The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-07
DAMAGING EVIDENCE
BY LESLIE CONNER

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One By one the men in the bank re-
turned from their vacations with tales
of prowess and skill which varied &C
cording 10 age and circumstances. from
Mr.. W'itherspoon, the president, 70
Johnny Doubleday, who ran errands-
Barrymore was last But not least,
thought Virginia Dale with amuse-
ment-
Dick departed to the Canadian
woods, and returned. as Virginia had
predicted, with a story of two wonder
full bucks and a moose The heads
were At a taxidermist's and when they
we're ready the moose was to hang
in the bank.
In due time the head arrived II
really was wonderful, with antlers Ike
the boughs of an old oak
Virginia stopped her work minute
to watch the hanging. Dick turned al
the same instant and their eyes met
Something in the girls expression
made Dick flush After that, she was
doubly sure she was right for Dick
had all the appearance OF guilt.
A few weeks later. she went into a
hardware store to buy pair Of scis,
sors. AS she entered, the window dis
play held her. for as a background
for a lot OF firearms. cartridges and
hunting knives. were hung the heads
of all kinds OF animals.
That is a fine collection Of ami
mails she said to the salesman.
The old man scratched his head.
"Yes-'tis. Mr. MONEYS been heap
o years collectin' them things An it
was dern sight finer before he sold
the moose. / didn't want him TO do
it"
Gould you-do you know who
bought it,"
After rummage in the safe. Yes,
here tbs. November twenty ninth. One
hundred and seventy-fye dollars. Rich
ard D. Barrymore"
The next day Virginia went to shop
in city sixty miles away. She board
ed an interurban car to return in the
afternoon when she saw Dick Barry.
more just ahead The only vacant
seat was right behind him and she
| took it. Dick occupied a seat alone
I and Virginia knew that the buckled
bag beside him contained twenty thou.
sand dollars
By twos and threes along the road
the car was discharging its passen.
gers. Dick slept.
Hardly anyone was left but them
selves. Virginia discovered that even
the conductor had disappeared some
where up front. II were dishonest
could easily appropriate that bag and
get of at the next stop"
Then little imp Of mischief perched
on curl just over her ear. DO II
anyway" he whispered and give him
scare" And another imp moved
her arm over the seat and
( closed her fingers around the
handle of the bag Shaking. she lifted
it over the back and when the car
stopped at Truesdale Virginia got of
with Dicks satchel and twenty thou
sand dollars
Early the next day she set out for
the bank, arriving before any OF the
men. She locked the bag in her owl
closet and waited. But. to her perplex
ity, there was no commotion.
Virginia felt that she must be los.
= s,7er 49, It'd 4
~ her point. she took the bag home
again that night
The bell rang at eight, and she fair.
" gasped with relief when Dick Bar.
rymore came in
Good evening. Miss Dale. I've
come, II you don't mind, for my bag
She started
Il was only pretending sleep There
was a rumor | was TO be robbed
There wasn't anything in the bag but
few stones"
Dick became very serious and look.
ed at her oddly. Are you sure you
meant to be honest?"
Why. Mr. Barrymore"
hell-l nave no way Oh knowing.
But surely YOU know me better
than that I-oh. you must know
am honest"
But you don't think I ann"
She flushed and loo ked away quick
ly. Il never thought you'd steal. no,
But just had an idea that-oh. that
old moose head had worried me so
You just bought it, so there,"
Il killed that moose with my owl
hands"
| She looked her scorn.
He laughed. You poor little soul.
1t was mean revenge of mine to tor
ment you so. Why, dear, | love the
very ground you walk on. Virginia
can you ever forgive me enough tc
care for me just little?"
"Per-perhaps. If you promise mo-
to play any more jokes"
/ Copyright. 1916 by the Mcclure Newspa
/ per Syndicatel