The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-09
DAMAGING EVIDENCE
BY LESLIE CONNER.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
One by one the men in the bank re
turned from their vacations with tale.
of prowess and skill which varied &C
cording to age and circumstances, from
Mr.. Witherspoon. the president, te
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 moose. The heads
were at q taxidermist's and when they
were ready the moose was to hang
in the bank
In due time the head arrived II
really was wonderful, with antlers like
the boughs of an old oak
Virginia stopped her work minute
to watch the hanging. Dick turned at
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 a 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.
Vests Mr.. MONEYS been a heap
o years collectin' them things. An 1t
was dern sight finer before he sold
the moose. l didn't want him to do
it."
Gould you-do you know who
bought it,"
After rummage in the safe. Eyes,
here tbs. November twenty ninth. One
hundred and seventy-five 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 1t. Dick occupied a seat alone
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 it's 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 off at the next stop"
Then a little imp of mischief perched
on a curl Just over her ear. DO it
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 off
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 own
closet and waited But, to her perplex-
ity, there was no commotion.
Virginia felt that she must be los
hnr m INT lnta %
ry her point. she took the bag home
again that night.
The bell rang at eight, and she fair
ly gasped with relief when Dick Bar
rymore came in
Good evening, Miss Dale. I've
come, If you don't mind, for my bag"
She started.
Il was only pretending sleep. There
was a rumor l was to be robbed.
There wasn't anything in the bag but
a few stones"
Dick became very serious and look
ed at her oddly Are you sure you
to be honest?"
why. Mr. Barlymore!"
WELL have no way of knowing"
But surely you know me better
than that I-oh. you must know |
am honest"
but you don't think 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!"
81 killed that moose with my own
hands,"
She looked her scorn.
He laughed You poor little soul!
1t was a 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 to
care for me just little?"
"Per-perhaps! If you promise not