The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-20
SOMETHING TANGIBLE
BY MAY BENNETT EARLE.

S~@@SSSSS
Copyright, 1915, by w. g. Chapman.)
Something tangible!" pronounced
Richard Thorpe, with a self satisfied
smack of his fat sensual lips and a
gloating glance around the establish
ment Of which he was proprietor.
Something tangible. young man."
he repeated ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
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 evidence?"
His visitor looked embarrassed. con-
fused and disappointed all at the
same time. He was little handsome
young fellow, with a clear ingenious
face we'll burned by a, 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
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 l have just de-
livered."
THE fantasy Of disordered brain!"
remarked Thorpe.
Il 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 went to Ceylon
he was to be considered one-fourth
partner in that branch of your bust
ness, provided he made 1t succeed
He did succeed He waited for you to
make some recognition Of the fact.
He had written agreement. that Gov.
cred the subject"
Produce It," suggested Thorpe.
1T was destroyed in the fire."
Have you proofs Of any,"
only moral evidence. Sir, I 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, young girl
at school, without q 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 deal.
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
fervent, that which was far more
priced than fortune-love.
II shall leave the school at once,
decided Bertha, In her resolute. WON
anly way.
Orphans both, struggling each fol
. living. the pleasantest hours Of his
life came to Vernon Davis during the
ensuing few months. Bertha found
congenial work in an ONCE Vernon
refused q position with Thorpe and
secured employment a. . 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. . 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 a tall thin
man and spoke our language broken
ly. He looked AZ though he had been
through a long period Of illness Of
hardship. He was 30 anxious to meet
you and so pitied his wearied for
lorn condition, that asked him In
knowing you would be here later"
Vernon Davis closed the door and
advanced towards the half recumben
figure. He touched the arm Of thu
sleeper. The latter aroused. He stared
for a moment confnsedly at his dis
turber Then with gladstone eyes h
sprang to his feet.
Master, young master!" he criet
in . thrilling tone, you thought N,
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 tel
took over an hour. Both left tn,
house, but not until Vernon had ex
planned to Bertha that the man wal
An old employee Of her father in Cey
Ion, who had sought him out with ,
message from that far away country
The next day Vernon and the Cey
lonese appeared at the ONCE Of tn,
merchant.
"Mr Thorpe" spoke Vernon. her
IL a former employee Of Mr.. Travis
who also believes that there was SOM
partnership agreement between you.
"So?" snarled Thorpe, well. ah
solutely deny IT,"
"Then," observed Vernon, ''let m,
advise you that Mr.. Travis staked thi
man m n venture that has turned on
very richly. I presume he is able Z,
return from the investment some
thing like q hundred thousand dol