The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-03-22

t1eed dflapiGated cabin nesting In IT'S
depths.
There was a pretty flower patch In
front Of IL, and vines were festooaed
over the small porch. Norman won
dered what could have induced anyone
to select that lonely spot for home
Abruptly he noticed a vague speeding
object dash from the wild shrubbery.
Before Norman could distinguish II
clearly IL disappeared under the ma
chine and thrilling scream rang out:
''Oh, stop, stOpi he is killed"
The accents were feminine. A girl
ish form came into view. Norman
halted the auto promptly, sprang from
his seat and saw a dog lying in the
middle of the road. The animal held
up a laeerated. bleeding paw and
whined in pain. Norma bent over,
gently examined the wounded foot
and lifted the animal In his arms.
"A lucky escape" he spoke. and
turned to face young girl with blood
less face and distended eyes. Don't
worry, miss" he continued. "the poor
animal is not seriously hurt Is II
yoursr"
'-Oh, yes, indeed - fiuttered the pos
SCISSOR of as fair a face as Norman's
eyes had ever rested on. at is our
Ponto. Won't you please carry him to
the house where can attend TO himT'
II was thus that Norman Reed met
the lovely girl and his fate at one and
the same time. As he approached the
house he noticed an old man stealthily
draw back into an old shed. Norman
called for bandages. Ponto seemed to
comprehend that he was in the care of
a humane friend. At the end of five
minutes Norman lifted the grateful
animal to pillow the girl had placed
on bench, and said:
your pet will fare quite well after
a day or two Of nursing. l will drive
by tomorrow and bring you a famous
curative canine lotion that will help
out"
Thenceforward Norman Reed
seemed to have a new motive in life.
Three times a week he visited the
plant and always returned by the dirt
road. Three times a week he halted at
the little out-of-the-way house in the
woods, ostensibly to see how Ponto
was getting along, but in reality to
feast his eyes on the animals mistress,
who attracted him with an increasing
interest
He learned that her name was
Clarice. She gave no other, and as
Norman noted that the old man, pre-
sumably her father. made it point to
keep out Of view during his visits. he
Gus reason for these two isolating
themselves from the rest Of the world.
Ponto got well, and at every new
visit Norman fingered longer than at
the preceding one. A month passed
by and Clarice began to look longing
ly for the appearance of her welcome
visitor. One afternoon she was amazed
to see Ponto come running down the
road. The intelligent animal was pant
ing and excited. He dropped long
fiat wallet at the feet of Clarice. He
looked at her beseechingly. as though
striving to tell her something. He ran
down the road a way and looked back
at her Clarice followed him.
1t was to find Norman lying back In
the automobile, bleeding and insensi-
BILE. Clarice had learned to direct the
car and she soon had the machine
up to the house. With the aid of her
father she carried him into the house.
Norman regained his senses to inform
her that he had been assaulted by
footpad, had thrown the wallet con-
tanning a large amount Of money to
Ponto, and the well-trained animal had
run OF with IL, as Norman hoped he
would do.
Norman was unable to proceed on
his way and asked Clarice to get word
to his father She hurried to the
North settlement and few hours later
Mr.. Reed appeared. He was made
aware of the situation and thanked
Clarice for her services and those Of
the Quick-witted POnto. When he OBJ
served the father Of Clarice he gave a
violent start.
John Borden ~ he exclaimed, my
old bOokkeeper!"
Then was uncovered the mystery Of
the isolation Of father and daughter.
Ten years before Borden, after collect
ing large amount of bills for his en-
ployer, found that he had lost over
two thousand dollars. Fearing his
story would not be credited, he had
resolved to disappear.
No one had ever thought of accusing
Borden of theft, for the money had
been found and returned to his en-
ployer.
When Norman and Clarice went on
their wedding tour 1t was with the sin
cere blessing of two old men, content