The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-05-05

one udQ asked IOr SlU TO Duy new
hat, and it had not been forthcoming
The hat which had warmed the
cookies of Mrs. Ludlow's heart was
blooming upon nickel stem in the
window of Sam Sellers store, Smiley
yille's Only Department Store.
This emporium, brand new and i'm
posing, and selling everything from
bacon to bonnets, was directly across
Main street from the general store of |
Mr.. Ludlow
1t was a matter Of history that the |
latter store had evoluted from mere
grocery that had been owned and man
aged by Old Man Pershing In those
days the two young clerks, Jim Lud-
low and Sam Sellers, had both aspired
to the hand of Old Man Pershing's
niece, the fair Etfie, who kept Smiley
vile, as well as the young men in
question, guessing as to her choice
1t had ended one Sunday in Jim Lud
and clipping with the girl to Parsons
Corners.
The next morning Sam tried to lick
Jim in the middle of Main street, but,
getting the worst Of 1t, had packed
up and departed the same day for
parts unknown, vowing eternal ven
geance.
The years passed. and Old Man
Pershing died, leaving the store and
a few debts as legacy to his niece
and nephew-inlaw.
Things we're prospecting, when Sam
came back from the unknown parts"
which had evidently been lucrative,
for he fairly oozed money.
Smileyville held its breath to see
the outcome of Sans vow Of ven
geance. 1t had not long to wait. In
side of three months the Only Depart
ment Store was complete.
Then bad days began for Jim Lud-
law. The public deserted him, not
from any personal allegiance to Sam,
but 1t was novelty to have things
sent home in an auto truck
But there was no use worrying his
wife! SO Mrs. Ludlow remained in
ignorance of the true state of affairs
and cried for a new hat.
Finally she was ready for the
rocker. the disreputable piece Of fur
niture in which Mr.. Ludlow was wont
to read the evening paper She gath
cred up her pins and paper and
crossed the room to where it stood A
fallen broom stood in her path which
pitched forward. and struck her head
on the edge of the chair in falling.
Fifteen minutes later she stirred and
opened her eyes Where could she
be? And what on earth could be the
conglomerate mass Of bent, rusty
springs above her head?
She stuck an investigating finger
into the torn facing. She had no idea
it was in such bad shape. 1t was like
putting powder on a dirty face to
cover up decay like this with new
cover. She poked here and there into
its depths.
| Then something dropped with soft
thud to the floor Mrs. Ludlow picked
| it up. Suddenly she scrambled to her
feet and carried it to the window. A
queer look came into her face as she
examined it
Jim Ludlow's meaner n thought,
she muttered. 81 just wish he was
Z here"
Z AS if in answer to her words, the
I front door opened, and Mr.. Ludlow,
3 carrying an immense lowered box
Z stepped inside.
I, Whats wrong? And what have
& you got in that box?" In her astonish
! ment she forgot to be angry.
z ITS your hat, Efiel" He sank
! heavily into a chair. IT'S about al
4 you'll get, so you may as we'll have 1t
i got 1t on my way home Sans fore
4 closed. Or that is-he's going to to
y day"
E Tim Ludlow, just what do you
= mean?"
81 mean I've been struggling to keeI
= up for some time, an I've had tc
z mortgage and borrow and borrow anc
! mortgage till I'm cleaned out. Sans
Z bought EN- all up. He's done what he
) said, and ruined me. I'm cleaned
= out. l hope you'll like your hat
e Effie."
+ But Mrs. Ludlow was not thinking
z Of hats.
= "Jim," she said mysteriously. "DiC
Z you ever hide any money in your OLE
Z chair?"
! Heavens, no."
& We'll, then, Uncle Pershing did. G.
! get an ak"
= That afternoon, when Mr.. Sellers
Z called with his lawyer to take owe
E all the worldly property Of the Lud
: lows, he was disagreeably surprised
{ to be handed check large enough Il
! cover the debt.
z Copyright, 1914, by Mcclure Nevspape
6yndicatei