The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-02
UNDER 4 War STAMP
sy ELSIE cRUHl MARTIN.


Every time Earl Hosmer thought OF
the fair young girl with whom and
her father he had passed q pleasant
month abroad. his heart stirred with
in him. They had been nothing more
than friends, but she had made the i'm
preston Of his life upon him. A
thought Of how genial and friendly
the father and daughter had been to
him. Of their present distressing con-
dition. Of their friendlessness and pow
erty In . foreign land. appealed to the
best instincts Of his loyal nature.
They were wealthy people. the Duri-
wages. but Earl - well had an abund-
ance Of worldly means. He had 4
business to attend to, and going
abroad just now meant something Sc
rious for it, interests, but he was will.
ing to make the sacrifice.
When Earl reached his ONCE he sat
down to think out his plans for an i'm
mediate departure. While he was ar
ranging In his mind al the details. the
once boy brought in the afternoon
mail. Earl tipped the letters over
carelessly. Then his face flushed up
and his eyes took to their depths q
rare token Of interest. From post
mark AID handwriting he knew at
once the source Of one Of the letters.
1T is from Elsa-from Miss Duri-
vage!" he breathed eagerly, and
opened It.
The letter was brief, ordinary mis-
sive, as II written between acquaint-
ances. It gave an address in the far
away war-beleaguered city. 1t told
of business there going on as usual.
Of no particular effect Of the war.
There was nothing in the letter that
would not pass the most critical CEN
sorship.
There was postscript to the let
ter and 1t greatly puzzled Earl. It
read: THE war stamp on this letter
II probably quite curiosity in Amer.
lea. You might soak it OF, for they
will be scarce after while, and 1t ia
quite q memento to preserve"
"Of course. will save it" MUIR
INJURED the ardent Earl, thinking Of
the dainty lips that had touched the
insensible piece Of paper, and he pro-
ceeded to follow instructions.
"Why-there is writing under the
stamp!" exclaimed Earl. am with dis
tending eyes he read the words: I'VE
are penniless and starving"
In a fash Earl Hosmer read the
oracle. The letter had been writteto
In a noncommittal way that had
passed with the censor. Elsa had
used the war stamp to conceal a mes.
sage telling Of the real situation in
the district from which she wrote.
It reQuirQd no further thought for
Earl to arrive ct a speedy decision.
The evening train bore him eastward,
and two days later he was on the
ocean. bound for the continental war
center.
Within two hundred miles Of the
city that held his beloved. the prog
ress Of the ardent Earl was blocked.
He had with him large amount in
ready cash. This had enabled him to
proceed thus far without much dim.
Guilty. Now . broad stretch Of dis.
puted and war.ravaged territory lay
between him and his prospective des.
tination.
It was through little child that
long. anxious waiting was brought to
. close. Passing u house wrecked by
shell In the little town where he
was staying. Earl heard a faint wall
ing voice He Investigated. to-~discav-
er q little foIr-year-old girl lying ten
feet down in the dismahtled cellar
where she had fallen.
Her arm was broken, she was we'll
nigh exhausted with cold and starva-
ton. He managed to learn from her
where she lived. When he restored
her to her frantic parents he found
that she had been missing for two
days.
The gratitude Of the poor parents
was genuine. The father CHANGED to
mention that he was one of some
fifty wagon men who were to carry
some wounded soldiers to the city
where the Durivases were. He was to
bring up the rear with I'VE days pro-
visions. II did not take Earl long to
decide that here was his opportunity
to reach his beloved.
He had an understanding with the
man. When the caravan set out Earl
was comfortably ensconced In .
shielded corner Of the enclosed wagon.
How his heart beat with suspense
and then sorrow a. he finally reached
his journeys end! Tho Durivases
were sheltered In . poor hovel and
had parted with all they possessed to
secure the bare necessities Of life.
The wagon man was to return to
neutral ground with his vehicle, and
Earl and the Durivsges were smuggled
through In his vehicle.
ITO think Of that dreadful past!"
murmured Elsa. % they get sail from
the coast. homeward bound at last.
"Oh, what q messenger Of Joy and
hope you have been!"
A messenger of love ~ well. The
moon was smiling down. the stars
twtnkled. the gentle breeze breathed
only Of peace. He told her all that
was In his heart, and she kissed the
lips that spoke those precious words.
He Was Surprised.