The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-02-13

dark. foreboding. GIennon "broks
out" once more. He was gone for a
week. Dawson hunted him up. got
him back into normal trim and con-
cealed from everybody the truth.
Daily. however. he experienced .
new uneasiness and anxiety. There
was change in Glennon. He had
grown morbid, nervous, unsociable.
He acted like a man who was con-
stantly on the lookout for something
dreadful to happen. Several times low
browed. mean looking men called him
out of the Office and Glennon would
return looking depressed and worried.
Then one day he was taken Ill and
removed to his home. and within
twenty-four hours was lying helpless
and delirious with wasting fever.
1t was week later and Friday even
ing when the head of the business
house came to Dawson with serious
look upon his face.
"Mr. Dawson" he spoke, can you ar
range for some immediate night
work."
Certainly" bowed Dawson.
II want you to go over Mr. Glen
mons books" announced Mr.. Porter,
to the utter stupefaction of Dawson.
ooh, sir! you do not mean to say
that there is anything wrong?" uttered
Dawson In a gasp.
81 fear there is, / have made only
a cursory investigation, but there Is
a shortage of $4,000 in the cash."
Daylight was streaming through the
Office windows when Dawson COM
pleted his task of going over the
books. He sat back with gray blank
despair on his face.
1T is true-too true" he mourned
1T cannot be held back. Oh, my poor
friend; Why did you not tell me of
your terrible trouble, of your madden
ing temptation"
He could readily surmise what had
happened. A swindling crew had got
Glennon into their clutches. They had
obtained some hold on him. In his
desperation Glennon had used the
money of the firm.
His head bent upon his hands, Daw.
son sat for nearly an hour-thinking,
thinking. What could he do to avert
the impending disgrace, how save the
man he loved, whose daughter he
loved even more?
81 will do it,"
With the words Dawson arose tn his
feet. He wandered about the streets
till 10 o'clock. Then he entered a
bank. He had been thrifty for the
past five years, he had received lib
eral salary, he had saved most of 1t.
When he returned to the Office he
had most of his savings In bank bills
$4,000. When no one was observing
him, Dawson placed the package far
back in the corner of a drawer In
Glennon's desk.
II find deficit in the cash, as you
have said," he reported. to Mr.. Por-
ter. "Mr Glennon has been troubled
out Of sorts for long time and may
not have been as systematic as usual.
Have you looked through his desk. Mr..
Porter?"
And they looked, ri the money
was found, and. So far as Mr.. Porter
was concerned, Glennon was vindi.
Gated
There came day when to the con.
valescent Dawson explained every.
thing. The tears OF contrition and
gratitude were coursing down the
cheeks of the wasted face.
"Oh, my friend!" sobbed Glcunon;
you have saved me. But T."
"Will go back to work when you
are well enough and forget all about
a temptation that must never come to
you again. We only know"
""And II" spoke Irene Glennon, step.
ping into view. ooh, would be slave
for life for what you have done for
us!"
Eyes, the slave OF love-my cherish.
ed wife, IL you will" spoke Dawson
fervently. together to shield this dear
old man from all of evil"
And SO, love guarded the secret, and
so, Harvey Glennon took to his soul q
lesson that purified 1t.
Copyright, 1914, by w. G. Chapman.)