The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-01
y he would be- involved In serious

| SAOoOA0s
And. through mistaken loyalty to .
person who did not deserve It, Worth
made his first misstep.
His plan was to take the distracted
bond to a money lender he knew, Dor
row $500 on It, and when this was
paid Off return the security to the Of
nee vaults, and nobody would be the
wiser.
Worth slipped the familiar envelope
into his pocket. One hour later he
left the Office. His feelings were
tense, he seemed to have suddenly
assumed a load that weighed down
body and spirit.
Worth reached the hotel where he
had arranged to meet his friend. He
had decided to tell him Of the fear
full sacrifice of business honor and
peace Of mind he was making for his
sake.
An hour went by. The friend did
not come. He would never come, as
Worth later learned. The friend was
. scamp. had learned that the police
were already on his trail and had fed
the city. Worth waited YEARLY. Fl.
nally he arose to leave the hotel.
"Fire!"
The cry took Worth momentarily
out Of himself. He saw smoke and
flames issuing through an open arch.
ing leading into one Of the parlors.
Tho heavy silken draperies all
around the room were getting ablaze.
He tore down the fire.kindled curtains
at the door. Then he shouted to .
group Of terrified women huddled near
one Of the windows:
Get out into the hall. There IL no
danger yet"
Worth tore of his coat. He used
1t a. IN extinguisher, beating at the
blazing curtains of the windows. He
was perspiring. singed. his face and
hands blackened as the advance fire
patrol came to the spot. Some one
asked hts name. He saw the blaze
under control. and. pretty we'll ex.
cited and exhausted. passed down to
the street.
Worth did not return to the ONCE at
once. He went to his room to tidy up.
There he made a discovery that
thrilled him. The envelope was gone
from his coat pocket. He FASTENED
back to the hotel. With eager delight
he left It again, for he found the en-.
velope where 1t had switched out of
his coat. He started for the office,
glanced within the envelope. and
found it-empty!
Some one has distracted It from
the envelope" he unused desperately.
7 dare not make any move towards
It's recovery without exposing my own
wicked foolhardiness!"
Worth placed the empty envelope
back In its place In the vault. That
evening he planned what he would do.
By saving and skimping he might put
aside $500 by the next interest date.
ne could sell some jewelry he had.
His name got in the paper as the
hero Of the hotel IRE. It made Ada
Mason, his flancee, very proud of him,
but her Joy was dampened by q great
change In the man she was to marry.
he called upon her less frequently.
He no longer planned Of how they
would furnish the little nat they had
discussed 80 comfortingly in the past.
VainH Ada tried to learn what
trouble he was brooding over.
Then ut the end Of a month Worth
broke down one evening. He con-
fessed, all to Ada. Never did q ten
der. loving heart move to rescue and
consolation as this dear little soul.
Yes" she said, you must make
reparutfon, and ! must help you" and
her sister wondered at her now con.
stane attention to fancy work
Ae the end of I'VE months Worth
mad the exact amount needed to cover
BOND value and interest. II was q
happy moment when he went 10 the
vault to place the money in the en-
velope. II was gone! He went to
the bookkeeper, fearing some new
complication in the case.
The Parr envelope!" he tried to
say csrelessly.
Oh. threw 1t out yesterday" was
the Indifferent explanation. Had no
business there
Why-why-"
Mrs. Par took her bond away
nearly six months ago. I ought to
nave removed the empty envelope
then Why. what ais you,"-for
Worth had dashed from the room. II
seemed as II he must shout, laugh.
cry. pray! Oh, the relief Of It! Oh,
the Joy of 1t!