The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-23

two hours the patient opened his eyes,
He scanned his environment in q
blank meaningless sort of way. Mar
cha spoke to him, but the man only
stared. He did not speak, he did not
|, even seem to hear when he was spo-
ken to.
The doctor came next morning. In
the meantime, with pleased smile
the patient had accepted a bowl of
Cruel from Marcia AS she moved
about the room he followed her en-
cessantly with his eyes. The express
sion of his face was a pleased calm.
q luxurious WEAKNESS, and he only
stared when she spoke to him.
The doctor had bad news to i'm
part; some delicate part of the mans
mental machinery had been Jared
rudely. He might remain in his pres
ent situation for weeks-perhaps al
ways. Again he urged Mr.. Gibson to
try to learn the identity of the man.
To this task Mr.. Gibson devoted
himself for three days, but with no
results. The man was a stranger,
probably on a walking tour. Aunt
Marcia beckoned to her brother-in-
law as he returned one evening from
his fruitless quest.
Il have searched his clothes" she
said, and have not found a scrap of
paper to indicate who the man is, or
where he came from-nothing. except
this"
Mr.. Gibson uttered a vivid cry of
amazement. Marcia had opened
drawer in the bureau in the sick room
and had taken out a pocketbook. AS
she exhibited it's contents great heap
of bank notes showed. There were
hundred dollar bills, fifties, twenties.
Altogether there must have been over
two thousand dollars in the broad,
long receptacle.
Mr.. Gibson's eyes dilated, eagerly,
hungrily. How much good that money
would do them in their present dire
emergency! AS he lifted his gaze he
flushed guiltily, for he met the clear
steadfast eyes of Marcia.
"A sacred trust, brother" she said,
, ioShV1 tiC VI uW CA anu uIlu
the key.
In the same daze the patient re-
manned for a week. Then he was able
to be up and about. Always he had
attention for Marcia, and only for her.
When she played on the piano, or
sang, he would listen raptly. When
they gave him seat in the garden. in
a species of dull lethargy all day long
| only when Marcia was near him would
he seem content or compromising.
It got to be a question of urgency
as to what disposition should be made
| of him as two weeks came to an end.
The county institution was the only
local refuge offered. It's officer had
come to suggest that they relieve Mar
cha Of the care of their patient. They
Sat discussing the case in the garden.
Near to them sat the patient. Very
| to casting out on the cold charity OF
the world a person whom fate had
sent under their roof. She told of
the pocketbook, she suggested that
| they advertise for the friends of the
! stranger.
| A sharp gasp caused her companion
and herself to start violently. A new
expression in his eyes, the patient con-
| fronted them. He had heard all-and
comprehended ALL
Noble woman!" he said brokenly,
and took her hand and kissed it rever-
emily.
rich lonely bachelor recovering
from fit of sickness, in strange
place his accident had happened to
him. But it had brought him faith
full nurse, and later sweet, charm
ing wife, and the troubles of the Glib
son family were all ended.
Copyright, 1915, by w. G. Chapman.)