The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-01

have"
Robert was . tribe ashamed Of
himself as he realized that he was
simply eager to keep In the company
Of his fascinating client as long AZ
possible. Then. too. by taking up this
lease. he. an inexperienced person in
the detective line, he might be i'm
perilins the chances for recovering
the stolen property. Still a. he knew.
Arnold had left the city for the day
and he determined to take initial
charge Of the case at least.
Remarkable good fortune rewarded
his efforts Miss Blair knew some
thing Of the places where Barr hung
out and the loose crowd he associa-
ed with Robert finally came across
man who knew Barr who had seen
him staggering home early that morn
ing. Where was his home, inquired
Robert. An hour later he pushed
open the door Of . room in q large
Office building to find lying prone
across . bed the very man he was
after.
Barr seemed stupefed. drugged
Robert tried to arouse him, but could
not do 80. He searched his clothes
and the room. but was unable to dis
cover any trace of the stolen plumber.
For hours Robert watched by the
bedside of the man. Then he got
alarmed and summoned doctor. The
physician announced that the man
was in no immediate danger, but that
be bad evidently been given poison
to drug him. Its effects would prob
ably never become eliminated from
mind and body. be told Robert.
Towards evening the patient was
In q delirium. Then from his mad
rawlings the watchful Robert began to
learn. what had become Of the miss
ing loot 1t seemed that Barr had
intended to fee the city, but had got
to drinking. He met some associates
and Dragged OF netting . fortune.
They had drugged him and had taken
q satchel away from him.
Stuffed with paper-ha! hat"
gloated the dehrious Barr. "The
money, the bonds safe. The key
ah, the key! They are bahted-I am
rich!"
This much and no more through
that night and the next day-then
Robert hired a male nurse, left him
in charge Of the patient and went 10
report to Miss Blair.
AkA A~A
bonds but Barr" he assured her. "He
has placed them in safe hiding.
shall stay with him night and Gay
till ! find out where"
1.-THE key-the key!" was the mad
burden of the invalid all the next
day. Early the following morning.
taking his turn to watch the patient.
Robert noticed that he hay on one
side, his naked shoulder revealed.
He had observed a-plaster there at
the fret but had left It to wear of.
1t had done this In part. One edge
was turned over. Something gilt
tered. Robert investigated He de.
tached from under the plaster . small
fiat key bearing q number and the
initials: ~. s. D. ""
Within two hours Robert Prince
knew that key unlocked q box rented
by Barr in the Union Safety Deposit
Vaults. Within four be had learned
that the bonds and money were con.
tanned within it and that all Fidelia
had to do was to prove her right to It.
Barr was sent to q country SAM.
tarium, but died within the week and
a family scandal was avoided.
A week later Robert went into the
office of Arnold and confessed his
bold detective exploit.
Il suppose I ought 70 pay you q
fee." he said. for putting me In q
position where I could Be Of service
to the sweetest-dearest-"
"Ah!" smiled the shrewd detective
readily-"then you have at last found
something worth living for? All right.
Bless you my children, bless you!' "
Copyright. 1919, BY ". q. Chapmsn.)