The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-04-28
SOMETHING TANGIBLE
BY MAY BENNETT EARLE.

gloating glance around the establish
ment OF which he was proprietor
Something tangible, young man.
he repeated unctuously-" property
the visible evidence of things ma
! terial. That's my motto and business
precept. Something | can weigh and
sell. You come to me with an airy
fairy story. Where's evidence, sir
the documentary eyidence?"
His visitor looked embarrassed, con
fused and disappointed all at the
same time. He was little handsome
young fellow, with a clear ingenious
face well burned by tropical sun.
Sir he said, arising to his feet,
Il come to you in good faith from Mr..
Travis in far away Ceylon. He was
/, my employer, my true friend until
he died He was your faithful repre-
sentative there. as you know. When
the fire came that swept away your
entire establishment in Ceylon, in try
ing to save your property he sustained
a fall from the effects of which he
died. Before his last moments ar
rived he called me to his bedside and
gave me the message have just de-
/ livered."
THE fantasy of disordered brain"
remarked Thorpe.
q cannot think that responded
/ Vernon Davis. Mr. Travis was too
| true to deceive and his mind was per-
/, fectly clear. All his thoughts we're OF
his orphan daughter. He told me to
see you and recall to your attention
the fact that when he gent to Ceylon
he was to be considered one-fourth
partner in that branch of your busi-
ness, provided he made it succeed.
He did succeed. He waited for you to
make some recognition Of the fact.
He had written agreemenl that COW
cred the subject"
Produce It," suggested Thorpe
at was destroyed in the fire."
Have you proofs OF any?"
"Only moral evidence. Sir, am
going to appeal to you in new way.
The last anxious thought of Mr. Travis
was concerning his daughter, Bertha.
The disaster of the fire makes her
penniless. She is left, a young girl
at school, without dollar or relative
in the world"
''She cannot expect any assistance
from me-" declared the hard-hearted
merchant Il don't deal in sentiment.
want something tangible in my deaE
ings. sir. Good day"
Within the next few hours Vernon
located Bertha at the school where
she had been placed by her father.
He was surprised, pleased at the way
in which the brave little soul took
her rudely announced poverty. He
was attracted, nay, more, fascinated
by her pure, gentle spirit. He had
lost in the effort to secure to Bertha
her rights. He had gained, new and
feryent, that which was far more
priced than fortune-love.
Il shall leave the school at once"
decided Bertha, in her resolute, wom-
anly way.
Orphans both, struggling each for
a living, the pleasantest hours of his
life came to Vernon Davis during the
ensuing few months. Bertha found
congenial work in an Office. Vernon
refused position with Thorpe and
secured employment as travelling
salesman.
One evening Bertha met him at the
door of the house where she was liv-
ing with more than ordinary eager
ness and excitement.
"A strange thing has happened"
she said. "A man, a stranger | think
from Ceylon, called here an hour ago.
He had been looking for you at your
boarding house and they must have
directed him here. He is tall thin
man and spoke our language broken
ly He looked as though he had been
through long period of illness or
hardship He was so anxious to meet !
you and I so pitied his wearied for |
lorn condition. that I asked him in,
knowing you would be here later"
Vernon Davis closed the door and !
advanced towards the half recumbent |
figure He touched the arm of the !
sleeper. The latter aroused. He stared
for a moment confusedly at his dis |
turber. Then with gladstone eyes he
sprang to his feet.
Master. young master!" he cried |
in thrilling tone, you thought me
dead--or false? It is neither All.
were my kind old friend, Mr. Travis,
here to learn the glad news I bear!"
What the strange visitor had to tell .
took over an hour. Both left the
house, but not until Vernon had ex-
planned to Bertha that the man was t
an old employee of her father in Cey-
lon, who had sought him out with
message from that far away country.
The next day Vernon and the Cey-
lonese appeared at the Office Of the
merchant.
"Mr Thorpe" spoke Vernon, here
is a former employee of Mr.. Travis.
who also believes that there was some
agreement between you
"So?" snarled Thorpe, well, | alb
solutely deny IT,"
Then" observed Vernon. 'let me
advise you that Mr. Travis staked this
man on n venture that has turned out I
--.. ..~o..w.o h. Il. hi.