Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-09-16
Friend and
Foe
ecepyr.shs. ISIS. western Newspaper unlon-l
., MATILDA FRANCES PFuFFER

open lnouthed.
An automobile had come to a sudden
halt, checked by its driver at barri-
cade of criss-cross logs. Two vicious
looking men sprang from behind a
great tree. One of them darted up TO
the occupant Of the machine, bodily
dragged him from his seat. flung him
to the ground. and sitting astride of
him. began striking at his unprotected
head with heavy slungshot. The 9TH
er leaped into the automobile and
started 10 ransack IL.
Thunder" uttered Ben. Its hold
upr"
Ben snatched from his pocket his
knife. For three seconds he was
busily employing IL mysueriously about
his knees. Then he raised in one hand
an odd-looking object. bullying at one
end, running TO an obtuse point at
the other. He rushed quickly past the
foliage.
SWISH
The object described a parabola
curve in the air. With a cracking
sound IL landed on the head of the as
sailant, who uttered a scream and
toppled sideways.
1.-THE under dog, every time!" Choir
tied Ben complacently.
The young man whom he had saved
from having a broken skull. perhaps
worse. had gained his feet. The man
ransacking the automobile fed precipi-
lately. The other desperate had stag
gered off. The young man fixed
grateful glance upon Ben, who was
grinning with satisfaction.
you've done me some service"
began Dean Forster, and then paused,
staring In wonderment. "Why," he
added, you've got only one limb, and
the other one"
as the old wooden peg I've worn for
| Ave years." returned Ben, waving the
wooden object he had utilized as a
weapon. He proceeded to strap this
back into place. adding: "Those fell
lows seem to have been laying for
you mister"
"There's no doubt of that" respond
1 ed young Forster. ST travel for a Jew
elry tool and supply house, and sup
pose one little package of watch
springs In my sample case alone rep
resents over ten thousand dollars.
Now, then, what can l do for you to
show my appreciation of your timely
| aid?"
There was plenty to do for Ben, and
| Forster proceeded to do It. From a
| thriftless wanderer with a wooden
stump Forster transformed Ben into a
respectable looking, well dressed man
with the most comfortable artificial
limb money could buy. Then he Sc
cured for him position as Waterman
/ in the great plant of Warren & Co.
| at Acton. for whom he was travelling
salesman. Having made the old man
comfortable and considering his CRATE
full duty complete, Forster turned his
attention to wooing and winning Alice
1 Lane. That precious privilege met
with but one setback-Forster had q
rival, or rather an enemy, for such
Ralph Dykes became. Both young men
were in the service Of Warren & Co.
One day, TO the amazement Of the
town, Dean Forster was arrested.
charged with theft. There had disap-
peared from the firm something over
i $4,000 worth of dental gold. The only
evidence against. Forster was tina. the
stamped and priced wrappings and
tags of two of the missing packages
had been found. pushed back in a
drawer of his desk. How they came
there Forster had no idea.
Ben Buttles betrayed deep inter
est In the case.
His Indignation at the arrest Of
Forster changed to close watchfulness
and suspicion.
One evening Forster was with Alice
at her home. They were discussing
the approaching trial in court, when
a ring at the telephone sent Alice
thlther.
at is a call from Mr.. Warren. He
wishes you to come at once to the
plant" she told Forster.
He hurried away At the office at
the factory he found his employer
and Ben Buttles.
"Now, then, my man." spoke Mr.. War.
rem sharply to Ben. you said you had
made some important discoveries about
the thefts and would disclose them only
in the presence of Mr.. Forster"
That's right" answered Ben. 81
have cornered the real thief He is
Ralph Dyke"
BE careful what you say, Ben
spoke Forster.
ooh. that's all right" said Ben, I'M
strapping his artificial limb. Revers.
ing IT, he tipped out various packages
| that filed its hollow space The
amazed Mr.. Warren stared, as there
was revealed variety of some of the
most valuable articles carried in stock.
where did you get all thisT was
asked wonderingly.
"Well. I burglarized the room of
the man suspected, and / also Sc
cured some memoranda that viii con-
vince you that he has been a systemat-
ic thief for long time.
81 hid them in the limb, for If he
had caught me, would have beer
searched. l hope justice will now be
4 done 10 an innocent man."
So. stanch, though humble friend,
Ben Buttles had a second time proven
his loyalty at a crisis that for a time
menaced the good name and happiness
Of Dean Forster.