The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-13
distant, my husband will pay him NJ
teen dollars a week for life"


take that scamp's money"
James is not a scamp
And It seems to me, Nora. darling
that II our own girl is that bad, why
we've got to make up our minds 70
lose her." said Mike TO his wife.
Kathleen took herself. satin slip
pers and all, out OF the cottage. Her
heart was bursting with shame ana
also with selfcondemnation. But was
she to be tied forever to that old.
ignorant laborer and his wife-she
with expensive tastes?
The town was just large enough Tor
her story not to be widely known.
By steering her way cautiously. and
inventing a tale about an old couple
whom she had befriended. she man
aged to shake her skirts clean OF her
parents. Her husband. in his rage.
threatened to put Mike out OF his JOB;
but the stubborn old man threatened
to sue, and that would mean wide
publicity. So Mike remained,
This went on for years after kath-
leen's marriage. He had never heard
of her. He had seen her once. rid
ing in her car. She was gowned like
a princess and splendidly beieweled.
Then a lawyer came to see Mike.
There had been rumors for some time
Of extravaganza in the management
of the mill: il was thought things
we're not going well But everyone
knew Jim Ellery had no business head.
( Mike should have been manager, II
his father had been an honest man
Mike, who, working as . laborer,
nevertheless knew the complicated
process from the foundations up.
Mike could have told Jim Ellery What
was wrong why the cheap fax was
unable to take the aniline. But Nike
was only a laborer remember
The lawyer came on a Sunday. and
Mike got out OF bed to receive him,
apologizing for his lowered dressing.
gown, which Nora had made for him
the last Christmas
The lawyer waved his apologies
aside.
Listen to me carefully, Mr. Dona-
hue" he said You should by right
have had better treatment from Mr..
Ellery than you had.
Il don't know" said Mike, stub
bornly loyal to the memory OF the
Ellery he had once known and loved.
He kept his word by me.
He repented on his deathbed." said
the lawyer. HE left you half share
in the mill and made you manager for
life. That will was suppressed by Mr..
James Ellery. He is at your mercy
now, for all has come to light. rep
resent an interest which wants to buy
the mill and give publicity to the at.
| fair"
Yes. sir" said Mike.
"A warrant can be sworn out for
Mr.. Ellerys arrest. We can get an
injunction tying up the money"
What for would you be tying up
the money!" demanded Mike
The lawyer started to explain all
over again. Mike listened patiently.
We'll. you see. he explained my
daughters married to him. So it
wouldn't do to bring her into disgrace,
would it,"
But she has neglected you" said
the lawyer. 1T ia a scandal. And the
mill Is half yours. We want to buy
your interest. 1t is worth four hun
dred thousand dollars at least. And
you will have the position OF man.
ager-"
Well you see, said Mike, II have
a life job here. And a manager is
sort OF uncertain. And then, what
would we be doing with four hundred
thousand dollars at our age? No, mis-.
ter, nobody's going to jockey me out
OF my job. ! earn my ten, and III
go on earning 1t till | die. And say!
IL there's any trouble about Jim, Just
remember that he's a good boy, and |
stand by him to the last penny OF my
four hundred thousand. Remember
that, will your"
II was Ellery's lawyer who came
next. He came humbly, to beg Mike
to consent to an agreement whereby
he could wriggle out of his liabilities
and escape the charge OF fraud. Mike
signed the papers without looking par
ticularly. He only assured himself
that his job was not being taken away
from him.
You see," he explained to the law
yer, who had the grace to looI
ashamed. now that there's only III,
wife TO take care for, guess my tel
a week will provide for us-wont /,
Nora, girl?"
And all his anger against his daugh
ter died II was his money. after all
that was buying her those gowns. ha,
bought the car. was providing for he
every minute.
II he had pressed Ellery he woul
have been rich man. but life woul
have been utterly empty for him
Because he reliuquished all. he game
all. For the day came when his daurh
ter kneeled before him and Nora in
ploring for forgiveness.
j All that We have is yours sb
said. Forgive US Jim wants vo
TO live with US. and-and YOU can kee
your Job II YOU want to. and-an
when baby comes we're going =
name him Michael. or Nora. II lis
girl. Won't you come. father
mother"
Sure and I'll come said Mike. clar
ping on his hat, TO find vent for hi
emotions. But keep the lob. Kari
leen!"