The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-29
4 GOOD SAMARITAN
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB.

! What. When she has so patiently
sought employment for over two
| weeks?"
Il don't mean that" quickly ex.
planned Norah. you see, sir, dear
young lady that she is. she came home
Just filed up with Joy at getting some
thing to do. You know she is a type
writer. Well. she brought home lot
OF stun to copy. but 1t had to be done
by morning. II it was done well she
was sure of lot of such quick orders
right along, and what do you think
There was note for her from q girl
friend whose mother Is dying, asking
her to come to her at once. It's her
good tender heart! l heard her sigh
as she put down the work. My duty
Is to my friend she said. and she has
gone to sit up with the dying lady,"
Walter Bliss said no more Just then.
He was roomer in the same house.
but he had never spoken to the young
girl In whom he had become interest
ed and whose lack Of employment he
had learned from the laxative Norah.
He could not get Miss verda Thorpe
out Of his mind.
He went out into the han as he heard
the maid come its length.
"Norah." he said. you are q good
girl and l know you like Miss
Thorpe"
Il do, indeed. sir" she responded.
"She is SO kind and good to me. l
pity her, too. It's too bad that she
will have to lose good chance by TAX.
ing that work back In the morning,
isn't 1t. now?"
"You bring it to me, Norah," direct
ed Walter. 1--WE can be immensely
helpful to Miss Thorpe. will do the
copying ON my own machine"
Norah stared at this generous
hearted young man with an actual tear
in her eye.
"You are good man, Mr.. Bliss"
she said, "and you'll get blessing for
this. When tell Miss Thorpe of your
kindness"
"Oh, dear! not that" Immediately in,
terrupted Walter. THAT must be the
last thing In the world to do. No, no,
you must faithfully promise me that
you will never tell Miss Thorpe about
my share in the transaction"
But she will want to know"
II will place note in the work that
will explain everything" said Walter.
When Verda Thorpe came home
from her mission Of mercy the next
morning she was fairly bewildered to
discover the work she had set aside all
neatly done.
A note on top Of the copied sheets
read: "A friend who appreciates your
noble sacrifice for q dying friend
wishes to contribute this much Of time
to help you out"
The work gained verda permanent
position. Many a time she tried to
puzzle out who her kind helper could
be. Norah only mystified her with her
denseness when Verda questioned her.
Three weeks later Walter came
home with heavy cold one evening.
The next morning he awoke with a
fever. That same evening he was
slightly delirious. Norah devoted all
the time she could to attending to
him. She told Verda of the case.
III you could watch him and give
him his medicine until nine o'clock
this evening"" said Norah, Just after
supper. Il have my regular work to
do till then"
Surely, l will. Norah." assented
Verda, and thus 1t was fate brought
those two together.
Miss Thorpe started in the chair
where she sat as she heard her name,
"Verda." whispered softly over and
over again by the slumbering invalid |
Then he was quiet for an hour.
Verda moved over to q little table |
where there were some books. In |
moving them about some folded type
written sheets fell out
Why! What Is this?" murmured |
the astonished young lady.
For, as she restored the sheets, she |
recognized them as covering the sub
ject of the work that had been so
strangely done for her three weeks
previously.
They were spoiled sheets. A
light dawned upon her mind all OF a
sudden. At that moment the maid en-
tered the room.
"Norah," spoke Verda futteringly,
there Is a mystery here l cannot
fathom. Your patient appears to know
my name"
ooh, yes, ma'am. He has inquired
about you every day since you came
here"
And l found some writing"-and
Verda recited the rest OF her story.
You must know what this means!"
The exclaimed. noticing an embar-
'assed expression In Norah's face.
Speak out, Norah!"
mo. ma'am." dissented Norah,
Let him tell YOU"
"Oh, he can. can he?" questioned
7erda quickly.
Eyes. ma'am." replied Norah meekly.
IL came about that the landlady in
rited both Of them to supper the next
crafty work! And
left. friendly Norah, by careless re-
mark opened up the theme that was
lppermost in the minds Of both. There
vas frank confession
II can never thank you," said Verda.
I really believe that through my be-
ng at the home OF my friends mother |
hat evening her life was spared"