Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-09-23
My Promotion.

a SickcninS sensation about the heart that could only come to q young per son. 1 might feel a bitter disappoint- ment today, but it would not be of the same kind. Alice looked at me sur John!" she said.
 "Nothng 1 replied, cndeavoring to pull myself together. "Only I'm afraid Tom mightn't turn out good enough for you-that's all
 ''Oh that's all, is it? Well, don't worry about that. A fellow as smart, as popular. as trustworthy, as Tom is good enough for a far better girl than l. Mother says she'd rather trust to his judgment in business mat ters than to that of older heads"
 "Oh, l only meant he wasn't good enough for you"
 "You numbering, good natured stupid, John." she said, taking my hand and pressing it caressingly. You will all ways be my dearest friend"
 That was very kind of her.
 A few months later l was startled by one of those mysterious rumors that are spoken under the breath for brief period before they become pub lie property. It was that Tom Martin had been borrowing money from any one who would lend it to him. Then I heard that he had disappeared. Fol lowing closely on this came the news that Mrs. Coale had given him all her money for investment, and he had either sunk it or taken it with him. Since he had paid none of his debts it was presumed that he had taken it with him.
 Detectives visited his room and took away every scrap of paper they could find there. though Tom before leaving had left nothing to show where he had gone. He had borrowed a book of me. and l went to his room to see if l could find it. It was lying on his table. and carried it home with mo. That evenir% took it up and opened it. Between the cover and the title page was library card on which were entries of several books taken out within few weeks. The boo, he had
 
 Sketches" l wondered what kind of literature he had been taking from tEe library Curiosity. mingled with q feeling that might gather some clew with reference to his acts. led me the next day to take the card to the library and have look at the books he had been reading. What was my astonish ment to find that one was upon Gen. tral America. three upon Honduras and fifth on the rubber industry of that state.
 After some thought these were my deductions: Tom had at first thought of going to Australia. but had changed to Central America. He had selected Honduras and when he got there would invest the money he had taken ill either the rubber trade or a rubber forest. More likely the latter, since it would give him a better chance to hide from the world.
 The day after reached these con- clusions started for Florida and from there sailed for Honduras. Landing at Puerto Cabello. went into the in- terior. l made inquiries for an Amer ican who had come to Honduras to negotiate for rubber tract. The state is not a large one. and any one going there with money would not re- main unnoticed by its people. Of course it would be useless to inquire for one by the name of Martin, for the skulker was doubtless using an as- snmed name. It was just two weeks to day when l learned of man answering Mar tins description who was dickering for q rubber tract some ten miles away from me. ] went to where he was and on porch in small town came upon the man was hunting When he saw me he collapsed. l told him that all I wanted was Mrs. Coale's money or as much of it as he had left. If he would give me this he might stay where he was for all me as long as he liked; if not he would go back to stand trial He turned over eighteen $1,000 Unit ed States bonds, which was what re- mained of Mrs. Coale's little fortune l receipted for 1t and started home.
 l found that Alice had taken posi- tion and gone to work. The evening of my return l called on her and her mother. This was the first time l had seen them since their misfortune. Mrs, Coale chided me for having kept away in the hours of their trouble. while Alice maintained cold reserve. l didn't know whether to attribute it to the cause her mother mentioned or some other. In truth, she seemed stunned. I'm not naturally facile in opening subjects and sat for some time, speaking only when l did speak on commonplace topics, trying to frame what I should say concerning the ob- ject of my call. I knew 1 would make the mother glad, but was all in the dark about Alice. Finally, despairing of finding proper words, l took the bonds from my pocket and tossed them on the table.
 They're yours l said. 'I tracked him and got tfem. There's only crpon 1oSc