The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-04
4 GOOD SAMARITAN
BY GEORGE ELMER COBB.
Copyright. 1915. by W. C. Chapman)

Sne haS-and it's too bad.
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
I Just filled up with Joy at getting some
thing to do. You know she is type.
writer. Well, she brought home lot
OF stun to copy, but it had to be done
by morning. II it was done we'll she
was sure Of lot of such quick orders
right along. and what do you think?
There was note for her from girl
friend whose mother is dying, asking
her to come to her at once. It's her
good tender heart! 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 a 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 hall as he heard
the maid come its length.
"Norah," he said, you are a good
girl and know you like Miss
Thorpe"
81 do. indeed, sir" she responded
"She is so kind and good to me.
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 it, now"
"You bring it to me, Norah," direct
ed Walter. I'VE 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, land you'll get blessing for
this. When tell Miss Thorpe of your
kindness"
"Oh. dear! not that" Immediately in.
terrIpted 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 a dying friend
wishes to contribute this much of time
to help you out"
The work gained verda a permanent
position. Many q time she tried to
puzzle out who her kind helper could
be. Norah only mystified her with her
denseness when Vsrda questioned her
Three weeks later Walter came
home with heavy cold one evening
The next morning ne awoke with
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, will, Norah," assented |
Verda. and thus it 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 little table
where there were some books. In
moving them about some folded type
written sheets fell out.
Why! What is this?" murluured
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
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 flutteringly,
there is mystery here l cannot
fathom. Your patient appears to know
my name"
"Oh, yes. ma'am. He has INQUIRED
about you every day since you came
here"
And I found some writing"-and
verda recited the rest of her story.
You must know what this means!"
she exclaimed, noticing an embar.
raised expression in Norah's face.
Speak out. Norah!"
mo, ma'am." dissented Norah.
LET him tell YOU"
oh. he can, can he?" questioned
verda quickly.
Yes. ma'am," replied Norah meekly.
IL came about that the landlady in.
vited both OF them to supper the next
evening-Norah's crafty work! And
deft. friendly Norah. by a careless re-
mark opened up the theme that was
lppermost in the minds of both. There
was frank confession
Il can never thank you." said verda.
I really believe that through my be.
Ing at the home Of my friends mother
that evening her life was spared"
And later came the full reward of
love and patience to Walter Bliss. and
tw0 earnest snirits uara r,,ao 49,.