The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-16
FOR her SWEET SAKE
BY FRANK EVANS.

teiler's cage twenty-four hours he re-
allied that something was wrong with
Van Loeuw's methods. On the sec
ond day he was sure of 1t.
Van Loeuw and he had entered the
bank within q week Of each other.
van Loeuw was college graduate.
while Tom was only the son of coun-
try storekeeper. That ought not to
make any difference worth noticing In
America, but everyone knows It does.
especially in large country towns like
Roxbury.
1t made this difference in particu-
lar: Van Loeuw was privileged to
call on Mildred Lesson. the presidents
daughter. to dine at her house and
take her driving in the automobile he
owned. Whereas. Tom Graves. who
had. In his boyhood, often served Miss
! Mildred behind the counter Of his "a
TIERS store. could scarcely gather up
his courage to look like an ordinary
man when she bowed to him In the
street; and then. seeing his confusion.
Mildred would smile again. in kind
ly way. which Tom usually missed. be-
cause his eyes we're on the ground.
| Everybody said that Tom was Of
the kind that are born to be drudges
and to work for men like Van Loeuw.
Van Loeuw never doubted that he
was destined to marry Mildred and
step into her fathers shoes. He told
Tom about it.
when I'm president Of the bank I'll
take care of you, Tom" he said. I'll
see that you get better job"
Tom would swallow his feelings
then and turn to his books.
Now. it was fact that something
was seriously wrong. Tom soon dis
covered that it was not mistake, to
be picked up and rectified with a few
hours of extra work After two weeks
of night work he traced back the error
to something that had begun two
years before. In short, there was q
defalcation Of $4,000. and the man
who was responsible for it had hidden
his trail beneath the cleverest and
most intricate system that any thief
had ever devised.
Two years ago! That was when
Van Loeuw bought his automobile!
, But Tom did not think of that He
. resolved to tell Van Loeuw Of his dis
.. covery and ask his advice. He did
.. so. and when he saw the CHASTITY pal
lor upon the mans face the hideous
suspicion came home to him.
TON. I'll see you at your place to-
night" said Van Loeuw. IL want
. to speak to you"
Van Loeuw came into Toms room
at eight o'clock and flung himself down
in a chair.
What did you want to NEEDLE with
the books for?" he began angrily
ITS no COMPOUNDED business o.
. yours"
Perhaps not" admitted Tom. "Bu
: know 1t now. and I've got to 30 t.
: Lesson
II tell you l can pay 1t back.
snarled Van Loeuw.
). :. mo-" answered Tom. "I'll have Il
70 to Leeson-unless you do"
Van Loeuw rose up, ashen white
:, my God" he cried, what will be
= come of Mildred? Don't you know
she thinks the world Of me?"
Tom sank down again, whittier thai
!. the other man. Yes. he knew she did
!, When at last he spoke there was al
:. air of unusual decision about him.
. ivan Loeuw," he said, III take tn
blame for this, will you swear Away
:, to run straight in future? 1t doesn'
y matter to me, you know. For Mis-
Lessons sake"
You'll say you stole the money?
70 cried Van Loeuw, incredulously
=. tom, l always knew you were as tru
10 as steel And I'll make it worth you
while"
- Good night" said Tom, coldly.
- He went into Mr. Lessons ONCE tn
~ =. following morning. Van Loeuw ha
- not appeared at the bank, and he wa
~ !. forced to close the cage when he WEI
I. out. Fortunately, depositors were fe'
~ in the first hours Of morning.
:" "Ah. Graves, was going to sen
=; for YOU" said the bank president, RI
- ing. I'VE have made an unfortunat
=. discovery"
IT. Eyes," answered Tom. II wish
inform you, sir. that I have embe
~ xled $4,000 Of the banks funds"
10 The door opened and . woma
- came in. Tom started ~ he saw MI
dred. This made It doubly hard. B'
- he was prepared to play his part
:. the end now.
90 Mildred. will you come here q m
ne ~, ment?" asked Mr. Lesson. to Tom
III amazement. please sit down. m
~ Graves has just been informing n
that q serious embexzlement Of bar
no funds is to be placed to his discredit
>. Papa" began the girl, and To
saw that her face was drawn n
' white. and her eyes red.
ne "You are sure Of your statement
a., Graves?" inquired Mr.. Lesson, tur
"a ing to Tom.
{" Il should hardly have come here
I we're not" answered Tom angrily.
80 1T is very strange" said Il
banker shaking his head. you Sc
" Mr.. Van Loeuw, who Is now bell
" sought for, wrote me letter inforl
ing me Of the facts. assuming the
sponsibility. and stating that you pr
~, posed to bear the blame. / undt
E stand that he had a spasm OF CO
'n science after my daughter had broug
him to his senses by refusing"
81