The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-01
Mr.. Patterson S
Surprise
b. ETHEL HOLMES

Patterson was going home one night
from his club. On passing house
standing alone and well back from the
street he saw the flash OF q dark
lantern In the back yard. It was I'm
Simultaneous. but 1t was enough to sug-
gest to him that he had hit upon a
job Of housebreaking. He ensconced
himself behind a tree box and watch
ed The fash was repeated. and this
time he saw by 1t a man opening a
window with jimmy. The man hold
ing the lantern was In darkness. The
man with the jimmy, having made an
opening for himself. clambered In. and
all was dark again.
At that moment policeman entered
the grounds where the robbery was be-
ing committed. He made no sound In
his rubber boots. which added to the
midnight uncanny flavor of the pro-
ceeding. The cop disappeared toward
the rear. Patterson's curiosity was
aroused. He wanted to see the result.
Following the policeman, he entered
the yard and concealed himself behind
a bush Occasionally there were flash
es of light, some Of them very brilliant,
which indicated that there were
number of burglars or policemen, prob
ably the latter. Patterson concluded
that the cops were surrounding the
house. He surmised that he would be
one of the Gordon and would be in at
the capture. What puzzled him were
the occasional flashes of brilliant light
Surely the cops would not have used
such illumination unless they had their
prey secure
Patterson advanced toward the house
and at one of the bright flashes saw
that he was one of the ring of police
men that was surrounding the house.
But the fash was so brief that he
had not time to notice how the city's
guardians looked upon civilian join
ing In with them In duty. Suddenly
the house was illuminated. Evidently
the police had cornered the burglars,
and there was no further occasion to
work In the dark. Patterson was
standing near door opening on to a
side porch. A girl In night clothes
stood in the hall, looking very much
frightened and apparently not know
ing which way to turn. Then seeing
Patterson she ran to him and threw
herself into his arms.
Patterson stood dumfounded for
moment: then surmising that there
was a fight in the house between the
police and the burglars, and If 80 1t
was no place for woman In night
clothes, picked up the girl and started
for the street He had no difficulty in
finding his way, for he was moving In
an intense light.
"Put me down." said the girl sharp
ly when they reached the sidewalk.
Patterson obeyed. The girl opened the
gate and ran like a deer back to the
house. He could not see what she did
when she reached 1t, for the bright
light being shut of made the darkness
darker.
by gum!" exclaimed Patterson.
1--WE heard Of horses running into
burning stable, but never have ]
dreamed of girl so crazed as to run
into a building where robbers were
disputing with the police"
He was about to retrace his steps
that he might see the end of the affair
when a man came from the house to
where he was standing. Patterson
judged from his appearance that he
was neither cop nor q burglar. He
was evidently looking for some one.
Patterson, who was standing In shad-
ow, slipped out into the light. As soon
as the man saw him he said gruffiy:
"Oh, here you are, are your You're
the man who has been interfering in
what doesn't concern you. Move on"
Il should like to know" Patterson
was beginning, but the man gave him
a push. and Patterson, who was not
fond of fighting to have bis own way.
concluded that he had better go home.
On reaching bis room he lighted ciga-
rette and. throwing himself on to
lounge, gave himself up to going over
the strange adventure. He could not
make head or tail Of it.
Not long after that Patterson and
his girl were at the movies. Patterson
was swell and his girl high stopper.
The performance was sensational In
one of the productions Patterson saw
flash picture of a burglar opening a
window. It seemed familiar to him.
The next thing he knew there he was
on the screen carrying a girl in her
nightclothes in bis arms. Then he and
the girl We're given in a close up pic
ture. The expression on his face in the
photograph was such as to set the au-
dience laughing. The expression on
her face was one of horror. A few min
utes later Patterson's girl arose and
swept out Of the theater. He followed
her and attempted to get into the car
riage with her. but she slammed the
door. and the driver started up the
horses.
So many emotions conficted in Pat
terson's brain that for awhile he failed
to get on to an explanation of his be-