The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-17
Dy MAY BENNETT EARLE.

Richard Thorpe, with . self satisfied
smack of his fat sensual lips and .
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 evidence!"
His visitor looked embarrassed, con-
fused and disappointed all at the
same time. He was little handsome
young fellow, with q clear ingenious
face we'll burned by a tropical sun.
Sir he said. arising to his feet.
81 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 q disordered BRAIN"
remarked Thorpe.
II cannot think that" responded
Vernon Davis. mr.. Travis was too
true to deceive and his mind was per-
fectly clear. All his thoughts were of
his orphan daughter. He told me to
see you and recall to your attention
the fact that when he went to Ceyion
he was to be considered a 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. / an
, going to appeal to you in new way
The last anxious thought of Mr.. Travi
was concerning his daughter. Bertha
The disaster of the fire makes he
penniless. She is left, young cir
at school, without dollar or relative
in the world"
"She cannot expect any assistance
| rd -hoo RI q
merchant Il don't deal in sentiment
want something tangible in my dea
ings, sir Good day"
Within the next few hours Verno
located Bertha at the school wher
she had been placed by her father
He was surprised, pleased at the wa
in which the brave little soul too
her rudely announced poverty. Fl
was attracted, nay. more, fascinate
by her pure. gentle spirit. He ha
lost in the effort to secure to Berth
her rights. He had gained, new an
fervent. that which was far NOR
priced than fortune-love.
II shall leave the school at once
decided Bertha, in her res0lute. won
anly way.
Orphans both. struggling each Il
a living. the pleasantest hours Of HI
life came to Vernon Davis during III
ensuing few months. Bertha fOun
congenial work in an ONCE. Verno
refused q position with Thorpe IN
secured employment a. a travelin
salesman.
One evening Bertha met him at th
door Of the house where she was II
ing with more than ordinary cage
ness and excitement.
"A strange thing has happened
she said. "A man, "a stranger l thin
from Ceylon. called here an hour az
He had been looking for you at 20,
boarding house and they must ha,
directed him here. He is a tall thl
man and spoke our language broke
ly. He looked as though he had bee
through . long period Of illness I
: hardship. He was so anxious to me,
you and I SO pitied his wearied fO
> lorn condition, that I asked him 1
knowing you would be here later"
Vernon Davis closed the door ar
advanced towards the half recumbel
figure. He touched the arm OF Il
sleeper. The latter aroused. He stare
for a moment confeisedly at his di
turber. Then with gladstone eyes
sprang to his feet.
. Master, young master!" he erie
! in a thrilling tone, you thought q
dead-or false? It is neither AL
were my kind old friend, Mr.. Travi
here to learn the glad news | bear
!. What the strange visitor had to t.
,, took over an hour. Both left Il
house, but not until Vernon had e
planned to Bertha that the man W;
an old employee Of her father In Ce
lon, who had sought him out with
: message from that far away countr
The next day Vernon and the Ce
: lonese appeared at the ofioe Of Il
merchant.
Mr. Thorpe" spoke Vernon, The
. is a former employee OF Ar. Trav
F. who also believes that there was son
. partnership agreement between you
= "So?" snarled Thorpe, well, 4 "a
= solutely deny it,"
l. Then" observed Vernon. LET .
l. advise you that Mr. Travis staked th
Il man on q venture that has turned O
: very richly. presume he il able
return from the investment SON
thing like a hundred thousand d
lars"
Huh" calculated Thorpe
Yes" and Vernon drew from
y rncLo< a chauo0fa ha1 "Q0u ~ hft