The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-22
A Thousand
Dollar Wager
By M. QUAD
Oopyrisht. 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
By M. QUAD

1t was a drizzly, foggy night late I'm
spring. 1t was a good night to be In
doors, for the fog and drizzle penetrat.
ed and made one SILVER In wraps and
overcoats.
Three or four members Of a certain
cluo sat In group In the smoking room,
and every one remarked that it was
good to be there. Finally, after a ST.
lence, one Of the group observed:
1T viii be good night for burglars
and holdup men,"
The observation elected various re-
plies, among which was one from
Arthur Devery to the effect that all
talk about burglars made him very
weary. They We're looked upon by
most people as something of heroes,
out, In his opinion, they were very COM
mon men. He said they take care to
enter houses at a time when they are
pretty safe.
Gentlemen" he said, II viii wager
a thousand dollars that 1 feloniously
enter some strangers residence to-
night and bring you proof that COM
mitted burglary"
I'VE will take the betr exclaimed
all the others in chorus. And you
might as well admit that you have lost
the money thus early In the game"
"Will some of you name the resi-
dence?' quietly asked Mr.. Devery.
Eyes, l WILL" replied one. ~ shall
demand that you enter the house OF
Judge Benson, which perhaps you
know is at the corner Of Clay and Lar
kins streets. You have doubtless pass
ed 1t a hundred times. 1t is a fine
house and has fine grounds around 1t.
The family consists Of the Judge and
his wife and daughter. You have, no
doubt, often met the daughter at social
functions"
I'VE will be ready to take your word
for it, Arthur, but 1t will be better for
you to bring some proof that you have
accomplish your mission. On the man.
tel in the library is a small idol carved
out of livery. 1t is not so large but you
can easily put 1t in your pocket. 1t is
to the left Of the clock as you face the
mantel. You shall bring us that idol
and your wager will be Won"
1t was sort Of fate that on this par
ticular evening Judge Benson was call
ed out, his wife was taken with head
ache and retired to her room upstairs,
and Miss Clara was left free to en-
sconce herself In the easiest chair and
select the most entertaining book.
Time flies while one is reading. You
may he dimly conscious of hearing the
clock strike the hour, but 1t does not
fully rouse you. Miss Clara Benson
had reached the middle of the most in
teresting chapter in her book when the
clock on the mantel announced that it
was midnight Her father was to DO
expected at any moment, and she
would wait for his csming.
Five minutes after midnight, and
then Il slight noise at the other end of
the table caused the young lady to look
up. What she beheld there was a
youngish, good looking man with a
smile on his face. For moment Miss
Clara wondered If he were a late call
er or guest of the house whose pres
ence was unknown to her before. She
was still trying to puzzle 1t out when
the intruder said:
II came I'm by the kitchen window.
1t is amazing how careless servants
are. They are to blame for most of
the burglaries."
"Then-then you are a burglar"
whispered the girl.
THAT Is the name you must give
me-" replied the young man, "as have
effected a burglarious entrance. By the
way, | will take this along with me-"
He passed around the table and to
the mantel, and. lifting up the idol, he
deposited 1t In coat pocket
Are you going to make me bring you
my jewels"
IF you have thousand dollars han
dy / will take 1t along"
But there isn't $1,000 in the house.
/ don't believe father has fifty, and /
certainly know that / haven't even ten.
Are you the Mr. Raffles we have read
so much about in the papers?"
"You might call me by that name"
was the answer. AS your father may
be In soon / will take my departure
now. l will leave the WINDOW up as l
go out, and you had better call your
fathers attention to this tempting way
Of another burglary. l bid you good
evening, Miss-Miss-er''-
He bowed like gentleman and was
gone like ghost.
When her father returned she told
her story, and 1t was not for = digni-
aed Judge to get excited over It He
was very quiet and calm, and when he
went through to the kitchen to close
the window he didn't even threaten to
discharge the careless cook. Perhaps
he had an idea that 1t was some Joke.
but he didn't say so out loud.
And what followed within a few
weeks? The idol was. Of course, sent
back by the hands Of a messenger boy
after a week or so, and while at the
first garden party he attended in the
carly auumer Arthur Deyery and Miss