The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-15
ov.r the s sssssesf;al BUSINESS situation.
Ne asked he H alf kinds 81 Questions

No asked he ali Kinds 81 Questions
about the business here%
Mostly. and about how had taken
hold of the business. He acted pieased
and interested when told him that
there was no doubt now but that Dy
the end of the year / would have the
last debt paid. He talked about poor
dead uncle, too. Said he knew hini'
When he went away he said l was
nrovine myself brave little business
woman and deserved all kinds OF sue
cess"
well. that is encouraging" COM
mented Burton cheeringly. The man
is probably some travelling salesman
irving to find out if it is safe to sell
you goods
About a week later novelty nan
came along with bankrupt STOCK o.
cheap kitchen cutlery. Annie was 1uiiy
conservative, but the idea was strong
in her mind that she could manage
a bargain sale. Fer two evenings bur
ton worked on a plan of advertising
The success Of this bargain sale
was phenomenal, the profits unexpect'
eddy large.
Dear! dear! l believe | am the
happiest girl in all the world de-
clared Annie, after a second and even
more profitable special sale" Bur
ton. dear. over half the old debts are
] already paid off and there is enough
, in the bank to settle all the rest, and
would you believe it, a small surplus.
You are simply the most wonder
full girl in the world" enthused Bur
ton.
Just a week after the mysterious
visit of the old man so full OF inquiries
Annie got ready to close up the store
one evening. 1t was the first, excep'
Sundays, since she had assumed
charge Of the business. Burton hat
convinced her that they both hat
earned a brief vacation. There wal
a dramatic entertainment of unusua
interest in the next town and they ha'
decided to attend the same.
"Oh. dear!" exclaimed Annie, as sh'
followed Burton, carrying in some
the samples of tools exhibited on
stand outside the store door.
What is it," inquired Burton quick
ly.
"A man-see, there he is now, hoveI
ing in the next doorway. He peere
out at me so strangely"
J what are you lurking about her
for" demanded Burton, steppin
promptly past Annie and staring fixed
ly at a form shrinking from view Il
the Swallowed doorway near by.
A mufied chuckle answered hin
Il was q man who had caused tn
alarm and the large sheltering hat b
wore concealed his features.
you had better move on" directe
Burton.
There was more chuckling. The
the lurker proceeded to do strang
thing. He tore of his hat with a sol
Of triumphant swing of his arm an
what sounded to Burton like muffie
cheer. He darted past the astonishe
Burton. He ran directly up to th
nuttering girl storekeeper
| "Amie!" he shouted. only that. or
look, and Annie reeled and then U
tered a wild glad cry.
"Oh, 1t cannot be-uncle, and alive!
II hope 30, think SO, know so
crowed the dead alive" MY bra,
loyal girl! I've kept track Of "
during the past week Of my cow
lescence. You, too, Burton Stacey, 81
I'm proud Of you both"
In form and substance 1t was Joh
Fuller His story Of terrible injuri'
in the wreck, Of q miraculous resc,
by strangers was soon told. He hi
gone to the city to sell securities
cancel the debt Annie had paid.
still had the securities.
Il am not poor" he boosted, ar
now, my more than children, the we
ding-and the quicker 1t comes OF Il
better will be pleased"
Copyright. 1915 by w. G. Chapman.)