his shed
standing against the side of his neigh
boris house. The window OF an up
per room was open. Mr. Stevenson
was under great strain of excitement.
He declared that the house had been
burglarized.
Was anything taken?" asked Mr..
Martin.
why, not much" explained his
neighbor in bewildered sort OF
way. The room the burglar got into
is the one my poor dead son occupied.
We have left it just as it was when
he went away Whoever broke into
the house opened drawer where
Warren kept few trifling trinkets.
A watch, revolver and some gold
cuff links are missing. but nothing
else was disturbed"
That is singular" observed Martin
thoughtfully, and he went up the lad
der a step OF two. why, say, Mr..
Stevenson" he called down to his
neighbor, here is something queer"
What is that?" was asked.
I'm getting into the window the
burglar has left some hand marks
around its frame"
Why, yes-I can see Il from here"
replied the owner Of the despoiled
home.
Right among that troublesome
black SCOT of mine" continued Martin,
rather apologetically. And say-why.
hello! Whoever the fellow was he's
left a clue"
What do you mean?"
Hand prints show that he had three
short fingers on one hand-why, sir!
What is the natter"
Quickly the speaker descended the
ladder. With sharp cry of enlight-
eminent. Mr. Stevenson had started
back.
Three short fingers!" he gasped
out hoarsely. "Then-it must have
been Warren. Oh, he is not dead, but
alive. Mother! mother!" he shouted,
rushing into the house and seeking his
wife, and leaving the stupefied Martin
standing staring after him, unable to
comprehend the meaning OF his
strange actions
What the father surmised turned
out correct, a little later. His son
was indeed alive. He had stolen back
home, poor, homeless, i'll. It would
be no robbery to take his own
Shamed at his mistaken past, he had
hurried away, after taking the price
Of few needed meals, but his father,
with the aid of the police, soon locat-
ed him.
It was a joyful moment when the
recovered son was told that the dread.
ed hand of the law had been removed
"AlI because of that blessed SCOT Of
yours-all honor to soft coal" the de-
lighted Stevenson had told his neigh
Dor.
And a true neighbor he made Of
him, and naturally Warren Stevenson
met Winnie. Closer and closer grew
the ties of true neighborliness. and
of love, and then the natural sequence
OF happy wedding.