The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-18

face we'll burned by tropical sun.
Sir" he said, arising to his feet
81 come to you in good faith from MI
Travis in far away Ceylon. He was
my employer, my true friend until
he died. He was your faith Jul repre-
sentative there, as you know Wneh
the fire came that swept away your
entire establishment in Ceyloh, in try
ing to save your property he sustained
a fall from the effects Of which he |
died. Before his last moments ar
rived he called me to his bedside and
gave me the message have just de-
livered."
"The fantasy of disordered brain!'
remarked Thorpe.
Il cannot think that" responded
Vernon Davis. mr. Travis was too
true to deceive and his mind was per-
fectly clear. All his thoughts were OF
his orphan daughter He told me to
see you and recall to your attention
the fact that when he went to Ceylon
he was to be considered one-fourth
partner in that branch of your bust
ness, provided he made 1t succeed.
He did succeed. He waited for you to
make some recognition of the fact.
He had written agreement that GOV.
cred the subject"
Produce it," suggested Thorpe.
1T was destroyed in the fire."
Have you proofs of any,"
only moral evidence Sir, am
going to appeal to you in new way.
The last anxious thought of Mr.. Travis
was concerning his daughter. Bertha
The disaster of the fire makes her
penniless. She is left young girl
at school, without dollar or relative
in the world"
"She cannot expect any assistance
| from me-" declared the hard-hearted
merchant. Il don't deal in sentiment.
want something tangible in my deal
ings. sir Good day."
Within the next few hours Vernon
located Bertha at the school where
she had been placed by her father.
He was surprised, pleased at the way
in which the brave little soul took
her rudely announced poverty. He
was attracted, nay. more, fascinated
by her pure, gentle spirit. He had
lost in the effort to secure to Bertha
her rights. He had gained new and
fervent, that which was far more
priced than fortune-love.
II shall leave the school at once"
decided Bertha, in her resolute. won,
anly way.
Orphans both, struggling each for
living, the pleasantest hours Of his
life came to Vernon Davis during the
ensuing few months. Bertha found
congenial work in an office. Vernon
refused a position with Thorpe and
secured employment as q travelling
salesman.
One evening Bertha met him at the
door Of the house where she was liv.
ing with more than ordinary eager
ness and excitement.
"A strange thing has happened
she said. "A man, stranger think
from Ceylon, called here an hour ago
He had been looking for you at your
boarding house and they must have
directed him here. He is a tall thir
man and spoke our language broken
ly. He looked as though he had beer
through long period Of illness OF
hardship. He was 40 anxious to NEE
you and so pitied his wearied for
lorn condition, that I asked him in
knowing you would be here later"
! Vernon Davis closed the door ant
: advanced towards the half recumben
, figure. He touched the arm of tn
sleeper. The latter aroused. He stare,
for a moment confdsedly at his dis
turber. Then with gladstone eyes b
sprang to his feet.
Master, young master!" he crie
. In a thrilling tone, you thought NJ
$ dead-or false? 1t is neither All
were my kind old fNend, Mr.. Travis
e here to learn the glad news l bear
4 What the strange visitor had to te
: took over an hour. Both left tn
house, but not until Vernon had e,
planned to Bertha that the man wa
an old employee of her father in Ce.
u lon, who had sought him out with
e message from that far away countr,
n The next day Vernon and the &c,
k ionese appeared at the office OF tn
r merchant.
d "Mr. Thorpe" spoke Vernon, "hel
o " a former employee of Mr.. Travi
20 who also believes that there was SON
;. partnership agreement between you
"So?" snarled Thorpe, well, a
: uolutely deny it,"
Then" observed Vernon, .let Z
L. advise you that Mr.. Travis staked tn
l. man on a venture that has turned O,
i'd , very richly. presume he is able
IN return from the investment som
Id thing like hundred thousand d,
ty lars"
no "Huh!" calculated Thorpe.
no YES" and Vernon drew from b
pocket a channels bag "Somethi,
Vi 1