The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-22
FOR Her SWEET SAKE
Ely FRANK EVANS.

OIU oeN AS hdS SUI Z vi IL
Van Loeuw and he had entered the
bank within a week of each other
Van Loeuw was a 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 IA |
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 were on the ground.
Everybody said that Tom was of
the kind that are born to be drudges
| and 10 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 III
take care of you, Tom" he said. TN
| see that you get a better job"
Tom would swallow his feelings
then and turn to his books.
/ Now, it was a fact that something
was seriously wrong. Tom soon dis
covered that it was not a mistake. to
be picked up and rectified with 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 a
defalcaticn 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.
Tom. I'll see you at your place to-
night" said Van Loeuw. II want
? TO speak to you"
Van Loeuw came into Toms room
. at eight o'clock and flung himself down
, in chair.
, What did you want to NEEDLE with
the books for?" he began angrily
I ~
: yours"
! Perhaps not" admitted Tom. But
I I know it now. and I've got to so tc
\ Lesson"
q tell you I can pay it back,
snarled Van Loeuw.
NO" answered Tom. I'll have t
go to Leeson-unless you do"
, Van Loeuw rose up, ashen white
;. MY Cod" he cried, what will be
!, come of Mildred? Don't you know
. she thinks the world of me?"
II Tom sank down again, whittier thai
= the other man. Yes, he knew she did
: When at last he spoke there was al
f air of unusual decision about him
: Van Loeuw,'' he said, IF take tn
: blame for this. will you swear Away
W iuH 81 dtSllI III AhtuAC- II AOCSAA
" matter to me. you know. For Mis-
: Lessons sake"
y You'll say you stole the money?
!. cried Van Loeuw. incredulousl1
r Tom, always knew you were as tru
a as steel. And I'll make it worth you
= while
. Good night" said Tom. coldly.
He went into Mr.. Lessons office til
following morning. Van Loeuw ha
not appeared at the bank. and he wa
ut forced to close the cage when he wei
a out. Fortunately. depositors were fe
~ in the first hours of morning.
IN ''Ah. Graves. I was going to sen
IL for YOU" said the bank president. ri
be ing. We have made an unfortunat
~ discovery
u Yes answered Tom. 81 wish
at inform you, sir that l have embe
~ zled $4,000 of the banks funds"
IL The door opened and a woma
Of came in. Tom started as he saw NJ
all dred. This made it doubly hard. B,
de he was prepared to play his part
iai the end now
en- Mildred, will you come here q m
re- ment?" asked Mr.. Lesson. to Tom
- amazement. please sit down. N
Graves has Just been informing 4
that a serious embezzlement of bar
funds is to be placed to his discredit
est Papa began the girl, and To
Y, saw that her face was drawn al
we white, and her eyes red.
om You are sure of your statement
the Graves" inquired Mr.. Leeson, tuI
Ded ing to Tom.
be. 81 should hardly have come here
sht I were not" answered Tom angrily
on, ct is very strange" said t
of banker, shaking his head. You S,
Mr.. Van Loeuw, who is now bel
sought for, wrote me letter infor
ing me of the facts. assuming the
81, n