The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-04-14


Miss Irene Lakely not little.
The panic had swept her from her
position and left her almost penniless
and practically friendless in the city,
the few friends she possessed having
also lost their positions, they were
therefore unable to extend her any
financial aid. The day of reckoning
with her landlady came punctually
and she had still to find work which
would give even enough to meet her
bare expenses. There We're no af-
fluent parents to appeal to, her father
earning scarcely enough to support
the large family back in the smaller
city whence she had come.
She pawned her watch and the
amount realized was sufficient to sup
port her during another month, en-
failing at that the strictest economy
Then, her money gone but for few
cents, she looked about her for other
means to replenish her finances with
out further recourse to the pawn
broker
An idea presented itself; new
idea which sent the color from her
cheeks and left her trembling. Only
person in desperate circumstances
would have thought of it, and enter
tanned the thought.
They can hold them until | get
to work again and pay it back and
they need never know the difference
she murmured, greatly encouraged
now that she had gotten around her
conscience. "1ll do it,
She drew out pad OF paper and
after many minutes OF mental effort,
the effects of which We're apparent in
the teeth marks on her pencil, she
breathed her satisfaction over the re-
suit.
IT HAT evening it appeared in one OF
the newspapers, and it consisted
OF an advertisement we'll down under
the Personal heading in the classified
liner columns. Verbatim, it was as
follows:
Having immediate need of $50 [
desire to borrow this amount upon
jewehy valued at 5000 Liberal bonus.
No pawn-brokers. Strictest secrecy.
Address, A. b. c.. care newspaper
That evening she ventWed down
town upon an errand which she hest
tated u execute But after another
tussle with her conscience she finally
overcame her scruples. When she re-
turned AN hour later she wore upon
her fingers two rings. the stones in
which spanked and scintillated in the
light from the gas jet in her room.
How beautiful she murmured,
preparing to retire. She wore them
as she slept that night.
Upon inquiring at the newspaper
office on the following noon she was
handed two letters which had come
in response to her advertisement.
she returned home and in the Sc
clusion OF her room she tore open the
envelopes with fingers that trembed.
One letter was from a jewelly firm,
which stated its willingness to make
the loan This she destroyed without
further consideration. The other let
ter was from a gentleman, who stated
thai lie had some money which he de-
sired to loan OUT privately at a mod.
crate interest, and would be pleased
to go further into the matter with heI
regarding the loan she desired
Fer half hour She considered hel
plans carefully, then wrote a reply tc
the letter, stating that she had two
rings as security and if said security
was sufficient she would be pleased tc
meet him by appointment in the post
Office To this communication Miss
Iakely signed fictitious name
A reply came the following morning
and il contained an appointment u
meet him at the postoice that Yer,
day at . O'Clock. AS a means of iden
tifcation she was to wear a greer