The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-06
IN The DARK
ANONYMOUS.

~ was q pia1ih6 SiohAouS oehA
mer, but it seemed to be robbing Ethel
of everything-of hope, of energy and
of the life OF her child-just as last
summer had robbed her of Jack
Nothing had been heard of him. No
news had come to her, and bad luck
had logged her all the time. She had
had to move lodgings again and again.
| every time little poorer, every time
taking rooms little cheaper; and the
only work she seemed to have even a
chance of getting was in the Office Of
private detective agency.
She had applied there on an impulse
and had been told that work was some
times given to outsiders. and that II
she cared to call every morning at
| nine o'clock there might some day be
chance for her.
So she had called-day after day,
week after week, and no chance had
ever come; and day after day her
money dwindled and she went from
bad to worse until now Dickie was ill
and she had reached her last penny.
| She would make one more effort
she would try once again before she
gave up. She hurried through the
streets to the office that had become
SO familiar to her now. She pushed
open the swing doors.
rs there anything for me this morn
ing?" she asked.
On the answer depended the life Of
her little child.
A clerk, busy over some letters.
looked up and began to shake his
head At that moment someone came
out from an inner office. He was
talking to another man.
"A woman" he said. Its a woman
we want for this job. Who's that yon-
der?"
shes Mrs Mayce," the other an
swered, but she's never had any
work from us yet"
Send her in to me- I'll see what
she is made Of" He stepped back,
and Ethel turned with beating heart.
Work at last!
The man who had spoken, whom
she, knew as the manager, looked at
her sharply
You're Mrs Mayce?" he said.
We'll, sit down. We've little thing
here that you may able to undertake
for us. Anyhow, you can try, Here
are the facts: A client of ours, Geof.
frey Horner, a merchant in the city
has lost a diamond ring valued at
SIPS. He left it lying on his desk
and while 1t was there it was stolen
The only person who had access to
his room was young man, son Of q
friend of his, whose name he will not
give and whom he refuses to believe
guilty. The young man leaves the
house nightly at about six o'clock
We want you to get his name ant
address and any information you car
about him. Here is his description
furnished by our detective. You will
have to follow him. of course. You
can get your days expenses from thu
cashier; here's memo for IS. 70
which you will account to us later
and, of course. any reliable informa
:. ton you bring Wen pay for
:, She went out treading on air Fiv
! dollars in her pocket meant food ant
medicine for her little Dickie.
At five o'clock she put on blacl
skirt and blouse, which had been to-
! shabby to pawn, and over an old blacl
: hat she put thick veil.
r Ten minutes later she was on he
q way to Godfrey Horner's house.
t Just as she rounded the corne
!. the door of the house opened an,
y someone came down the steps. Sh
$ followed him breathlessly, waitinl
r an instant as he stood at the bot
d tom of the steps to take out his latch
/ key and then followed boldly.
! In moment she was standing leve
with him upon the top step, and eal
y erly she looked at his face
t. 1t was thin and white; 1t locke
q drawn and sad-it-good heavens! II
turned. and the key dropped from hi
e fingers and rang sharply, springin
u from step to step to the pavement b.
! meath them.
e He uttered one word brokenly:
4 Ethel"
ID She put out her hand wildly an
then reeled into his arms.
It was Jack-Jack returned from tn
sea-alive-and thief,
II In his room they faced each other
e Jack, they say you are thief, Nv
been set to watch you. ! followed yo
ID tonight and that is why | am here
Is to watch you"
He looked startled for an instan
u Then he gave laugh
ri Darling, the thief confessed and r.
le turned II tonight just before | cam
away. II was one of his servants"
He took her in his arms. and locke
nown into her face.
AZ I've had a CHASTITY time" he sal
land you, too. Darling, you look thi
and Ill. tried to find you when &,
back-but-it was months after ii
N wreck We had drifted for weeks
III we were half mad and half dead whe
we were picked up, and then I wa
helpless.
1T was weeks after that before
% came to my senses and remembers
o. Il went straight to my fathers o.
vs friend. Godfrey Horner, and he h;