The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-28
jim ELLIoT'S MISSION
BY GENE D. cRANDE.

~ SesNe ~ SNNuV0SD
It was sharp gust Of wind comins
furiously around the corner and filing
Jimmy Elliot's eyes with dust that
was responsible for the accident. For
being partially blinded. he darted for.
ward in the path Of street car. which
promptly knocked him over and
against the edge of the sidewalk.
where he lay senseless. while the
breeze caught up his unsold newspa-
pers and scattered them along the
block,
Miss Elsie Moore, who. with her Cd.
cort was just about to enter the the.
ater close by. saw tho accident and
ran to the boys side. She placed her
dainty handkerchief over the cash in
his forehead. while the gentleman
with her picked up the lad and car.
r!ed him to a nearby drug store.
Fortunately the injury was not seri.
Gus and Jimmy. having recovered his
senses. OVERLOOKED with gratitude
when expressing his thanks to-"de
swells what picked him outen de gut
ter" Gerald Osborne laughed as he
compiled with his f!ancee's request to
recompense the little news.vendor TO,
the loss Of his papers. Jimmy nat
urally looked upon his adventure as q
lucky one. The cut on his forehead
was . trivial matter. and the five dol
lar bill Osborne had given him was
Of much importance.
Az II CHANGED he was destined to
SEQ his benefactors on more than one
occasion. Osborne and his fiancee
were regular theatergoers and It fire.
quentiy happened that they passed
the corner where Jimmy had his lead.
quarters. At such times the boy was
always sure Of bright smile and kind
word from tho girl and q tip from her
escort. It was late in the fall when
he Arst noticed that his two favorite
customers had not paid his stand .
visit for an unusually long time.
When the winter days came on and
they were still missing Jimmy came
to the conclusion that they must have
been married and left the city.
Three months later on a wet after.
noon he suddenly spied among the
thr0ns at the corner waiting for tho
passing cars, the slender form Of his
former patroness.
$50 you missed me. jimmy" she
queried softly.
"You bet I did, Miss" responded
the boy. Il fought youse mebbe got
married an went away somewheres
wit that gent"
The girl shook her head sadly. mo.
I didn't get married, jimmy" she
said. Things have changed with me
since ! saw YOU last. I'm just as poor
as you are now, Jimmy"
The boy stared at her in utter be-
wilderment. He noticed that her dress
was old and worn, though neat and
carefully mended in places.
"Where's Mister Osborne?" he
asked. Don't he know Mothin' about
IT."
Elsie shook her head again. II don't
know where Mr.. Osborne Is at pres
ent." she said. 1--WE have not seen
each other for long time, not since
I became q working girl"
Ibid he trun youse down when you
loses yer dough-" demanded the small
squire Of danes wrathiully.
Il guess that must be It, Jimmy"
responded the girl. as she turned to
board her car.
The boys eyes followed her wist.
fully. Il WONDER" he murmured
thoughtfully. III she's still stuck on
dat guy. Wisht I could see him some.
where's"
Two days later q familiar voice
hailed him and Gerald Osborne tossed
. coin on the stand a. he caught up . |
paper.
Say. youse amt no friend Of mine
no more" spoke up Jimmy sturdily.
after de- way youse treated Miss !
Moore"
Osborne dropped the paper and ,
caught his shoulder.
what do you know about Miss
Moore!" he asked excitedly. DO you
know where she Isl"
Jimmy recounted his Interview with
The girl, and Osborne listened atten.
lively.
1T was all a mistake, Jimmy" he
,aid. Il have been hunting for Miss
Moore for a long time. When you
zee her again, follow her, find out
where she lives, let me know and I'll
'eward you well. Don't say anything
o her: she wouldn't understand; her
mind has been poisoned against me
" lies"
True to his trust, Jimmy tracked
he girl to her humble home the next
line she passed the corner, and q few
tours later Elsie stood face to face
With ter supposedly unfaithful lover
nd listened 10 his explanations.
When Mr. Moore's wealth was swal.
owed up BY an unlucky speculation.
nd the family went to live in q poor