The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-09

Il am sorry. too" said Tom, forced
| ~ lock at her. but he dared say ho
more He had discharged her ana
that vas the end of it, Then ne sat
watching her as she went 10 the ward
robe 10 get her wraps, ana loiiowed
eyer. motion as she adjusted her hat
ana drew on her little brown gloves.
He said nothing and only smiled as
she said good night to him and silp'
ped out of the door.
Thar night Tom suffered mental tor
menfs- remors.. pity and longing
remorse. as he thought of the cruelty
OF his short. abrupt dismissal of the
poor girl. pity as he thought OF the
los lille want that awaited her. and
loraing that was the worst OF 1t. a
selfish longing gripped at his heart.
a hUn.rg ~ enc more glimpse of that
frank pretty smile.
The levi day Tom Wayne came to
.h. lirc with a heavy heart, but 10
his Il, ~ surprise there was Mary
~ hre hat eff. carefully opening
a. at,,e tn mail! Why had she
-a n"h. What would Grenohle
t would tie great Billing
r n1e the circumstances?
hen Mary smiled and said
,ti oreuins The mail can open
fha o.tcrs and sort the mail, any.
1o crrat al about Ellington.
IA Wait to have talk VITA yoa,
MI Drake" he said Il will start
o.. !th yoa tonight When yea 80. |
ran talk easily in this Office"
Somehow Tom thought that 1t
wstld lie easier 10 make Mary under
stand away fiom the Office that she
would have to leave. but before the
evening came he had decided to set
Tie the problem OF discharging Mary
Drake n way hat made him long
with all his being for five o'clock to
come It was strange. he thought to
himself. that he had not thought of
this solution before
THAT ujeht when Mary Drake walk.
cd ftCm the office with Tom Wayne
through The busy crowded streets he
tpl hc: ID" secret Of his love. and
as Re told i she looked into his eyes
with such "A spirit Of confidence and
COMPREHENSIVE that Tom wondered
Why h" had IL iiated to loy" h"r sim
billy because she was an Inefficient II
tie working Girl
mir Ellington landed This after
noon and viii b. at the Office the
FRS thin% III the morning" he told
her so you had better not turn MP
there 9@ain Il won't be so hard,
having 20 leave now, will it. little
girl? i.v, }rhing have is yours. now.
and yul Nget not worry about the
salary we will talk hat over later"
IS they walked Tom noticed that
they were still walking up the bright
~ lighted ,horoughfare, and when
he asked to see her home Mary pro
tested.
Don't be ashamed, little GIRL" he
said. Gone, insist"
Come, then" said Mary. and led
the way past the business section to
the brilliantly lighted fashionable res
Idential section. Tom iairly gasped
ms she led the way up the wide brown
stone steps Of Billington's house
81 am not Mary Drake" he heard
the girl at his side saying as they
stood before the front door. II am
Vivian Ellington have been play
Ing the part of spy" she went on
You know how father hated to leave
his Office even for day. and this
when he needed a rest so
very much hit on this plan. I knew
he didn't like to leave because he
thought things would go wrong while
ne was away One day he said he
would so II he had a son to leave In
ais office while he was away to watch
hings and let him know just what
vas doing keep him constantly post.
ID by wireless and cablegram and let
er as only one of his own family
'ould do
II told him | would take the place
VI 4 son so he had me sent through
he agency and, as you know, didn't
tnow the first thing about anything,
,ut | did know enough to keep my
yes open and to stick to my Job. even
When you and old Grenoble tried to
discharge me think | might have
lone my work better II I had not had
o spend so much time when you were
lot around keeping the run OF the
business TO let father know what you
we're doing"
Then II has all been game" Tom
Wayne began, as he studied the girls !
ace. You have been using us-you |
ave been imposing on our sympathy |
nd now your father is home you are
through with u.s. You have been very |
lever. Miss Ellington. and con-
ratulate you sincerely
why. Tom" vivian's two small
,nds were hold ont hoforA her