The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-12
TWIST OF THE MIND
BY FRANK FiLSON.

At halfpast twelvee Littlefield
stepped out Of the teller's cage with
his bag in his hand. Inside the bag
were eight thousand dollars in bills.
The loss would not be discovered un.
til half-past one, for certain reasons
which Littlefield knew intimately, and
by that time Littlefield would be on
his way south
He had made all his calculations
and had no regrets. He had shaved
Tor the Eighth National for seven
years, and he was now drawing q
beggarly fifteen hundred, with no pros.
pect Of raise. johnson, the manager,
did not like him. Sleigh, the paying
teller, had been with the bank since
boyhood; he was an old stick-in-the-
mud and would die in harness there.
The road to promotion was blocked,
ana, II 1t were not, there was no
chance for Littlefield, with Johnson's
enmity
Littlefleld had studied the man and
wondered why he hated him so. He
could not even speak civilly to him.
Littlefield had been expecting his dis.
| mlssal since the first of the year; how.
ever, he had stuck it out for Lucy's
sake. But when Lucy Merritt went
back on him
1t was foolish quarrel, but she had
given him back his ring and told him
she never wanted to see him again.
He could not even remember what
they had quarreled about. At first
Littlefield had been overwhelmed; but
then he began to accept it as part Of
the grudge fate seemed to have against
him. -,
And. once he had begun to believe
himself a victim of destiny, he lost
all moral sense. He was alone in the
world. and now that he had lost Lucy
he meant to make amends to himself
at the banks expense.
He had reached the door when the
porter came up to him.
"Mr. johnson wants to see you, Mr.
Littlefleld." he said.
There was a significant look upon
the mans face. Littlefield had q wild
impulse to bolt for the door. Instead
Of that he stood looking speechlessly
at Jacks. Jacks face grew sterner.
AT once. sir. he said," he continued.
johnson looked up. "Well, Mr.. Lit.
tlefield. you don't look very happy" he
said. You seem to 60 about your
work with a perpetual glower-at
least when I meet you"
Was he playing with him? Or was
this the preliminary to his discharge?
Littlefield's hopes grew.
Put your bag on the table. Mr.. Lit.
tleheld,' continued Johnson. you
look as though you were afraid I was
going to open it. Come. set it down
beside me-never mind these papers"
Littlefield flung the bag down de-
fiantly and stood facing his tormentor.
johnson arose slowly, and suddenly
clapped his hand hard on the others
shoulder.
We've been looking over your rec.
ord since you came here, Mr.. Little.
neld," said Johnson, land it makes q
very creditable showing. Mr.. Sleigh,
you know, is leaving to accept the +,
cashiers position with Brown & Sea.
gull. We are going to promote you to |
MS place at the salary which always !
goes with 1.-two thousand to start |
and an annual increase of a hundred |
up to twenty-five hundred"
Littlefield still stared at him; he had |
not yet urd"-etccd.
"Sn Won oDnt;,,od J1Az.-- (,
we have not failed to recognize the |
zeal that you have shown in our in
terests. l may tell you in confidence !
that there was much difficulty in de- |
Gliding between you and another mem.
Der OF our force. and that you were |
selected on my insistence for the req.
son that have given you"
Littlefield understood at last, and /
he swung round impulsively and /
looked into Johnson's face.
Il have thought sometimes that you !
had taken a dislike to me-" continued |
the manager.
mo, sir; no." blurted out Littlefeld |
Il must have given a false impress |
sion. l."
Il am indeed glad to hear it," an.
swered Johnson, wringing the other |
mans hand warmly And now permit !
me to offer you my best and sinceres.
congratulations"
Littletield found himself outside the !
office again. He walked idly toward |
the door. He did not quite know where |
he was going. He was recalled to him. |
self by Jacks. who thrust letter into |
his hand.
Just come, sir" said Jacks. smil- /
Ing. Littlefleld looked hard at the !
porter. Why, lie was the acme of |
friendliness What had been the mat
ter with him? Had he, Littlefield. been
seeing everything through the mirror
OF his morbid and perverted mind?
He tore open the envelope with
trembling fingers. The letter was from
Lucy.
My dearest" it ran, forgive me a
thousand times for my unkindness to
you. l was SO hurt by what you said"
here Littlefield remembered the
cause Of their quarrel-"but l see now