Show How Freddy Found the Thief F Freddy eddy worked in a grocery The place belonged to his uncle who was one of ot the richest men In the town Fred was honest Ills His freckled face I I was always smiling even when he had to stay late on Saturday nights and his uncle was too tired to wait walt on customers 5 Ills His uncle W was a single man and was really r fond of ot the lad But he loved to be gruff and pretended he thought Fred Ired lazy One day things began 8 to be missing from the store First It was a box mc ota ot of candy then a sack of aM Vf sugar and at last h a pair o ot of boots Knives can fruit ut also cigarettes curettes and I I You th mysteriously disappeared are the one ne resPOnsible for the thebo responsible I goods Fred he ld s and It Is your place to get the thief bo So Fr Ir Fred d watched closely lie He finally noticed that things were ere always missing after Frank lord Fori left was a Queer person who lived a alone kind of miser with who was wa thou ht to be rich hidden treas treasure r under his floor Ted v f told his uncle Nonsense onsen suspicions S 1 said sald Uncle Tom Old Ford u I i is as honest as 8 the days a are long I know it rep replied ed I Fred red Thin Things art are gon gone every time h he com comes in 1 lie He H walks around the counter wh when n I am busy In 1 another nother part of the store I am sure I X can prOve I it t t to o you Do and I will give you ZOO In bank to your Own name cried Uncle TOm excitedly Why lad id I would as soon lIoon accuse u e P 7 my own mother of stealing as as old oid x Ford ora A The n next Saturday night was cold Around I the room gathered a bunch of men j talking politics while white Uncle Tom TomI read ad his paper by the lamp In a corner and nd Fred I put UP tip the auga sugar lard and I calico for customers Presently the door opened and in came Ford He lIe dried himself then slunk r around the counter examining the new goods Fred Ired watched closely He lie saw the man slip sUp a pound package of butter into his hat Then Ford came around by the stove and sat down Fred got sot busy at the cash register so that he could think out a plan to expose Ford At last he had It Gentlemen said Fred as he locked the door and put a lot of coal on the stove We do not close cloat till 10 It is now only 9 0 I propose that everyone present tell a story and the one telling the fleth best will win a prize but t the r rule ew ri is h that t If no one ls is t to leave ave t the circle e till the clock strikes 10 I I Ford sat near the stove tove with the others Uncle Tom at one end told a astory astory astory story which took a long time then each one in turn In twenty-nine twenty minutes the room was very warm wann and the men beIan be began began be- be gan Ian to perspire Ford began to look un un- happy I am afraid I must go I 1 feel teel sick he stammered Oh no declared Fred just stay ten minutes longer So Ford remained He became more uncomfortable and the butter In his hat began begar to 10 run down his face Fred motioned motioned mo zoo- to his uncle who saw at once what was the matter Sit still Ford Uncle Tom shouted as he pulled off oft his hia hat Ha I thought though so It Is full tull of melted butter butter and and so is his hair A clever trick which Fred I turned against you Ford Uncle Tom kept his promise and Fred got the 00 I Copyright 1929 1520 by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate New York Tort City |