The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-25

celve0 DIS fetteT, UuC WhCu no 1co~SN
America she was married.
Then he had set to work to ,amass'
wealth. He, too. had married, and
gradually he had forgotten Connie.
He had been happy, after a fashion.
He had convinced himself that he had
only acted as white men act in the
tropics. He felt little remorse and he
had been q good husband and father.
Now, out of the past, this man had
confronted him with that forgotten
letter
President Myers saw the triumph in
his visitors eyes.
You understand what this MEANS
he said to Myers. III we're to take
this letter into any newspaper Office
could get five hundred for it. They'o
Jump at the chance Of downing you.
You amt popular-not exactly, in this
town. l guess you've passed as good
citizen, but the folks don't love you.
Well, then. / offer it to you for five
hundred first. don't want to. black
mail. I'm driven to it."
Nobody ever blackmailed me-" said
Myers.
Hanbury laughed, and opened the
letter. He began tooread 1,
8 q
And So. Connie, dearest, am tell
ing you all my past. I have done
enoughhto hang twenty men, If they
had been whites instead Of Kanakas.
There isn't any government here, but
If Uncle Sam got hold of me he could
put me in his penitentiary for the BAR
ance of my life. And though you will
be Mortified, I cannot ask you to be
my, wife without telling yon this"
"Horrifed?" he asked. Say. you
didn't know my wife. What right had
you to suppose that a good woman
would marry such . blackguardl as
you? tell you, she nearly went mad
over that cowardly letter. had been
counting her for a year, and it. gave
me my chance. She never regretted
it, either. But she didn't know Il got
the letter. I thought it might prove
useful some day. And it. will. Wen.
sir, will you buy it for; five, hundred
or shalt sell it to the Starr"
Nobody ever blackmaileds me-" IN,
swered Myers. But L tell you what
I'm do. I'll give you. an, order ON the
cashier for five hundred. n you hand
over that letter and envelope to me.
I I'll get the money first" said Han
bury. write: Please, pay bearer fivs
hundred dollars in, cash In return fol
valuable trade information. Of which
am to have exclusive, possession.
Finished? Goods: Now we'll 80 t
the desk and draw"
Five minutes Inter the two mel
were back in the presidents ONCE
Hanbury handed Myers the letter.
| "Well," he said awkwardly. "yo,
won't be troubled with me again
Good-day."
"Stop!" said Myers. Il told you nc
body ever blackmailed me. You thin
paid you FIVE hundred for the lei
teri"
Sure" grinned the other.
We'll, you're wrong" said Myer
quietly. THAT letter was write
from Kanakaland when its short-live
, government was in power. What
!, bought was the stamp. Hanbur!
|, That's worth a Thousand anywher'
There are only five In existence-an
the other four are imperfect. Goo,
day!"
>, He touched the bell, and Jenkins o.
), tered hurriedly.
Its all right, Jenkins" said Myer
> "Just show this gentleman to tt
door, please, and see that he doesn
return"
Hamburg, looking like q man unce
j., tain whether he has scored q victor
or suffered crushing defeat. retres
: ed at the side Of the secretary. H
last impression Of Myers was Of Il
president seated at his desk. cool
!. turning over his correspondence.
: Jenkins" said Myers, when Il
" man returned, that fellow tried
blackmail me. l turned him dov
!, cold. Nobody ever blackmailed me.
- ever will. By the way. you collie
stamps, don't you Here's one fro
Kanakaland. don't know wheth
it's worth anything. but 1t ought to
y. worth a dollar or two. It looks II
q rare one."
Copyright. 1915. by w. g. Chapman.)