The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-22

away on a days visit to some friends.
Two frowsy tramps lurking behind a
leafy screen witnessed the departure
and heard Vera speak of busy bak-
ing day, all alone in the house. One
of the trarIps carried a bag. When
father and mother were well out of
sight. the intruders threw the bag into
a woodshed and advanced to the open
kitchen door
My pretty one one of them called
in, don't get frightened. We're com
mon folk OF the road and grub IS our
only demand. You do as we ask and
you wont set scared or hurt
You brighten me-" breathed Vera,
apprehensiyely, but what is it you
want?"
Just this: there's live goose in a
bag we've just thrown into that shed
yondeI We want it killed, dressed
dandy cook and it will be nothing to
you. If you want to throw in a loaf
of that luscious bread you're baking,
well go away with fondest memories
of the handsomest gal we've seen in
year
Vera hesitated. Then she resolved
The men looked peaceable. A little
added cookery would not be arduous.
But when Vera went out to the wood
shed, Ratchet in hand, she made sur
prising discovery. The bag held Homo
lulu, which the tramps evidently had
stolen from Jared Dunn.
Now Vera knew the fowl well from
having seen it. She liked Mr.. Dunn
less than the goose, for she felt that
Mr.. Dunn had been unjust to her
fiance. She turned Honolulu into a
coop and selected one of their own
geese. In three hours time the two
tramps gloatingly carried away fine
roasted fowl and loaf of homemade
bread and the tension on Veras
nerves was relieved.
Vera knew how the old man would
miss his adopted pet. in fact within an
| hour a town constable came by in
| search of the missing fowl and de-
scribing Mr.. Dunn in frantic state
| of anxiety.
I'll take Honolulu back to Mr.. Dunn
| myself" announced Vera.
The old man stared hard at her as
she appeared and emptied his feath-
| cred favorite out of the bag.
You're the girl my nephew is going
i l., 4, 4 ,,,.i
ously and intently studying Vera, IL
owe you a good deal for finding Homo
lulu How was it?"
She told the story. The grim face
led her ON to talk of his nephew, a
| far-away expression came into his eye
Did the purity. innocence and bright
truthfulness of this charming soul
bring back memory of his dead
sister, Harvey's mother?
Just waiting to save enough to get
married on?" he spoke speculatingly
half to himself. And you brought
back Honolulu-and you're bright
good lass. I'll see-Tll see!"
He did "see." Everything in the
sweet influence OF this charming girl
penetrated the crust of his sordid
humor AS he turned away 1t was to
hide hungry longing for compan
ionship.
Come and see me again, will your
he asked
Il will be glad to-" replied Vera ir
her simple straightforward way. "Yor
are Harvey's uncle, and we both speak
of you so often"
go away, child" he warned, in 6
choking tone. I'm a selfish. hard
hearted old man and-thank you fol
Honolulu, and I'll make that RICH,
with you"
He made it so right" that within
q week there was reconciliation
with his nephew and new house go
ing up for the engaged pair.
You brought it all about, you fam
Gus old Bird" exulted Jared to his re
covered fowl but old Honolulu only
bobbed about He could not consis
tently "honk" just then. There were
no stormy weather conditions hover
ing-only sunshine!"