The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-12

Usually both" answered Jim truth.
fully. To-day, as it happens, haven't
found anyone willing to give me the
price. How about you?"
The young man clapped him on the
shoulder.
Listen to me-" he said quietly. you
must have been man once. from all
I've heard Of you. l recognize you
now from your photograph, although
that beard makes you look quite differ.
ent. Miss Dale's father is dead. He
has left her his whole fortune She
wanted me to come and find you and
bring you back to her. She loves you.
and pride doesn't count. She knows
what you must have been through
and she's going to ask you to marry
her, once she gets you at her side.
Understand"
Jim understood. The thought Of the
Dale millions at his command was
paralyzing; it galvanized him into life.
He looked up, to see the young man
reading his face.
Here's ten dollars!" he said sud-
denly. "No-wait!" He pulled out
the pocketbook again. Here's Q hun
dred. Do you think you can get
washed and cleaned and have q new
suit and good linen on your back,
ready to sail on the ship tomorrow"
Jim pocketed the money mechan.
ically. Il suppose 3d." he muttered.
whats your hurry"
Because" said the other gravely,
Miss Dale is on board. That's why.
And the best man in the world couldn't
deserve your luck"
Somehow the new clothes, the lux
ury of a bath, had put new manhood
into Jim. He lay in bed early in the
morning in the hotel and speculated
what he would do with the Dale mil
lions. He would go to San Francisco,
of course. He would build a palace
there. He would have automobiles,
fine clothes, cigars, all the physical
luxuries which he had been denied
so long. And-he would marry Elsie
at the first opportunity, to keep his
hold on her.
He got up and dressed. He was
Just about to leave the room when the
young man entered. He surveyed Jim
with a grimmer smile than before.
"You haven't shaved off your beard"
he said.
mo" said Jim thoughtfully. 1T
looks-more manly. | think"
The other looked at him in con-
tempt. 1t penetrated the mans skin.
Jim WINGED. It was the first moment
of self-realization in many year.
why have you done all this for
me?" he asked, looking at the other
| curiously. do you know. l believe
believe you are in love with Elsie
yourself"
Miss Dale from you, please" re-
| piled the other. Yes, l am in love
with her. if you wish to know it. And
if l hadn't found you l think she
would have married me-"
Then why did you find me?" nut.
tered Jim.
The other choked down an expletive
IF you're ready" he said coldly
well start right away"
| jim went out with him. And now
surveyed by the curious inhabitants
of the little settlement, the target OF
their sneering glances, Jim felt sud
| denly more ashamed than he had eveI
felt before in all his life. And for
the first time he really understood the
depths Of his degradation.
He had been a worthless beach
believed in him. He was utterly worth
less. He could not degrade that pure
life to the level of his own. He had
thought of nothing but the Dale mil
lions, nothing at all of the love that
had been true to him.
Unconsciously he held his head
higher and flung back the scornful
gestures, the looks, the thinly yelled
jeers. They should learn some day
that there was that spark of manhood
in him which would kindle the ole
fires!
dead. And SO. walking at the side Of
his companion, he boarded the boat
There was delay, a brief delay
The young man turned to him ant
said
Remember, Bennett, my lips are
sealed forever. You have your owl
future and hers to make or mar.
know her love for you. and that IL
why | shall remain silent. Can yo,
honor it? Promise me that from thi,
day forward you will strive with nigh
and main to be worthy of her."
Il promise" answered Jim humbly
and the man at his side looked at hin
strangely This seemed to be a new
mamie had known nothing Of him
Along the deck came white-robet
figure, tripping gladly. Jim knew he
at once. All his heart went out t
her. Elsie had not changed bit dur
ing those three years. except tina
there was more of the woman in he
poise, her thoughtful eyes, and jus
as much of the happy girl in her smil
ing face.
john" she exclaimed Where
where is Jim, then? And who is thi
gentleman
Suddenly Jim realized that she ha,
J not recognized him. His tan, hi
beard, the ineffaceable marks of thos
: three years on his face.
: He turned a little away
! Jim died last week." he said gu
! |