The Tupelo journal., 1915-02-19
will send the details by letter to the

| will send the details BY letter to the
induiring Office. Take the matter up
again tomorrow, Bartels. and so
through It thoroughly.
Ned was a good deal ~unnarved by
the happenings OF the day. He found
himself unable to conflne his thoughts
to business. He vas grieying over
the shock the failure OF her father
must bring to Lille
At the same time. somehow he took
new heart Of hope. 1t appeared to
him as II a Carrier had been removed
that of wealth Now she was poor.
They were on an quail social foot.
ing
I'm do it," he decided 2orcibiy, and
ne went to sec pretty Lille that sane
afternoon. He spoke ont boldly Tie
knew from the awe1t delight in lii
lies eyes that she .eturHed ms love.
When he spoke OF living N his linn
tied salary, she verred stanehly that
It was abundant--too much!
What would Mr.. Wayne say when
he knew of the engagement, Ned
wondered. There was one point Of
assurance. however. 1t would ome
out that he had proposed to Lille
knowing that she was poor as hinl-
self. They could not charge him with
being after the fortune that no longer
existed.
"1ll wait a day and get up my
nerve before | tell Mr.. Wayne that l
am going to marry Lille" Ned decid-
ed, but that afternoon there came a
startling telephone message that ma
terially changed his plans.
A slip of paper on his desk an
nounced that Robert Wayne wished
to see the reporter who had written
him up the day previous"
I'm in for it," cogitated the dis
turbed Ned. Il suppose III be raked
fore and aft for anticipating the fu-
ture. Well, l did my duty anyway,
1t goes, and I'll have to tell him So"
ooh, you are the reporter who is
responsible for that precious screed
regarding the terrible condition of my
affairs, are your" challenged MIR.
Wayne, as Ned was ushered into his
private office.
Mutely and meekly Ned assented.
Where did you get your informa-
tion?"
Ned recited the circumstances,
frankly and with manliness. To his
profound amazement Mr.. Wayne burst
into a fit of the most uproarious laugh
ter. His frame shook, the tears stood
in his eyes.
81 see it all now" he said, at length
controlling his risibiiities. young
man, the conversation you overheard
through that transom was between
my lawyer and a brother of mine in
another city, but-nothing could have
come about more fortunate for me
than your error.
Il do not understand" murmured
Ned.
Then I will explain: Some time
since | was lured into subscribing
for $4,000 stock of a company / later
a~scertained to be a fake concern. /
paid ten per cent down. They de-
manded the balance. | sent an agent
down to them in another city to nego-
tiate a compromise. He was ready to
offer fifty per cent. He advised me
they demanded all, and had sent for
a report, You sent it under an error.
They Immediately settled for 10000
You saved me $4,000. What can l
do for you?"
As he spoke Mr.. Wayne grasped
Ned's hand heartily. The latter burt
ed out:
"Lillie-please, sir! We are en-
gagged"
"What-how-when!" gasped Mr..
Wayne.
AS soon as 1 learned she was poor
sir"
And ready to take a pauper and
her insolent old dad, eh?" rallied Mr..
Wayne.
"Oh, you wouldn't stay down long,"
complimented Ned.
and your fidelity to duty, even
under mistaken circumstances, pleases
me-" observed Mr.. Wayne. well, it
shall be as Lille says"
And Lille had said" already.
Copyright, 1914. by w. G. Chapman
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