The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-02

house. It's just been painted white
and It's spelling it. OF course. you
can't help that. You're hardly able
to AFFORD anthracite at ten dollars q
ton, eh?"
Maybe not responded Martin. sc.
riously, "but can be just, even il IL
costs me something. I 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 it. Especially up under the
caves. the clapboards were grimed
with feathers Of soot Acting on q
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. I 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'll must say
you're thoughtful and kind-yes,
thank you" and Stevenson acted as
though this unusual courtesy of
stranger fairly overcame him.
Before the opportunity to remedy
things came about. however, some
startling events transpired One morn
Ing Martin came out into the yard to
ind 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 a
way. "The room the burglar got into
is the one my poor dead son occupied.
We have left 1t just as It was when
he went away Whoever broke into
the house opened a drawer where
Warren kept a few trifing trinkets.
A watch, revolver and some gold
cum links are missing, but nothing
else was disturbed"
That is singular" observed Martin
and he went up the lad. ,
der a step or two. "Why, say, Mr..
Stevenson" he called down to his
1eighbor, here is something queer"
What is that?" was asked.
"1n getting into the window the
burglar has left some hand marks
around its frame"
why, yes-I can see It from here"
'eplied the owner of the despoiled
lone.
Right among that troublesome
lack SCOT Of mine," continued Martin,
ather apologetically. "And say-why,
lello! Whoever the fellow was he's
eft clue"
what do you mean?"
Hand prints show that he had three
hort fingers on one hand-why, sir!
What is the natter"
Quickly the speaker descended the
adder. With sharp cry OF enlight-
nment. Mr.. Stevenson had started
ack
Three short fingers!" he gasped
ut hoarsely. "Then-it must have
cen Warren. Oh, he is not dead, but
live! Mother! mother!" he shouted,
lshing into the house and seeking his
life. and leaving the stupefled Martin
landing staring after him, unable to
omprehend the meaning Of his
range actions.
What the father surmised turned
ut correct, little later His son
as indeed alive He had stolen back
ONE. poor, homeless, Ill. 1t would
no robbery to take his own
hamed at his mistaken past, he had
lrried away, after taking the price
a few needed meals, but his father,
18th the aid Of the police, soon locat.
l him.
1t was joyful moment when the
covered son was told that the dread
hand of the law had been removed
"All because Of that blessed SCOT OF
'urs-all honor to soft COAL" the de-
GIFTED Stevenson had told his neigh. =,
n. y
And true neighbor he made Of =,
m. and naturally Warren Stevenson =,
ct Winnie. Closer and closer grew "
e ties Of true neighborliness, and d
love, and then the natural sequence '.
a happy wedding. u