The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-18

learned where he had made several
brilliant financial moves. Hal was .
plunger, and happened to strike luck.
or thought he had. At all events, he
lived pace Frank had not the means
to keep up with, so they naturally
drifted apart.
Some relief from his Responding
mood was afforded from companion
ship with a bright. erratic fellow
named Ralph Davis. They roomed to-
gether, and soon got to think good
deal Of one another Perhaps it was
because pretty Kitty at home had a
leaning towards rhymsters. perhaps
the poetic instinct indicated by the
verse Virginia had written influenced
Frank to feel lenient and friendly to-
wards Davis, for the latter thought
himself poet and made his living by
writing doggerel.
He wrote commercial poetry, that is,
rhymes for the tradesmens advertise
ments. He got up couplets for social
parties. He devised obituaries and
choice sentiments for presentations.
I'm the last of the penny-aliners,
was his modest boast, and make
living at it.
Frank heard that Hal had made a
great financial spIurge, and was back
al Hcpeton paradiag his wealth and
success.
Il am out of the lists" he decided
dejectedly. and sat in his room one
evening looking ever the one memcnto
he treasured of his lost lady love
the little scrap OF paper containing
the verse.
He must have gone to sleep. for he
was aroused by Davis, who was shak
ing him by the shoulders vigorously
Wake up. old fellow" he hailed
See here, what picked up on the
floor" and he waved the scrap of pa
pr th"t had fallen from Franks lap.
Who wrcte that? A lady, | see, and
very good poetry. in way"
Frank was In tender mood lie
felt sad and lonely. II d him & BOD
to tell the story OF his sreat Gis.p
pointment to a true friend
HIM" commented Davis, glancing
over the scrap of paper Think this
Miss Leighton is likely to take up with
the other fellow. Ell? Well. ! don't"
What do you know about ito" chal
lenged Frank
That acrostic-'
That WHAT" questioned Frank, in
a puzzled way.
That verse. It's an acrostic,' ex-
planned Davis. A remarkably clever
! young woman, this Miss Leighton of
yours. See here-read the verse over
again. First letter of first line, F: sec
ond letter Of second line. r: third let
ter OF third line, A; fourth letter of
| fourth line, N: fifth letter on fifth line
K-FR-A-N x. Eth, old fellow" and
| Davis slapped his friend on the shout
der heartily. why, plain as day your
dear poetess expressed her preference
| by name in that little scrap of rhyme"
| Could it be true? What heart of
| hope poor, Responding Frank took as
he reasoned. and finally believed!
| Then the following week he made
great discovery in therapeutics-a
new agent in medicine. The standard
journals noted it The great societies
lauded him He was made man, pro-
fessionally
When Frank went back to his home
town he took Davis with him. As
they entered the village Hal Ferris left
tin the custody of an officer of the
law, for enriching himself In a stock
transaction at the cost of his client
investors.
Kitty had craved a poet She had
found one. Two human beings never
fell in love more quickly than did that
sentimental. innocent pair
AS to Frank, he pronounced the lit
tie verse one evening when he and
Virginia were together. She blushed.
He told his story straight and fervent
from an honest heart, and knew his
kind, happy fate at last.
4